Home Adaptations turned down due to property size

[THNX4THT]

My GP and an OT applied to the council for adaptations to be made to my home (wet room and stair lift). I live in a 3 bedroom house, my eldest 2 children having now left home. My youngest daughter has her room, I have mine and the L shaped minute box room I pay Bedroom Tax for each week. The council have stated that I can not have the adaptations made to my home as I am under occupying the house I live in......The problem is, my diagnosis. They seem to have overlooked as to why I can't move house. They make it sound as if I choose to live here. I certainly didn't choose to have all 12 diagnosis that I have, which makes it impossible to move. I wont list them all, I can if it helps with answering my post, but I will mention High Functioning Autism, Non Epileptic Attack Disorder, and the reasons I needed a wet room in the first place.....Chronic Pain Syndrome (feet, ankles and calf's) Sciatica and Arthritis of my right hip....

 

I feel as if I am being penalized for the same reason twice. I have to pay bedroom tax for that box room in order to stay where I am and yet the council are using that very same reason as to why I can't have the adaptations, for a room that I'm paying for. It just doesn't sound right to me.

 

Anyone got any ideas? Is it right????

[citizenB]

This is just an opinion, but are they refusing to let you have the adaptions done because they would then lose the extra you are in paying bedroom tax ?

[THNX4THT]

This is just an opinion, but are they refusing to let you have the adaptions done because they would then lose the extra you are in paying bedroom tax ?

 

I don't think so, as the room wouldn't be touched, it would still be a 3 bedroom house. All they would be altering would be the bathroom itself, not changing anything to the bedrooms at all. The stair lift wouldn't change anything to the bedrooms either. Its just a straight stair case that leads to the landing, almost to the bathroom door

 

(By the way, I love your cat, with its headphones, almost drowning it by size comparison.... it has cheered me up immensely !!!)

[citizenB]

I don't think so, as the room wouldn't be touched, it would still be a 3 bedroom house. All they would be altering would be the bathroom itself, not changing anything to the bedrooms at all.

 

(By the way, I love your cat, with its headphones, almost drowning it by size comparison.... it has cheered me up immensely !!!)

 

Ah, right.. sorry I thought it was going to be the box room turned into a wet room. Too busy bopping with kitty !

 

For some reason, disco kitty does seem to cheer up people

 

Hmm, I will ask others on the site team if they have any ideas ...

[THNX4THT]

Ah, right.. sorry I thought it was going to be the box room turned into a wet room. Too busy bopping with kitty !

 

For some reason, disco kitty does seem to cheer up people

 

Hmm, I will ask others on the site team if they have any ideas ...

 

Thanks will really appreciate any light anyone can shed on it, cos I'm stunned to say the least

[silverfox1961]

Hi

I did read some thing here

 

http://www.housing.org.uk/resource-library/browse/size-criteria-bedroom-tax-briefing/

 

Read the briefing paper.

 

Is you home you own, council property, housing association or private landlord.

 

You could ask your landlord to do a redetermination of the size of the box room and see if they will class it as being too small for a bed to fit. If approved, this would mean you not be under occupying therefore by logic would mean the adaptations would be authorised.

 

I do appreciate where the council are coming from in that it may be easier to move to a more suitable property (2 bed ground floor flat with wetroom) or they are wondering whether the cost outlay now will be wasted as you will still have to move eventually.

 

Sorry that I can't be more help but my thinking cap is on.

 

Oh yes, you could complain to the council and if they reject you, you could go to the Housing Ombudsman

[citizenB]

Well council playing games using the under occupation rules to refuse medical adaptions mmm Equality Act comes to mind.

 

Op needs to request copies of these documents from Council.

 

1. Complaints Procedure.

2. Equality Policy.

3. Customer Care Standards.

4. Allocation/Under Occupation Policy.

5. Medical Adaptions Policy.

 

As for the Equality Act

 

1. The Council is classed as a Service Provider within the meaning of S29 of the Equality Act 2010.

2. The OP is as a disabled person as defined within the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) S6.

3. The Council is under a duty not to discriminate against disabled people under S15 of the Equality Act 2010.

4. The Council is under a duty to make reasonable adjustments to disabled people under S21 of the Equality Act 2010, including the duty to change any provision, criterion or practice that makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use their services and the duty to take whatever steps necessary to provide auxiliary aids required for the use of disabled people.

 

Some more advice for you.

[mikeymack2002]

The LA have a duty of care towards their tenants, more so if they are registered disabled. The LA also have the ability to work with you in making your life easier and help you live a fuller life.

 

The LA can offer you a downsizing move and pay you a grant to move to a smaller and more suitable property. They can also assist you moving by arranging a removal company to do all of the work for you. Currently in my area the grant/payment for this is £1500.00.

 

You need to consider the ongoing support and costs involved in staying in a property that would need substantially adapting. Putting in a stair lift and wet room is very expensive, I know this as I had mine done 5 years ago but still had to move due to other significant works.

 

You can always ask your LA to involve adult social care to reassess your needs. This should then show the LA what really is needed and how best they can assist you in the future..

 

Have you applied for the severely mentally impaired payment from your LA? Please don't let the title be of concern it is just a name that this payment is given. You ask for a form and then your Dr fills it in and returns it to your LA and they may award you to cist of your bedroom tax amount...

[IdaInFife]

Sorry but I cannot see what any of the diagnosis you have listed would have any effect on a move.

 

To be fair the council seem to have been reasonable and can offer more reasonable options.

 

If you do not want to move and have adaptations to your current property then you would need to speak to social services who can re-evaulate your current circumstances