A housing conundrum

 A housing conundrum

Our house is not suitable. It's a lovely house, in a lovely area, but its private rented so as well as being expensive it is also not suitable to make any adaptations to. We have been on the council list for at least a year now and today we got the call I've been waiting for, they want to offer us a property!!

However, there's a glitch or two. Why can things never be easy??

We are also in the running for a bungalow nearby. Of course this would be far better for our needs, however although we are first in line for it there is a small issue of our age. The property is listed for over 55's only. Not so unusual given that most bungalows are required for people who are over 55. But I am not. Neither is my daughter who lives with us, nor will my baby be when its born in April. We do however meet all the other criteria for this property (requiring 3 bedrooms, requiring ground floor, requiring ramps etc). Bromford Housing who own the property have said that if when they shortlist the property we are still number 1, they will discuss our case with us and will look to find a solution.

So what's wrong with this, I hear you ask? Offered one property and potentially offered a second. Well, all the time we are not saying no to the house offered, we are technically in a position of being 'housed' which essentially means if they do the final shortlisting for the bungalow during this time, we will not be considered at all. So do we risk it? We could turn down the house in the hopes that we are offered the more suitable bungalow, but then might not get the bungalow due to our age, or it might not be suitable. Or do we settle for the house in the hopes that we can view it and either accept it or decline it before they complete the final shortlisting for the bungalow?

And in either case, do we want to move at all? Both properties are out of our current area which means travelling to my church and my daughter to school. Am I ready to be a disabled commuting parent?

I'm torn.

Ultimately the bungalow on paper will suit our needs better, but am I willing to risk turning the house down, only to not get the bungalow due to the stupid red tape surrounding our ages.

Oh, and the other thing, we've been told that we will not be able to make any adaptations to the house or the bungalow within the first 12 months of living there. This means that I cant put a stair rail in, a stair lift, a bath hoist, a walk in shower, toilet rails, ramps into the property, all the things I need to do for my disability basically. So this means the house which wont be set up for disabled use will be even less suitable.

The decision needs to be made today. And all without the opportunity to view either property from the inside to check if the doors are wide enough for my wheelchair, if there is a handrail on the stairs or even if I can get in or out unaided.

What would you choose?