hi sorry about this but i need to get this of my cheast as its driving me close 2 suside just glad i got my children and h2b else i wouldnt live for all this.........
Basicl i live in a council flat with my h2b and 2 children my little girl 20 months and my lil boy 16weeks, please before you judge me i have been with my h2b since i was 14 both my children have the same dad yes i do claim benifits but i have arthritis and im only 20 but have had it for years some days i cant get out of bed and the doctors have to come to me NO i dont work for obvis reasons and NO my partner doesnt work as hes my full time carer but currentlly is looking for a job as my partners cosains gf has offered to help me when i need it as somedays im luvly somedays as i said i cant get out of bed sorry to be going on but thought you should no my backgroud whihc is a reason why im so upset
well back to my flayt i have got a very small 1 bed right next door to a pub with all 4 of us living in it. its full of damp its that bad it rotted my mattress most people didnt belive it till they saw it i will try and upload a piccy tomorrow so thats in the bedroom where me my h2b and daughter sleep but the room is then full no room 2 move so my son sleeps in the living room but since my bed rotted with damp we are now on a airbed in my condtion making me alot worse,,, we also have druggys living across the reaod causing us night on night of hassle by her dogjumping up our fence to start our dogs of btw its not dead oppisite its cross the road to get to my frount door and my back gardens behind it but shes shouting ive reported her to police and the council still nothing im really getting that upset i dont know what to do.
we are trying to get a move we are trying to get the damp sorted we are trying to get the druggy sorted.
ive had doctoers letters from all 4 of our docters about dif health issues the damps caused us my partner was born premature so only has 1 developed lung (born at 21 weeks) hes fine unless ill like anyone else it hits him a bit harder he has had a cheast infection sinces may 2010 still no affect.
also one last thing our boiler has been playing up and since novemebr its been leaking and i cannot get hot water only warm but not even warm enuf to bath a baby
sorry about all this but please help me someone
CommentAuthorRoseyB
All I can offer is my sympathy for your situation. I'm sorry you are suffering so much. Where in the country are you? I wish I could offer more in the way of advice. Xxx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
im from worcestershire dnt no if u no it 25miles from birmingham 10 miles from stratford upon avon
CommentAuthorfuture-mrs-watson
*hugs*
What a horrid situation to be in :(
I don't know why some people get dealt such a bad hand of cards and others get all aces, it's just unfair. Keep getting on at your GP's. Have you got a social worker? When did you last see them, surely they should be able to review your housing situation?
The council should sort your boiler - keep ringing them and badger them too, again the social worker should be able to help you with that too. There are minimum standards of housing and it sounds as if yours is falling well below acceptable.
I wish there was something I could do, I'm not even anywhere near you though! (I'm up in Sheffield!).
Everyone on here will always listen and try to help and support you though.
Chin up honey xxxx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
no i dont have a social worker but my health visitor does help alot but the counci. said letters all go on my file but it cant make me move any quiker we feel like were living throgh hell atm
sorry to hear about your situation. surely all this is against health and safety to live there? i would get your health visitor and doctor to speak to the council and explain your situation. i know where i live it might be different but if you have a child the council have to give you a 2 bed place. as you have a boy and girl legally they arent allowed to sleep in the same room from a certain age. im not sure what that age is tho. try googling this sort of thing and see if it helps xx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
the council keep telling me im entitled to a 3 bedroomed house beacuse i have 1 boy 1 girl so i get upset say well if im entitled to it give me it but they keep saying bid, as we have a bidding system where you have to bid on the propitys and the person with the highest banding and who has ben on it longest wins it but im on gold plus there still a banding group above me and i have been on the list 3 years some weeeks i come 4th or 6th but last week i came 49 so onee min you feel close then you feel a million miles away
CommentAuthorLittle Kettle
