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My Own HomeA guide to housingfor people withlearning disabilitiesWorking to achieve better life chances forpeople with learning disabilities

What is in this guide?Who can use thisinformation?Page 5Using the guidePage 6Having your own homeWhat is Supported andIndependent Living?Page 7When will I be ready forSupported Living?Page 8Planning a movePage 9What are my HousingOptions?Page 10Renting your homePage 11Renting from a RegisteredSocial LandlordPage12-14Renting from a PrivateLandlordPage15-162

Owning your own homePage17-19Buying your home outrightPage 20Passing on the family homePage 21Passing on a rented homePage 22What is a DiscretionaryTrust?Page23- 24Housing that comes withsupportPage25-26What are my supportoptions?Page 27Support ServicePage28-29Community Alarms andAssistive TechnologyPage 303

How do I pay forSupported Living?Page 31How do I pay for mysupport?Page 32Can I get help to pay myrent?Page 33Making it happen – Whatto do next?Page 34Who can help me?Page 35Your Personal HousingPlanPage36-39Where can I find outmore?Page40-45what the words meanPage46-514

Who can use this information?This information is for people with learningdisabilities, their family and carers.This pack has beenput together to helpyou find out moreabout housing.To help you find outmore about how youcan be supported.To help you find outwho to ask for helpand how to find outmore.5

Using the guideWhen reading this guide you will see somewords in blue these are words that you mightfind difficult to understand or have not heardbefore.If you turn to page 46 at the back of the guideyou can see what these words mean. Youmight want to ask someone to help you withthem.6

Having your own homeWhat do we mean by Supported Living andIndependent Living?You may haveheard the termssupported livingand independentliving.What both of theseterms mean is thata person has theirown homeand support isput in place tohelp them liveindependently.7

When will I be ready for Supported Living?What if I don’t have all of the skills to liveindependently?You can have support to help you liveindependently. This could mean you aresupported for a few hours a week, every day,overnight or even 24 hours a day.8

Planning a moveMoving home is a very big step in anyone’slife. You should think about the things that areimportant to you.You might think about whether you would liketo live on your own or with other people?Whatever your situation it is very important toplan ahead. You may not be ready to move atthe moment but you should start to think aboutwhat is available and the time it might take toget what you want.9

What are my housing options?This section will tell you about the differenttypes of housing and the people you cancontact to help you find out more.10

Renting your homeIf you pay money to livein your home this iscalled rent.If you pay rent to live inyour home you will bethe Tenant.The person you pay thismoney to is called theLandlord. This is theperson or group whoown the building.If you are a tenant thereare rules that you andyour Landlord will haveto keep to. When youagree to move into yourhome you will need tosign a Tenancyagreement that lists allof these rules.11

Renting from a Registered Social LandlordBath & North East Somerset Council do nothave any Council housing all of the propertiesare owned by Registered Landlords andHousing Associations.To get a home with aRegistered Landlord orHousing Association youneed to go onto the Council’shousing register this is calledthe Homesearch register.You do this by filling out a form.The Homesearch team or yourCare Manager can help youcomplete the form.If you do not have a CareManager and think you mightneed one see page 31.Return the form to the CouncilsHomesearch Team.12

It is important that youmake sure theHomesearch Team areaware of any specialadaptations needed inyour home.You should apply asearly as possible asthere are lots of peoplewaiting for homes andit could be a very longwait.It is important that ifyour need for housingbecomes more urgentthat you tell your CareManager or theHousing Department.13

What is good about this type of housing? Secure tenancy Affordable rentsWhat is not so good? Not a lot of choice A long waitFind out moreHomesearch TeamAdult Social Services & HousingPO BOX 3343, BathBA1 2ZHTelephone:01225 mesearchbathnes.org.uk14

Renting from a Private LandlordThere is a lot of private rented housingavailable in Bath and North East Somerset.Renting from a privatelandlord can be a goodway of trying out livingwith friends and livingindependently.You can find out whatis available in your areaby looking in the localnewspaperor going to lettingagents and estateagents.15

Good way to try living with apartner or friends Lots of choice You can get housing quickly. You may not be able to staythere for a long time. Youusually have to agree to livethere for 6 months. Rent can be expensive You may have to pay a lot ofmoney when you first move in asthe Landlord will ask for adeposit and rent in advance.Find out moreBath & North East Somerset Housing Options &Advice TeamTelephone: 01225 396296Email: housing@bathnes.gov.ukSWAN – Housing AdviceTelephone: 01761 432445Email: swanhousing@btconnect.com16

Owning your own home?Shared Ownership - What is it?Shared ownership is where you buya share of a property and rent theother share from a HousingAssociation.How do you buy your share?You can borrow the money.This is called a mortgage.If you are working you mayhave to pay some or all of themortgage yourself.You may have been given alarge amount of money.Your family may have moneyto buy a share.17

How do I pay the rent?The HousingAssociation will renttheir share to you. Youmay get help fromHousing Benefit to paythe rent.What about repairs?The Housing Associationwill often cover the cost ofrepairs. The cost will beincluded in the rent. Theycall this a service charge.If you claim HousingBenefit to pay the rent itwill cover the servicecharge.18

