Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Assistance with council property!! (self.Blind)
submitted by Virtual-Scratch3633
I am in England
Here goes, sorry for the long post, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I am partially sighted. I rent a council property with district heating & hot water (set figure on my rent for this!) I work full time.
My heating & hot water gets turned off periodically for a week or so for "essential maintainance" and recently due to a flood. I am left with nothing coming out of my tap, and the offer of electric fan heaters (this was offered 2 weeks after!) I have a bath.
My housing officer is a piece of work, I was told, sorry for the inconvenience but to visit family & friends for a bath with my young son (in a pandemic!)
I asked for an electric shower to be installed, was told no, I have to pay for it from a qualified plumber off of their approved list.
Running back & forth with a kettle of boiling water whilst trying to dodge a fan heater with reduced vision is dangerous and appalling.
What can I do? I need facilities to wash myself & my son!
Any advice given would be great! Where do I stand?
Here goes, sorry for the long post, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I am partially sighted. I rent a council property with district heating & hot water (set figure on my rent for this!) I work full time.
My heating & hot water gets turned off periodically for a week or so for "essential maintainance" and recently due to a flood. I am left with nothing coming out of my tap, and the offer of electric fan heaters (this was offered 2 weeks after!) I have a bath.
My housing officer is a piece of work, I was told, sorry for the inconvenience but to visit family & friends for a bath with my young son (in a pandemic!)
I asked for an electric shower to be installed, was told no, I have to pay for it from a qualified plumber off of their approved list.
Running back & forth with a kettle of boiling water whilst trying to dodge a fan heater with reduced vision is dangerous and appalling.
What can I do? I need facilities to wash myself & my son!
Any advice given would be great! Where do I stand?
retrolental_morose 4 points 1y ago
which part of the country are you in? Your local sight-loss charity should be able to help you advocate for this. The RNIB also have a legal team, their helpline is 03031239999. There are lots of blind and VI parents at https://blindparents.UK if you want to go down the peer path.
if it were me, I'd probably write to a local newspaper, the council would soon shift if they were splashed over the front pages I'd hope.
if it were me, I'd probably write to a local newspaper, the council would soon shift if they were splashed over the front pages I'd hope.
Virtual-Scratch3633 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
I'm in the Midlands...
I didn't know that rnib has a legal team. My local charity that I deal with told me they wouldn't get involved as such as it wasnt an eye related issue, IE lighting.
I considered contacting the paper after the last time this happened. I think I was just so shocked by the response my housing officer gave me, in an email too I may add so I have evidence of it all.
I didn't know that rnib has a legal team. My local charity that I deal with told me they wouldn't get involved as such as it wasnt an eye related issue, IE lighting.
I considered contacting the paper after the last time this happened. I think I was just so shocked by the response my housing officer gave me, in an email too I may add so I have evidence of it all.
retrolental_morose 3 points 1y ago
I think RNIB is a good next step. phone number as earlier or legalrights@rnib.org.uk. Sorry not to be more use!
Virtual-Scratch3633 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Thank you, your a saint.
I have just sent them an email with a general outline of the issue. Hopefully it will do some good..
Always try and fight my battles independently but it's nice to know their is back up out there if needed. You know, the rnib didn't even come into my thoughts!
I have just sent them an email with a general outline of the issue. Hopefully it will do some good..
Always try and fight my battles independently but it's nice to know their is back up out there if needed. You know, the rnib didn't even come into my thoughts!
retrolental_morose 3 points 1y ago
as a totally blind adult, I must admit to finding them pretty focused on other areas than me.
Still, the things I do use them for work well and hopefully they'll be of use in your situation.
Still, the things I do use them for work well and hopefully they'll be of use in your situation.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
I don’t live in England I live in the US but came to say this sounds quite riddiculous and absurd. I hope it got addressed.
Virtual-Scratch3633 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Hello,
No it didn't. RNIB stated this was a private matter, my local council say I have to pay & adult social services said I don't actually need a shower installing as I have full mobility & no real reason to have one! Oh, and I'm not eligible for a disability grant because I rent from my council and not a private landlord.
I feel very let down, very uneasy & very ashamed of the authorities in my area. The next time this happens, I won't be fighting this, I will just contact my local newspaper and allow them to run a story that highlights the failure in this system. I have never needed help before, never asked for any adjustments to be made, and I feel for those in worse situations that myself.
No it didn't. RNIB stated this was a private matter, my local council say I have to pay & adult social services said I don't actually need a shower installing as I have full mobility & no real reason to have one! Oh, and I'm not eligible for a disability grant because I rent from my council and not a private landlord.
I feel very let down, very uneasy & very ashamed of the authorities in my area. The next time this happens, I won't be fighting this, I will just contact my local newspaper and allow them to run a story that highlights the failure in this system. I have never needed help before, never asked for any adjustments to be made, and I feel for those in worse situations that myself.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Sorry to hear this, this sounds very unfortunate.
Virtual-Scratch3633 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
It will right itself in the end, i am an optimistic person.
Adjusting to my sight loss, I knew there would be tough times ahead, just wasn't expecting it from the authorities, you know?
Adjusting to my sight loss, I knew there would be tough times ahead, just wasn't expecting it from the authorities, you know?
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
For sure and hopefully it will!
Virtual-Scratch3633 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Just to update you, recieved a call from the legal department, they are very interested as a property without heating/hot water is classed as unhabitable...
They have a back log of cases... Estimated time frame is one week! :D
Thanks to the kind person who pointed me in that direction!
They have a back log of cases... Estimated time frame is one week! :D
Thanks to the kind person who pointed me in that direction!
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