Ok, this is right up my street and I hope that I can give you some helpful advice. I work for a cycling disability charity and we are 'housed' in a building with 15 other disability organisations. Although we only serve the local SW London community there are certainly organisations in your area that can help and advocate on your behalf. I have RA (had JA from aged 8), so I know exactly what you go through on a daily basis. I'm lucky enough to have a great consultant now and with the right medication I seem to be ok and back to leading a reasonably active life. I'll post on your wall a website that you could go to as a first off. We have a similar organisation here called DASL - Disability Advice Service Lambeth - who are absolutley brilliant at offering support and guidence and telling you what your rights are. So get in touch with them. MrsBarkertobe is absolutely right - I think the legal age is 8 though, so you have a little while to go there. Feel free to message me - I can always make an annonymous enquiry to DASL here to get some initial info if you'd like. x
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CommentAuthorLittle Kettle
Forgot to say - you'll need to accept my friend request to enable to me to msg you.. x
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CommentAuthorUnknown
we have a bidding system too. with ours your get point for being overcroweded, too much space, health problems like yourself. not sure what else tho tbh. only know from my sister. i would ask the council to come out and assess your situation again if they havnt done it in a while as you may be entitled to more points...worth a try xx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
yes i was told that children can share a room untill there 7 but thats with each other not share a same room as mother and father but my son cant even fit itn the bedroom so hes in the living room and ill have a look if i can google thoose charitys
CommentAuthorLittle Kettle
The one for South Worcester is DIAL, hope that helps x
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CommentAuthorXLittleMissMe!X
I would get in touch with social services and tell them it is putting your health at risk. Councils always work better for the ones that have a social worker on their side. I'm in a similar position as I can't work after a car accident due to pain levels making mobility difficult. My flat is damp too and it makes my pain levels worse. I'm lucky though because I'm temporary living with my partner until it gets sorted out.
My landlord has tried all sorts including putting in new air vents and giving me a dehumidifier but it still isn't helping matters. In the mean time try if you can to leave the windows on vent to get some air in. It will help with the damp. Doesn't help if your like me and the cold makes you worse though.
Take evidence of the damage it is doing and go to the CAB too. They might be able to point you in the right direction of who to see. The council has a legal duty to make sure that your accommodation is fit for living which it obviously isn't. It could be something as simple as a leaking pipe that needs fixing to stop it or you might need air vents etc fitting.
Don't lose heart there will be a way of fixing the issues. You just need to speak to the right people but social and CAB should be able to point you in the right direction.
CommentAuthorXLittleMissMe!X
PS just a thought but if you get bored at home doing nothing then the open university is amazing. You can learn from home in your own time and you would get all your courses paid for you as your claiming as well as £260 a year. Because you have medical conditions you would also get DSA which would provide you with a light weight laptop so you can sit in bed if you bad and work, dragon software so you can speak to the computer and it types for you so it saves your hands and other aids to help you. I find it is a god send as I'm getting a degree with the hope to be able to set up working from home and it stops me from going around the twist. Your partner could do it too. Its a good way of getting yourself out of the situation your in long term. I had to give up the job I was doing before but hopefully it won't be long before I'm back working again even if it is different from what it was before. You just have to look at what you can do and concentrate on that. There is loads of help out there if you want to do something :o)
CommentAuthorSoon2beMrsHall
Ring social services get them to come out and have a chat with them they should be able to help you . tell them every thing you can show them the flat and they will send a letter to the council and they take it more seriously if the social tell them to hurry the f*ck up.