You can choose where you live. The Housing Associations willsometimes cover maintenance. Long term security. It may be difficult to pay themortgage if you work. It may be difficult if you want tomove. Find out moreAdvance Housing specialise in home ownership forpeople with learning disabilitiesAdvance Housing1 Cygnet CourtWitneyOxfordshireTelephone: 01993709221Passing on the family propertyEmail:homeownership@adavanceuk.orgWebsite: www. advanceuk.orgMy safe home – specialise in mortgages for peoplewith disabilities or support needsTelephone: 08000 121 333Website: www.mysafehome.info19

Buying your home outrightYou may have been given a large amount ofmoney and be able to buy a property outright.Here are a few things you might want toconsider: You can choose whereyou live. You will have long termsecurity. You will be responsiblefor maintenance andrepairs. It may be expensive tomove.Find out moreHousing & Support Alliance:Telephone: 0845 4561497 for full contactdetails see back of the guide.20

Passing on the family homeIf your family owntheir own homeremaining in yourfamily home maynot be an option thatyou and your familyhave considered.It takes carefulplanning andspecialist legaladvice but it can bea good option forsome people. Long term security. You can remain in yourhome. Good way of planningfor the future. You may want yourindependence. Can take a lot ofplanning. If not arranged properlyyou might loose accessto welfare benefits.21

If your family rent their property from aRegistered Landlord or a Housing Associationit might be possible for the tenancy to bepassed on to a family member allowing you toremain in the property.To find out if this is possibleyou will need to speak toyour Landlord or seekhousing advice.Find out moreBath & North East Somerset Housing Options &Advice Team: 01225 396296SWAN - Housing Advice: 01761 432445Citizens Advice Bureau: 0844 8487919 see back ofguide for full contact details and area offices.Shelter Housing Free Advice Line: 0808 800 4444Website: www.england.shelter.org.uk22

What is a Discretionary Trust?A trust is a useful way of providing for an adultwith a learning disability.A trust can be used if your family wishes toleave you money or a property.What are the benefits of setting up adiscretionary trust? Good way of arranginginheritance A very important feature of adiscretionary trust is thatanything put in trust does notusually affect your access towelfare benefitsIf you are thinking about setting up a trust it isimportant that you seek specialist legal advice23

Find out more about Discretionary Trusts,Wills and passing on the family home.Mencap – Wills and Trusts teamTelephone: 020 7696 6925Email: willsandtrusts@mencap.org.ukWebsite: www.mencap.org.uk/what-wedo/wills-and-trustsThe Wills and Trusts team can recommend localsolicitors who specialise in working with families ofpeople with learning disabilities.Housing & Support Alliance can provideinformation about options for families wanting topass on the family homeTelephone: 0845 4561497 for full contact detailssee back of the guide.24

Housing that comes with supportSeveral supported living schemes have beenset up in Bath & North East Somerset.A supported living scheme is where a group ofpeople live. You would usually have your ownflat and there is sometimes a communal roomfor tenants and sleep in room for staff.Sometimes a small number of people may livein one house together. You may have yourown room but share a kitchen and bathroom.This may be a good way of trying out livingwith friends.25

There will often be otherpeople around. You may be able to livewith a friend. It will take lots ofplanning and you mayhave to wait some time. You may not have theindependence youwould like.I am interested, what do I do next?If you are interested in this typeof accommodation you need tolet us know so we can add itinto our future plans.It can often take a long time toset up this type of scheme. Ittakes a lot of careful planning tomake sure that the housingsuits the person’s needs.To find out more you shouldspeak to your Care Manager.26

What are my support options?Getting the right supportpackage can be likemaking a jigsaw puzzlewith lots of differentpieces to fit together.This section will tell youabout the types ofsupport available andhow to find out more.Everyone will needsupport. Some peoplewill need only a smallamount of support andother people may needmuch more.Everyone is different sothe support you needwill be different too.Your Support Plan willbe carefully planned andpieced together with youto make sure you getthe support you need.27

Support ServiceSupport is provided in your own home. Theamount of support you get will depend on yourneeds.You may need support in your home for a fewhours a day to help you with things likeshopping and cooking.Or you might need support all day and maybesomeone to sleep over at night.28

There are teams of Support Workers who arespecially trained to help you live independentlyand develop your skills.The Support Worker does not live with you.They are usually based in a central office.There is often a 24 hour help line if you needto contact them urgently.Your support will be carefully planned withyour Care Manager. You can arrange yoursupport with your Care Manager or you canreceive a direct payment and choose yoursupport and who supports you.29

Community Alarms and AssistiveTechnologyThere are lots of alarm systems and technologythat can help you live independently.There is a Community Alarm System that you canuse to get help in an emergency.There is technology that can do things like set offan alarm if the bath is too hot or about to overflowand turn off the cooker if it is left on too long.Find out moreContact: Sirona Community Alarm ServiceTelephone: 01225 477892Website: www.sirona-cic.org.uk30