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I wonder if anyone can help and give me some advice. I feel completely lost and just don't know what to do, where to go or who to turn to.
Four months ago I was declared homeless by the council and was sent to a wonderful homeless unit for women. I couldn't have asked for more. I was given a Section 5 and spent the next four months 'bidding' for Group 2 "Urgent Need" properties with Glasgow Housing Association. (GHA uses a Choice Based Letting system instead of the allocation of points. Applicants are placed into one of 5 groups, Group 2 being urgent/homeless. This has to be confirmed by way of a Section 5 by the council. When bidding on a home, you only see a photo of the outside of the building, and if offered you must accept it).
Eventually the phone rang and I was told I could have a flat I'd bid in. I was so happy and relieved I burst into tears.
I went to see the flat with an agent from GHA and was overjoyed with it. It was so clean and pretty with the sun beaming through the windows. I couldn't believe that finally the nightmare had ended.
Now, I don't know if you know this, but when you receive a Section 5 - (Homeless status), you are only offered one property. You have to take it. The Council's obligation to find you a home then ceases and to put it blunt, after that you're on your own. Or, at the mercy of your new landlord.
I'm so sorry this is long, but it's the only way I can explain.
I went to the GHA office to sign the tenancy agreement and collect the keys. I left the hostel and my caseworker arranged for my things to come out of storage.
On the first day I moved in, I went over to the sink. I noticed a couple of small beetles by the plug. I ran the tap and forgot about it. I went in the front room for my bag, picked it up and there was one on the floor. I ignored it. A few moments later I went to the bathroom. I stopped counting after forty. Needless to say that from that moment my eyes scanned every inch of the entire floor throughout the flat. If I say I must have seen several thousand I would not be exaggerating.
I phoned GHA and spoke to my housing manager. She was quite rude and said there had never been a complaint in that street before. However, GHA sent a man out the next day. He sprayed the flat with a chemical so powerful that the fumes triggered off the smoke alarm. He assured me that this would be the end of it and I should stay away for a few hours. So, for the second night, I stayed with my friend, still unpacked, black bags still on the floor.
I gave the spray a few days to work but it soon became apparent that it hadn't done anything. And so I phoned GHA again and they sent a second man round. This man seemed very professional and explained that the stuff used earlier was not the correct spray, and that he was going to use a different spray. He also identified three different kinds of beetle, (biscuit, carpet and Australian Spider), and told me it was "quite a serious infestation". I told him what the housing manager had said and he looked surprised and told me that he'd actually been called to the same close just under a year ago.
Anyway, I took his word and he even went and checked the loft in case there was a dead pigeon up there but nothing.
So far, I've had the keys for ten days, I've not "moved in" unpacked or been able to spend one night there. I have no bed and was quite happy to sleep on the floor in the meantime, but this has not been possible. I've spent every night in different people's homes.
But the final straw came today.
As I haven't been staying at the flat at night I didn't realise that there was no light on the close stairs. Today GHA put in a new light and I was able to see the floor outside my front door. To my horror I found it crawling with the little beetles, and of course, they were going under the cellar cupboard door - which is where I've had to put my black bags and cases.
I immediately went and knocked on another door and the person on the ground floor (2 below me) told me that she'd had them for ages. This tells me that the entire close has them and GHA have known all along.
I just don't know where to turn. I'm so scared of being turned away by the council and I'll end up with nowhere to go. I phoned the Hamish Allan centre and was advised to go to the Casework Team and plead homeless due to uninhabitable property, but the caseworkers have been on strike for three months and I feel as though I have nowhere to turn and no one who will help. When I tried to talk to the housing manager she almost said I was lying. I wish I was. I thought the nightmare was over but it's only just begun.
If anyone can give me any advice I would be so grateful. Do I have a chance of pleading homeless again?
Thank you so much for reading my post.
Four months ago I was declared homeless by the council and was sent to a wonderful homeless unit for women. I couldn't have asked for more. I was given a Section 5 and spent the next four months 'bidding' for Group 2 "Urgent Need" properties with Glasgow Housing Association. (GHA uses a Choice Based Letting system instead of the allocation of points. Applicants are placed into one of 5 groups, Group 2 being urgent/homeless. This has to be confirmed by way of a Section 5 by the council. When bidding on a home, you only see a photo of the outside of the building, and if offered you must accept it).
Eventually the phone rang and I was told I could have a flat I'd bid in. I was so happy and relieved I burst into tears.
I went to see the flat with an agent from GHA and was overjoyed with it. It was so clean and pretty with the sun beaming through the windows. I couldn't believe that finally the nightmare had ended.
Now, I don't know if you know this, but when you receive a Section 5 - (Homeless status), you are only offered one property. You have to take it. The Council's obligation to find you a home then ceases and to put it blunt, after that you're on your own. Or, at the mercy of your new landlord.
I'm so sorry this is long, but it's the only way I can explain.
I went to the GHA office to sign the tenancy agreement and collect the keys. I left the hostel and my caseworker arranged for my things to come out of storage.
On the first day I moved in, I went over to the sink. I noticed a couple of small beetles by the plug. I ran the tap and forgot about it. I went in the front room for my bag, picked it up and there was one on the floor. I ignored it. A few moments later I went to the bathroom. I stopped counting after forty. Needless to say that from that moment my eyes scanned every inch of the entire floor throughout the flat. If I say I must have seen several thousand I would not be exaggerating.
I phoned GHA and spoke to my housing manager. She was quite rude and said there had never been a complaint in that street before. However, GHA sent a man out the next day. He sprayed the flat with a chemical so powerful that the fumes triggered off the smoke alarm. He assured me that this would be the end of it and I should stay away for a few hours. So, for the second night, I stayed with my friend, still unpacked, black bags still on the floor.
I gave the spray a few days to work but it soon became apparent that it hadn't done anything. And so I phoned GHA again and they sent a second man round. This man seemed very professional and explained that the stuff used earlier was not the correct spray, and that he was going to use a different spray. He also identified three different kinds of beetle, (biscuit, carpet and Australian Spider), and told me it was "quite a serious infestation". I told him what the housing manager had said and he looked surprised and told me that he'd actually been called to the same close just under a year ago.
Anyway, I took his word and he even went and checked the loft in case there was a dead pigeon up there but nothing.
So far, I've had the keys for ten days, I've not "moved in" unpacked or been able to spend one night there. I have no bed and was quite happy to sleep on the floor in the meantime, but this has not been possible. I've spent every night in different people's homes.
But the final straw came today.
As I haven't been staying at the flat at night I didn't realise that there was no light on the close stairs. Today GHA put in a new light and I was able to see the floor outside my front door. To my horror I found it crawling with the little beetles, and of course, they were going under the cellar cupboard door - which is where I've had to put my black bags and cases.
I immediately went and knocked on another door and the person on the ground floor (2 below me) told me that she'd had them for ages. This tells me that the entire close has them and GHA have known all along.
I just don't know where to turn. I'm so scared of being turned away by the council and I'll end up with nowhere to go. I phoned the Hamish Allan centre and was advised to go to the Casework Team and plead homeless due to uninhabitable property, but the caseworkers have been on strike for three months and I feel as though I have nowhere to turn and no one who will help. When I tried to talk to the housing manager she almost said I was lying. I wish I was. I thought the nightmare was over but it's only just begun.
If anyone can give me any advice I would be so grateful. Do I have a chance of pleading homeless again?
Thank you so much for reading my post.
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