Cant wait to to marry Martyn
Wishes the wedding would come faster
XxX
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
thanks heather ill get in touch jo- thry knew the flat was damp before we moved in we have extractor fan in the bathroom a dehumider and 3 airvents in each room cos our place is 2 small we have our freezer and tumble dryer outside in the shed and have to run an extension lead through the window so its alsways open we have the gas going 24/7 as we have so many vents and dehumifier making it so cold also all the walls were striped back and damp caused about 2 years ago and they cant re do it cos that was ment to solve the issue and can only be done every 6-10 years we have been to citisens advice and they tired to help but had no luck there this week i have put them in ur local paper we will see what this does if not im intrested in finding a soclister but everyone ive phone and asked wont take on a bissness i was thinking of doing something like but wanted to wait untill my son was a bit older as he doesnt give us much time atm
CommentAuthorspooney24
edited
Is their a gas fire within your living room? If so then you are not allowed to have anyone sleeping in there as we were told this by our housing association due to health and safety risks. I think that you really need to get a file put together of all your letter regarding your health, h2bs health and pictures of the flat, the damp problems, where you all sleep, etc and have your health visitor go down to the council offices to show them exactly how you are having to live and that its totally unacceptable. Even if they were to put you in temporary accommodation until house came up it would be far more suitable to what you are living in at the moment. Have you also applied to local housing associations in your area? Another idea would be to contact Welfare Rights and CAB and explain your situation, you would be entitled to an advocate from Welfare Rights to represent you if needed and they would be able to speak to the council on your behalf. Also as HeatherG has mentioned contact your local disability action group as they will be able to provide you with some help too. xx
26th December 2007 - the day I met my special man
8th August 2008 - the day he was mad enough to propose to me
24th July 2010 - the day I felt beautiful inside and out and
became Mrs Dickie for life. xx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
no just gas raditators a gas fire wouldnt fit lol its really is that small we have showed them everything we even had them come to the propity and all they said was theres nothing more we can do just keep bidding :( ive asked could i go into tempory untill a house they said no ive also asked if i gave it up what rights id have and they said none they all work in conection but i have been to others and all they say is we all work together now on the bidding but your more than welcome to bid on any of our propitys we went to cab they tryed helping and got no where thats why were trying the local paper we had an offical damp inspector out who apperntly reakons its condensation which could be from to many people in the falt but this si what my housing people said myself i dotn belive it cos if it was only condensation when one person lived in it on there own why did she still suffer with damp and did they pay money to damp cause it and fit air vents and dehumifers and all this but i cant win
CommentAuthorRedBee12
Abi, I am so sorry there is nothing I can do except send you and your family a <hug> I really hope things improve for you quickly. I have no experience of dealing with councils or anything like that, but all I would say is try and stay as positive as possible. Don't feel that people will judge you for your situation, most people understand that not everyone can have a hand full of aces as someone else said, and those that don't, their opinion doesn't matter. I would keep on at everyone possible, bombard them with emails and letters until they get the point, and it may seem so far away right now, but it will get better! Good luck to you and your gorgeous family! Bxx
CommentAuthorJane
Have you tried getting your local MP on board? They might be able to make some noises at the council for you.....x
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
we ring write or go to the offices everyday but it like the more you go on the more they ignore you but if you dont go on they forget about you its like you cant win i keep trying to stay positive but =its hard when i had to chuck my bed away i cryed allday but my mam went and payed for my wedding dress sunday to chear me up so was happy then the druggy woman woke the children up last nite so upset agian :(
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
jane we tryed the mp when the voting was going on and he said if i get voted in i will speak to you and see what we can do but unfortuantly as im only running for it atm i cant so he got voted back in and we aked him and said i cant have an infulence on housing sorry wste of time what he was we have tryed literly everything this is why im so fed up as i have been through everything that i can think of and still nothing
CommentAuthorMrsOwen
i feel for you, i wouldnt be able to cope with people waking my kids up, chin up xx
the greatest thing is to love and to be loved in return
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
when i did speak to socail services i havent got an officer but rang them for advice they said unfortunatly about 12 months ago they lost the right to make the council give out house and now cant hurry them along nt sure how true anything is tbh as i think there all feeding me a load of bull and just arent keen to help expecialy like i siad about the condesation part
CommentAuthormitch2509
my mil 2b is disabled and they moved to a bungalow last yeah as shes in a wheelchair after waiting 3 years on an emergency conucil waiting list... they paied for all new things in it when they moved. they were only in for a couple of months when they noticed the bedroom was freezing, they foned the council and they just put the foil behind the radiator, it made no difference, a few months after that and a lot more complaining the council put a bigger radiator in, still no difference, then it started to smell in the room, they pulled out all the furniture and there was mould behind the wardrobes and runied all the furniture and bed and carpets, they council told them it was condenstation and to leave the window open and keep the heating on..... thats a bit back to front to me lyk.... and said theey would not be able to claim on the insurance, they got there local mp involved (mr milaband ) and he arranged metings with them and the council. but they still would budge with paying out, but my fil 2b said he would get local press involved andall of a sudden they got a letter of a survayer saying they would investigate the damp proofing, as it was a new damp course there wouldnt be a problem, after the survayer had been he said the damp course was faulty. and since they had a new one there has been no more damp and they also got an insurance pay out, but there was a lot of stress and upset where the council could of sorted it out montha ago !!!
