forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

[steph.b95]

Hi everyone im steph, im 18, and me and my mother have been forced to move due to the bedroom tax, its a blessing in disguise, as she will soon be wheelchair bound.
My question is on our tenancy agreement from 25 years ago it says we are allowed pets except dogs on the dangeroua dog list, and farm animals, but our bully of a housing officer has said we must get rid of our cats, is there any way i can fight this? Also she is the neigbourhood coordinator but she bullies my disabled mother, what can i do?

[Amethyst]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

Complain to your Housing Association or Council directly about your housing officer's treatment of your mother. Do you believe the cat issue to be a part of the bullying ?

Most councils are perfectly happy for cats to be kept as pets in any type of property - although some areas do have restrictions on the number of domestic cats - does your mother have many ?

Are you moving to a flat or a bungalow etc?
Do your new neighbours have pets ?


Just seen that Newnham council require tenants to apply for permission for a domestic cat. Check your council/HA website for their policies.

Don't you get a new tenancy agreement for the new property btw ?

Oh and good to see you being positive about the move otherwise

[steph.b95]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

Three cats, i cant see anywhere on the agreement about a number though but im not very good at this sort of thing the bullying started years ago - she tried to evict us because we werent keeping the garden up - my mums disabled and i was 8 at the time so they got people in to help. We are glad this house will go to a family that need it when we dont, we are moving to a two bed bungalow x

[CleverClogs]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

what can i do?

Spray the horrible harridan with catnip (nepeta) extract.

Cats will simply adore her. msl:

[teaboy2]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

Can you be more precise in regards to the bullying? The housing officer may be in breach of the law (harassment/bullying) and in breach the equality act 2010 amongst a few others, including ECHR.

[steph.b95]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

She tries to scare her, saying we wont get an assured tenancy, wich we will as my mother is disabled, when my mum struggles to walk she laughs at her :/ x

[SpringerSpaniel]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

You may also find seeing your ward councillor or your MP helpful.

What you describe about the housing officer's reaction to your mum's mobility problems is in breach of the council's equal opportunitities policy which will be part of the housing officer's terms of employment, as well as quite likely to be illegal harassment.

[CleverClogs]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

You may also find seeing your ward councillor or your MP helpful.

Find them at https://www.writetothem.com

[teaboy2]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

It also sounds like the housing officer is not giving you all the information, and possibly false information, that is relevant to you and your mother, in regards to housing.

As SpringerSpaniel points out shes likely to be committing harassment, when she laughs at your mother struggling. A person doing something that they are likely to know (or a person of reasonable mind would know) causes another distress is harassment under the protection from harassment act 1997. But also the housing officer is in breach of the equality act 2010 for basically treating your mother differently to others just because she is disabled.

You need to write to the council/housing association pointing out the actions of this housing officer using the information we have all provided you here.

If you can get any recordings of her acting like you say, then that would strengthen your claim against her. And they wouldn't want such recording ending up in the hands of the local press "Hint"!

[Inca]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

Do you have any relatives/close friends that you can talk to?
Has your Mum got a particular illness/disease that she is afflicted with? MS or suchlike? I ask because a lot of help can be sought from societies/support groups,,are you registered as her carer?

[SpringerSpaniel]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

There are some recent decisions about the bedroom tax and tenants with disabilities. It may be worth double-checking whether you DO actually have to move. I realise you said you would like to move, but it may be worth being clear what your options are.

A law centre www.lawcentres.org.uk will be able to give more advice (free).

If you are in Scotland, the position has changed radically in the last few weeks, so post again if you are north of the border.

Whether you move or not, the housing officer's conduct and demeanour are worthy of a complaint at least.

[Inca]

Re: forced to move due to bedroom tax - pets?

Also,,your HA will have a 'Welfare Officer'......get in touch with that department.
As everyone has said,,you don't have to put up with being bullied...nor does your Mum and there IS help out there,,you're young and your Mums disabled.......you don't have to put up with 'abuse'
Have you got a decent GP? He/she can help put you in touch with support groups too.