Council Housing size classifications

[jackie12]

Hi,

 

I hope that I have found the right place to post this, I am new to this site and looking for some advice if possible please.

 

I rent a flat from my local council, Dacorum Borough Council. There is a real problem with mould and damp throughout the flat. This is causing me great concern, more from a health perspective than any other. My husband has lung conditions and had a double lung collapse not very long ago. After having several people come and look at the mould on behalf of the council I still have no answer to how to prevent or cure this.

 

More than one person has said that they think the mould could be due to overcrowding. I have two daughters in a very small room. I have been told that I should leave the window wide open (yes actually wide open) at night, even though this is a ground floor flat!

 

I have asked for a transfer, but the council has told me that I am not classed as overcrowded.

 

Please can anyone tell me what the guidelines are for deciding if I am technically overcrowded or not?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Jackie

[Ros1609]

How old are your daughters? I think that under Council 'rules' they can share a room til the oldest reaches the age of 10

[jackie12]

Hi Ros,

 

thank you for getting back to me. My children are 13 and 8.

 

When speaking to the council I have been told that they now have a new Allocations Policy and that beyond the main bedroom (applicants bedroom) any additional bedrooms will no longer be considered as single or doubles (we will not be taking measurements), this is in recognition of the severe overcrowding in the borough and the needing to make best use of the stock. Therefore a 2 bedroom property is suitable for 2 adults and 2 children, where the children are of the same gender up until the age of 21, thereafter the child is classed as an adult and would be entitled to their own bedroom.

They are not putting this in writing to me though and other people have said that this can not be the case, but we can't afford a solicitor and don't know who to ask to see if this can really be true.

Thanks

Jackie

[Ros1609]

Wow thats awful. I'm no expert on Council Housing but I think you need to keep on at them about the mold issue until they do something about it. You say several people have been out to look at it but have any of them actually done something about it?

[jackie12]

No, I have not had anyone actually do anything except give me a mould cleaning kit. Everyone says that it is being caused by different things. Some say it is because I do not warm the flat enough, others have said it is because I do not let enough air in the flat. I do heat my home the same way that I have always done (this mould has only been an issue for about three years, I have lived here for 10 years). I let as much air in as I can, but with my husbands lung problems I can't leave the windows wide open 24/7.

 

I am so at my wits end now

[ploddertom]

Have you asked your local Councillor(s) to intervene? Good time to do it as some local elections are looming on 22 May.

[stu007]

Ask them to provide you with a copy of the Councils Allocations Policy.

[2ltr16valve]

Look up the space standards act. Read it. Digest it. Then use it they will try and tell you it does not count anymore but I assure you it does.

[citizenB]

Look up the space standards act. Read it. Digest it. Then use it they will try and tell you it does not count anymore but I assure you it does.

 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/68/part/X

 

http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/policy-news/social-housing-size-criteria-and-statutory-overcrowding

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]50290[/ATTACH]

 

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]50289[/ATTACH]

[2ltr16valve]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/68/part/X

 

http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/policy-news/social-housing-size-criteria-and-statutory-overcrowding

 

Cheers CB on my iPhone so posting links is difficult

[citizenB]