CommentAuthormitch2509
sorry thats a bit of a long post... hope things get sorted soon xx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
no thanks but i have had a damp servary out appently its him that said condesation and i am waiting for it to go in the paper hopefuly this week will post a link to the story hen it gets put online dont know if this will work or not just putting a piccy on my page now
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
photots up please have a look and see if you think its acceptable most people dont belive how bad it is till they see the damage
CommentAuthormitch2509
yip thats pritty disgusting !!!!!!!!!!! i cant believe how they expect you to live its terrible
CommentAuthorlinzi
pretty similar story in our local paper recently. Go to your local press with photos of you rotted bet, and the conditions you and your family are living in. And tell them that you council are dragging their heels in getting you a move.
I don’t repeat gossip so listen very carefully!!
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CommentAuthorboo
Social services can't help you move but they can write to the council, going to the papers should do the trick though, no council likes the shame and definately write to your MP.
Can't wait to be Mrs Foster 21/06/2012 :D
I'll be 9 when I get married....
CommentAuthorMrsE
You need to keep onto the council, they have a duty to move you a) because your overcrowded and b) because of both of your health problems
As for your neighbours and the druggies, there isnt really much to suggest other than keeping onto the police until they either do something about it or help you to move with the council.
Sorry i can't offer anymore help :(
I hope your problems can be solved xx
Can't wait to be Mrs Eastmond
Love my boys so much
CommentAuthorUnknown
i have just seen your photo and can not belive that the council still wont do anything.
now what i am going to suggest may sound extreme but i know someone that have did it and were moved into a house!!
go to your local council offices or housing association. take your h2b, children, food for them and refuse to move until you are given some where else to live. tell them you are not leaving even when they close and show you are desperate. even take the mattress if you need it.
as i said i know it is extreme but they honetly can not expect human beings esp young children live in these conditions xx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
belive it or not my h2b said he was going to stay there untill they did something they rang the police the police couldnt do anything just told us we couldnt stay there but the said the understood why and yes hopefuly it will be in the paper theese week if not next as tehy got my story but are getting on to the our housing accoiation and the local council i hope this worls my h2b is short temperd and argues with them
CommentAuthorGriff
I hope things look up for you soon hun but I really don't know what to suggest I'm not very wise on these matters but massive hugs and talk to your health visitor about the conditions and your baby they may be able to help or suggest something to help xx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
thanks for all your advice and support i feel abit better for just sharing it xxx
CommentAuthormitch2509
a problem shared is a problem halved !! xx
CommentAuthorpanther_87k
i haven't read through all the comments hun but the best advice i can give you is threaten the council with going to the local paper(s) its the only way you get anywhere! we had a similar problem to you, although not as severe, it took only a year and a half to get them to move us, but we had to threaten them with the media to make things happen that quickly. to give you an idea of my situation, we lived above cannabis users, they smoked such strong stuff that we ended up inhaling it ourselves, even with all windows and doors tight shut, i was pregnant at the time! I wont tell you some of the things i said with regards to possible health problems for my then unborn child, but their response was pityful, until we scared them with the papers
CommentAuthor'ca'ca'ca
i am so sorry to hear this honey it sounds tryuley horrible. im in a [much less awful] similar -ish situation; we're both claiming and the flat we were put into had very bad damp. my partner spent a long time fightin the council on the subject, baising his claim on the fact that he was very badly asthmatic and my age, [was 15 nearly 16 at the time] and EVENTUALLY we got moved into a private rent [housing benifit] but it took AGES in youre situation, i cannot BELIEVE that they havent done it quicker. Personally, i'd try radical media attention, as going through "proper channels" hasnt worked. Ringt he BBC, and see if theyre interested in your situation; they often find a good story out of situations like these, and with the expenses thing still kinda on the table they'll be interested as its a council failing you when you are CLEARLY in need of the help they claim to provide. Also, contact your MP. Your MP is there to fix these kinda thigns when the system fails. Write letter, and ring, on the hour, every hour, until you get a decent responce from him/her. THIS IS THEIR JOB. If he tries to fob you off, just do NOT allow him to hang up. Keep talking. Record the conversation if you can [tell him you are] because this way you have more evidence in case [it probs wont but it might] go to court. Also, if hes rubbish, you have more info to give to media
I really REALLY hope things gets sorted for you. i really do. BIG HUGS
PS; read up here somewhere about refusing to move from the council offices; i have seen this backfire, but in your situation i'd say you have reasonable cause. TRY IT!! dont be rude, dont be nasty, dont give them any reason to throw you out [aggresive behaviour includes raised voices and swearing and they WILL try it] however aggrevating they are. be calm and patient. they will crack eventually.
