Fair?

[Feebee_71]

I am a key worker living in housing association property for the last 5 years. I am in a 1 bedroom flat on the 2nd floor of a modern building (I was first person to move in 5 years ago when it was new) which has no lifts.

 

About 9 months ago I applied for a bigger flat and was told that I was eligible and would just have to wait for one to become available. I knew people in my block were moving out which was one of the reasons for applying when I did. When I applied I asked for a preference of ground floor as I have health problems and find it difficult to climb the 2 flights of stairs if I am unwell or in 'flare' phase of my illness.

 

Over the following 5 months 2 flats in my block became available but I never heard anything about being offered one of the flats. I rang the woman who deals with key worker rentals to see how high up the list I am and was told that, because I am already in one of their properties, they would offer flats to people behind me on the list but not living in one of their properties because if they offered one to me they would still have the same number of empty properties available.

 

She also told me that they make no relevence of requests for ground floor accommodation based on health needs if it is key worker property.

 

Are either of these actions fair?

 

I have now applied for accommodation with a different HA who offer flats in a block with lifts and a concierge service so I wouldn't have problems getting upstairs if I am unwell - I am now just waiting for them to have properties available. This means, for the want of moving a current resident from a 1 bed flat to a 2 bed flat (that they have previously agreed I am eligible to move to) my current HA are going to lose me as a tennant when a property becomes available through the other HA.

 

Feebee_71