Unsuitable Accommodation
Ms J had been accepted as homeless by her local authority. After
a period of time in temporary accommodation they offered her
permanent accommodation in another part of the borough.
Ms J felt that the property was unsuitable for her on family and
medical grounds.
We asked the Council to review the decision and made
representations on Ms J’s behalf. As a result of our
representations her local authority accepted that the offer was not
suitable and agreed to consider her family and medical needs before
making a further offer.
Mr B, who is disabled, was living in accommodation provided by the
Council. Unfortunately his property was not wheelchair accessible
and the interior was not adapted for wheelchair use.
This meant that Mr B had to “crawl around” in his own house in
order to use basic amenities, which he found thoroughly degrading.
In spite of repeated complaints by Mr B and a report by the
occupational therapist stating that the property was not suitable
for him, the Council had failed to remedy the situation.
We contacted the Council, threatening urgent judicial review
proceedings, and within two weeks, Mr B was delighted to be
re-housed in a well-appointed, wheelchair-adapted flat.