Good luck. Very very good luck <3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
panther i have gone to the papers we get outs on a thurday and hopful it will be in this weeks if not it will be next they came and took pictures and our story and said they were going to get in touch with both our houssing assicsion and the local concil and there repy thats why it may not be this week
ca ca ca if this local paper doesnt work i was thinking about going hire the sum or something but yes the bbc might be a better idea thanks i have tryed the mp he said he would help when he needed votes when he got voted in he said he cant infulance housing as theres alot of people over crouding completly ignoring the rest of the stuff i said
just thought id give you a quick insight into this very moement i am boiling kettles of water to have me a warm bath as my boiler is broke 2 :@ but think the council know im at my wits end with them as wen i rang to say i need my boiler looking at they said its a 24 hour jobs and he was here within 1hr but im still not letting that forgive the rest as even though they came they only looked they didnt fix it as soon as it goe sin the paper and on the local papers website ill let you all know the link
CommentAuthor'ca'ca'ca
your mps responce is unexceptable. this is not an area which he can refarin from taking action. dont take no for an answer. keep ringing !!! <3 x
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
i think i will have to but i wish i was stronger cos when they say o i get off the phone or sometimes still on the phone n break down in tears ive tryed everything why wont no one help me
CommentAuthorMumble83
Long post...
I had the same situation a few years ago. I moved into a 1-bed council flat when 6months pregnant with my son (was homeless before that) and all was OK til not long after I got with my h2b when my son was about 10months old then a few months later, I noticed damp in the bedroom which started getting worse quite rapidly and spread throughout the flat, I then fell pregnant with my daughter and we just about managed to fit the wardrobe, chest of drawers, our double bed, my sons toddler bed and our daughters cot into the bedroom with literally about 3 square meters of space left in total including between the beds. The damp just kept getting worse and we would just keep cleaning it. We were told the same things, it's condensation, air it out, keep furniture away from the worst walls to allow the air to circulate, etc. Then after nagging the council repeatedly, they sent a damp specialist round who told us the same things but also said that they can clear it up using a fungicidal wash and repainting with anti-fungal paint, I asked what he expected us to do while that work was being carried out as my son was 2 with suspected asthma, my daughter was 5months old with repeated chest infections and we didn't know how the fumes from the work would affect their health, he asked if we had anywhere else to stay and we told him we didn't (even though we could have) so he said that he would put in a request for us to move so that they could carry out the work and that we would need to speak to our area manager at the council requesting the same thing to increase our chances but that he could not guarantee it would work. We went for a meeting with the area manager a week later and she had actually received the recommendation from the damp specialist that same day so started the meeting telling us that we needed to move and that seeing as we had a son and daughter living with us as well as my h2bs older daughter (5 at the time) staying every other weekend, she recommended to us about having a 3-bed house so that we would not need to be moved again in a few years. Literally 2 and a half months after the visit from the damp specialist, we moved into our 3-bed council house where we still live now. I also had problems with druggies, the lad who moved into the flat below me assured me when he first moved in that he was not the type to blast music until the early hours when he blatantly was after about a month of moving in, he was understanding at first when I asked him to turn it down but after a while would just turn it up when I was heavily pregnant with my son and when he was a newborn. I then found out he was dealing so called Crimestoppers with my suspicions and they logged it, a week later, my mates brother was seen going in there, I asked my mate how her brother knew him (as they had grown up at opposite ends of the city) and she replied "that's where he gets his gear from" so I phoned Crimestoppers again and reported it again telling them that I was just suspicious before but now it had been confirmed and a couple weeks later, he was raided by the police. He then abandoned the flat and I never saw him again.
