More client stories

Basma is a mother of a 2 year old daughter, living with her husband. They needed advice and support regarding their poor housing conditions, effecting their daughter’s health. Basma and her household had not had hot water or heating for 18 months, and was still not repaired when they contacted CHAS. Paramedics were called as the daughter became quite ill and raised concerns over the level of disrepair and damp in the house. Basma and her husband was also struggling to cover the rent.  

We worked with Basma to look into arranging emergency works to make the property habitable, and helped to find them a suitable long-term home. Basma and her family were rehoused in just over a month, however, they were unable to move into the property as it did not have flooring or kitchen electric goods. CHAS worked with the client to apply for grants in order to raise the funds needed for the necessary goods, including a £700 grant for carpets. The family are now happily living in their new furnished property, and their daughter’s health has significantly improved. 

When Thomas came to us for advice he was facing imminent homelessness due to rent arrears. His zero-hours job contract meant he did not have a steady income, and his lodgers had been forced to leave during possession proceedings. This reduced his income further and made him liable for bedroom tax on his two empty rooms.

We worked with Thomas to suspend the possession warrant, gain an emergency charity grant for that month’s rent, secure a long term debt repayment plan and find new lodgers. Thomas still lives in his home, and is now securely in control of his finances.

“I don’t know how to give thanks for everything you’ve done for me”… “for me, the service you provide is number one, it cannot be beaten by other services“

When Saiful first came to us, he and his wife were sleeping in the living room of their one bed property, to ensure their daughter had somewhere to study.  In addition to overcrowding, they were experiencing harassment from Saiful’s ex-employer following a tribunal case.

As a result of our support and advocacy, the family have recently been rehoused. They now have a safe, spacious, comfortable home, and their daughter is thriving at college.

“You have done something amazing for us. Thank you, thank you.”

Raymond and Mary are an elderly couple with a disabled daughter. They needed advice on a trust situation created by the council when granting a tenancy to their daughter as sole tenant. The family needed security of accommodation and wanted to ensure they can all stay in property long term.

They approached us because they were getting rent arrears letters and were very worried about them. We discovered that their housing benefit claim had been flagged as potentially fraudulent. This was a dangerous situation, as tenants can face eviction for as little as two months’ rent arrears.

The situation had arisen because the housing benefit was in the clients’ daughter’s name. She was receiving the rent arrears letters, but due to her severe disability, her parents were responding on her behalf. This, along with several other factors, resulted in the Housing Benefit claim being flagged as potentially fraudulent.

We advocated on behalf of the family that the claim was not fraudulent. We did so by confirming who lived at the property and explaining the daughter’s lack of capacity to manage the housing benefit claim herself. We successfully got their housing benefit payments back up and running, as well as getting the rent arrears cleared.

The process, however, highlighted the issue that all the paperwork was in the daughter’s name, even though she did not have the mental capacity to deal with it. The tenancy agreement was also in her name, but had been signed by Mary with no reference in the document to the daughter’s disability or lack of capacity.

We started negotiating with the Council to see what had happened at tenancy sign-up stage and how the situation had arisen. Eventually, the council accepted it needed to be rectified and we negotiated a new tenancy. Meanwhile, it became clear that the property was not suitable for the family’s needs as an elderly couple with a disabled daughter. They were struggling to manage the stairs and cope with only one bathroom on the first floor.

A bungalow property which would better suit the family’s needs was identified. It was agreed that the move to a new property would be the best option to resolve the issues with the current tenancy.

We  agreed that the new tenancy would be a joint tenancy: the two named tenants would be the mother and the daughter. Two named trustees would then sign the agreement on behalf of the daughter as she did not have capacity to sign it herself. This arrangement means that the daughter, as a named tenant, can claim the benefits she is entitled to, but also recognises her lack of ability to sign the document herself. The trustees are her father and her brother, who doesn’t live with them but who agreed to be named as a trustee and act in the best interests of his sister. 

The family are now happily settled in their new bungalow. They are more secure, and can enjoy their home free of distress and uncertainty.

 “You have done a wonderful, wonderful job of helping me and my family…I cannot thank them enough and I think you are the most deserving charity.”