Concerns over disabled homeless struggling in ‘unsuitable’ council flats

Disabled homeless people say they have been housed in flats with little to no accessibility adjustments in Mansfield.

Fritchley Court, on the Oak Tree estate, is owned by Framework Housing Association, which describes itself as “opening doors to homeless and vulnerable people”.

But some who live there – notably, those with mobility issues – say that the lack of adaptations has made the properties unliveable for them, and they say they should never have been housed there by Mansfield and Ashfield District Council.

Anna, not her real name, was living in hotels before she claims the council told her she’d have to accept a property at Fritchley Court, or be transferred to temporary accommodation in Sheffield.

She has mobility issues due to nerve damage, which means she struggles to use the left side of her body and to walk more than 30 yards in one go.

But the front door to the block of flats she lives in requires two hands to unlock – one to turn the key and the other to turn the handle at the same time.

And the external bins, where she is required to take her waste, are 270 yards away.

“I’ve been struggling a lot,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Anna says she requested adjustments to the property – such as a fob instead of a key, or an automatic door with a button to open it – and help with taking bins out.

But she says Framework has not been helpful, refusing adjustments after a health and safety assessment, and saying that it is the council’s responsibility to house disabled people in the right place, not for them to accommodate those housed in their properties.

A member of staff did take the bins for her for a while, before she received a letter in May telling her she’d have to take “immediate responsibility” for it herself and that previous arrangements were being scrapped.

Anna is now being evicted after clashes with Framework staff and the housing association being unable to meet her needs – for the front door and the bins, but also because she requires a wet room and a new kitchen.

Another resident, John (name changed for anonymity), has expressed similar feelings about his property, where he lives with his wife.

The pensioner, who has suffered from cancer, was assessed by an occupational therapist while living at a previous property.

The assessment says that John had “significant difficulty accessing and leaving” the property due to “multiple heavy fire/security doors” and that the shower space is “very restricted” and the cubicle “very small”.

But he claims that the same issues exist at the current property – with the shower too small and the doors, as described by Anna, too heavy and not designed for those with mobility issues.

He said: “I think the issue is the council. They knowingly put me in this flat, knowing all the facts they were given by the occupational therapist. They never looked into his recommendation.

“The flat is meant for one person only, but my wife is also in the same one-bedroom flat. It’s very congested. But (the council) told me if I don’t go, I’ll become homeless.”

Councils are bound by law to ensure that the homeless within their boundaries are housed in “suitable accommodation” and to have agreements with providers, such as housing associations, for the use of their properties.

Framework has agreements with a number of councils in Nottinghamshire, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, to provide accommodation for homeless people.

Anna said: “At the end of the day it’s public money. And it’s not the best use of it.”

A spokesperson for Mansfield District Council said: “The council has a duty in law to ensure homeless people are offered suitable accommodation.

We assess all applicants against our Homefinder policies and procedures. These can be found on our website.

“We cannot comment on individual cases for confidentiality reasons or on decisions by other landlords. If someone is at risk of homelessness or eviction, we advise that they should contact us on 01623 463121 at the earliest opportunity.”

A spokesperson for Ashfield District Council said: “When a housing applicant requires emergency accommodation, all efforts are made to ensure the accommodation is suitable for their essential needs. We encourage all applicants to discuss the suitability of their accommodation if they feel their essential needs are not being met. ”

A spokesperson for Framework said: “Framework is aware of the concerns raised. We take all feedback and complaints seriously and are committed to working with residents to resolve issues wherever possible.

“Whilst we are unable to comment on the circumstances of an individual resident or tenancy, we can confirm that our services provide support tailored to residents’ individual needs. Support arrangements are reviewed regularly with residents and, where appropriate, in conjunction with other organisations and support agencies.

“Decisions relating to tenancy enforcement or possession proceedings are never taken lightly and are only considered following careful review of the circumstances and in accordance with the appropriate processes. Our priority remains to support residents to maintain their accommodation and access the help they need.”