Hi all,

firstly I'm posting on behalf of my step son & GF, as they are unsure of how to respond to/progress with their currently situation.

Background

• BF / GF living with GF's parents. GF becomes pregnant. Both 'kicked out' - asked to find alternative accommodation.
  
• Accepted as 'Homeless' by the Local Authority, and that they have a 'priority need'.
  
• Currently in emergency Council-owned accommodation (pretty decent actually) in the centre of town.
  
• GF doesn't drive, BF has small mbike only.
  
• BF employed locally. GF was in college locally before pregnancy but now not.
  

They have made applications to the Local Authority allocation scheme for housing, placed an interest bid on a property they were matched with, within the local area. Upon visiting, found it in poor condition, at the far end of a maze-type newish estate, and around 1.5 miles outside of the town centre.

Please see attached the Local Authority letter, informing them that if they reject this property then the Council will discharge their obligation to house them.

Since this letter has been received there has been a significant change of circumstances - BIRTH.

GF has giving birth at 27 weeks ! A lovely baby girl, who is doing really well - as is mum

GF & daughter are in a NICU approx 90 mins away from home town and will be for a substantial length of time. Clearly there will be a significantly increased requirement for local hospital interaction in the short term.

Issue: BF & GF want to reject the visited property, but are worried the Council will them wash its hands of their housing requirement.

Their reasoning is mainly that the location will leave GF isolated from amenities and her support network. Clearly the latter is now more important than it was at the start of the application, due to the significant change in circumstances.

So, how do they proceed...?

I'm presuming they should write to the Housing Advice and Homeless Manager specified on the attached letter, but what should they say..?

Is there something standard available, or should they just blurt it all out and hope for the best..?

Can the Local Authority really remove them from their care following such a change in circumstances....?

Look forward to your comments...

CLST1 2018-06-05.pdf

There will be more people on here that know more than me...but I do know that the local authority have a duty of care here, if a person/s are homeless they have to consider all issues when rehousing etc. Yes the normal rule of thumb so to speak is you cant turn it down if you have bidded on it...however...I would very nicely put the case to the housing manager, things have changed and there was no way it was foreseen that they would be going through all of this. Id say there are good enough reasons to refuse, so just explain. Any health visitor or midwives would support a new mum and may be able to write a letter of support.

This is just my immediate thoughts of what I would do in that situation.....it couldn't happen now lol I am 61 in granny mode.

I would also particularly focus on the condition as being totally unsuitable for a baby who is likely to be particularly vulnerable for some time.