Council tennant, requesting move due to physical ability

zilexilia
zilexilia Community member Posts: 4 Listener
in Benefits and income

Hi all. I live in council accomodation and have for 3+ years now, but I live in a top floor maisonette with steps up to the building, two flights of stairs no lift and further stairs inside my property, I have been struggling with this for so long now and I can't deal with it much longer. I have fibro and arthritis in my knees, I receive PIP but due to working full time and my husband working full time we aren't eligible to apply for council housing right now, my question is, can I request to be moved even though our household income is more than 38k due to disability and suitability of my current property? Only we couldn't afford private renting if we tried and it's becoming unbearable to go home these days, I can't bath or shower at home as it isn't accessible I have to go to my parents for that, I work nights and just avoid going home in the day because the stairs wipe me out and if I need the loo it's four lots of stairs to get there. When I do go home I stay in and usually live upstairs as we only have an upstairs WC. It's like I can't be at home in my home.

Do I have a leg to stand on asking to be moved? Or is it just tough luck that we both work full time? I know eventually I'm not going to be able to work because these stairs are killing me off but I don't want it to get to that point, I want to keep my independence.

Im at a loss 😞

Comments

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Community member Posts: 869 Pioneering
    edited October 14

    Could you clarify please, your post states you already live in council housing, but the council are telling you you are ineligible to apply for council housing due to income?

    If you already live in a council property then you can look to do a mutual exchange.

    https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/council_housing_association/tenancy_exchanges

    You can also apply to be moved on medical grounds, this usually involves a bidding system. Medical evidence helps and you can request an Occupational Therapy assessment around your housing needs.

    This article talks about adaptations, but obviously as stairs are your problem that would only be helped by moving to a ground floor property.

    https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/home-adaptations-occupational-therapist-assessments

    There are long waits for social housing, even for those with the highest priority. You may need to compromise and look at ground floor flats rather than hold out for a bungalow as an example.

  • zilexilia
    zilexilia Community member Posts: 4 Listener

    Yes I was a single parent when I was given the property three years ago and so was eligible however now my husband and I are together we are no longer eligible, you can live in council housing if your HI is lower than 100k but you can only apply if lower than 38k. We would be happy with any ground floor property honestly I'm not picky I just can't carry on the way I am.

    I don't think anyone would exchange due to the rough area and type of property I live in sadly. But I will look at getting an OT home suitability assesment and see if that helps my case. Thank you for your reply ☺️

  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 11,655 Championing

    Congratulations on becoming husband and wife

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Community member Posts: 869 Pioneering
    edited October 14

    An exchange is always worth trying. You have nothing to lose.

    In the past we swapped from a village semi detached to a town outskirts (just) mid terrace, the people we swapped with almost didn't answer our message as they didn't think we'd want their area/house 😊 We certainly did!

    We ourselves had problem neighbours at the semi, which didn't matter to the people we swapped with.

    You never can judge these things purely from your own perspective.

  • zilexilia
    zilexilia Community member Posts: 4 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/922587#Comment_922587

    We have listed our home on local exchange groups but I'm not holding out hope honestly, but thank you! I won't give up on it I just doubt there would be any interest.

  • zilexilia
    zilexilia Community member Posts: 4 Listener

    Thank you!

    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/922586#Comment_922586

    Thank you 😊

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