Log in a diary, everything that the druggies do, making sure you include times, dates, names and as much details as possible and report them for everything they do that breaks the law to the police so they have a log for everything too (you could complain to them about the dog saying you fear for your children - the dangerous dogs act). As for the council, keep nagging them and well done for reporting it to the press. Ask them if a damp specialist can come and see it and when they eventually do, ask him if they can use a fungicidal wash and then repaint it with anti-fungal paint, if he agrees, ask if he can put in a word to get you relocated, at least while they do the work. Cry if you have to and don't get aggressive because if you do, they might get defensive and put up more walls.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!! xxxxxx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
thanks muble glad it got sorted for you but we had a damp specilist out in november we already have all that anti fungal paint on the walls before we moved in they said they can only do it evey so often as the repair man said though that wont fix it just hide it weve ha meetings and all they did was tell me keep bidding might be soon but could be years as for the druggy ive done the logs and everything and still am and they said there is no dogs allowed in her flat and men only so they were going to make her get rid of the dog if she still was harssing us she would have to go 2 but again this was months ago
the papers rung me this morning to double check ages as shes just finishing the story i said did the council or housing assiation reply she said i cnt rember of the top of my head but something like there trying there best but have more ppl needing house than they do house i said to her so the said nothing about the damp she said i dont think so no ill check 4 u n get bk 2 u :@
CommentAuthorXLittleMissMe!X
Hopefully it will help to name and shame then so they act on it as they hate bad publicity.
CommentAuthorMumble83
Sorry my advice could not help hun but just remember that I have come through the other side and you will too. Will keep my fingers crossed for you. Keep us updated??! xxxxx
CommentAuthorbecky -mrs firth
i wudnt ring just once a day i wud ring hourly!! i wud make it my mission to get on their nerves so they quickly re house u!! u hava little baby damp is no gud!! and espeically 4 ure condtion! situations liek this do my head in! they house people that cum from abroad straight away n give them laods of money while people like u are left in places liek that!!
Engaged 27th November 2010
Hen Do Newcastle 2nd June 2012
Marrying the man of my dreams 11th August 2012!
Honeymoon To Jamaica 14th October 2012
CommentAuthorMumble83
A mate of mine was in an unsuitable place when she had her baby and nagged the housing office, she went in there every day (lived not far from there) and at one point, even drew a red spot on her head, went in there pointed to it and said "WILL YOU GIVE ME A 5-BEDROOM HOUSE NOW???!!!!) I know thats not really relevant to helping you but Becky just reminded me of it so I thought I would share. lol. xx
CommentAuthorAbi4tomboy
i know thats how i feel rwnd here all the polish get the houses 1 polish family who have jsut came over and she pregant with her 1st baby she got pregant over in poland but has just been given a 3 bed house :@ my h2b reakons its cos hes a travller tht they are so funny but dnt no if its cos hes had enough or they said something he hasnt told me as he doesnt tell me wat the say to him as it upsets me
CommentAuthorreilykit
Ive never been able to get council housing ever!......I have a privately rented flat and the deposit etc were paid my a local charity.....maybe something to look in to because if your entitled to a 3 bedroom house you will get housing benefit to cover it. My last flat had really bad damp...same as yours all in the matress etc.....which caused my 5r old to develop asthma, and both my children ended up with constant chest infections....its that bad that my 5yr old spent many weeks off his first year of school. As a kick in the teeth he then went on to develop a allergic reaction to the mould cleaner!.....i couldnt clean the mould up properly without putting my childs life at risk! In the end i decided i had to leave......put before i did, the advice i was given was to let the mould grow then call in enviromental health!....they can declare if its not safe to live in which will go hand in hand with any doctors letters about the state of your family's health.
I really do feel for you....but keep fighting and bugging the council coz u will get through to them in the end!