Falkirk Council: Family's fury over debt letter for unoccupied sheltered housing

Her distraught relatives say they have waited on Falkirk Council making the property fit for her needs for the last 11 months – and now she has become too frail to move in.

They are currently looking for a care home in the area to allow her to leave hospital.

But they say that the council’s failure across several departments have made the last few months incredibly difficult for them as they struggled to get their elderly mum ongoing care.

They also question how much money has been wasted by workmen having to redo badly carried out work and lost revenue from the property due to these failings.

The family had first been in contact with the council last year to find sheltered housing for the woman who lives alone and who the Falkirk Herald has chosen not to name.

In June they were offered a one-bedroom apartment in Dorrator Court in Camelon, although they later discovered the property was in fact only a bedsit.

After talks with officials, in August it was agreed that if modifications were carried out, including installing a wet room which an occupational therapist said the woman needed, then it would be suitable.

The family were told this would probably be completed by October when the woman could move in and from when rent and council tax would be due.

However, they heard nothing more about the property until February of this year.

By this time the woman had spent a lengthy period in hospital and rehabilitation following a fall at home.

Her daughter said she felt “pressurised” into signing the tenancy agreement as her mother was due to be discharged and her home of more than 50 years was unsuitable.

But when she went to view the work and to arrange for decoration she was horrified at the state.

She said: “There was no wet room instead it was a shower cubicle that had been installed which isn’t suitable for a wheelchair. We’ve since been told that you can’t get a wet room on a first floor property so why were we told you could?

"Two doors needed replaced, three ceilings had to be painted with anti-fungal paint because of damp patches and the vent in the fan in the bathroom had to be installed through the loft and out through the roof.

"Yet we were told it was only minor repairs that were needed and the property met the council’s letting standards.

"The residents of Dorrator Court are elderly, less mobile than the majority of council tenants and quite possibly in some cases vulnerable. I do not expect there to be any discrimination between properties such as Dorrator Court and other council housing.

"This work was all supposed to have been completed by council workmen but they had to come back out and do it all again at more cost to the council taxpayer.”

The elderly woman was readmitted to hospital after only a few weeks at home and remains in Forth Valley Royal. Her family were initially told by social workers to keep the property even though they knew no overnight care was available.

A demand for unpaid council tax was sent out on March 17 and this was immediately queried by the family. However, they heard nothing back until April 25 when a summary warrant was served for the unpaid balance of £117.77 by sheriff officers.

The daughter said: “I understand the property has been vacant since May 2023 which has been a loss of revenue to the council. Add to that the cost of the repairs to the repairs and the council will be significantly out of pocket on this property.

"All we want is for someone to take responsibility for the situation, instead of what appears to be an unwillingness to admit mistakes were made. We don’t want other families to have to go through this very stressful situation.

"The council’s inabilities to communicate and guarantee a satisfactory level of workmanship has been extremely disappointing.

"My mother would be aghast at receiving a debt letter, something she has never had in her entire life.”

A spokesperson for Falkirk Council said: “We have reviewed this case carefully, and we can confirm that our officers have acted appropriately throughout. It was not our intention to cause any upset or distress, and we apologise if this was the case.

“The property was offered on June 30, 2023, viewed on July 3, and accepted on July 5. As disabled adaptations were required no tenancy agreement was signed at that time and no rent or council tax was payable.

“Once the disabled adaption was confirmed as suitable for applicant needs (by an occupational therapist), the property was viewed by the family. The tenancy agreement was signed on February 15, 2024 with rent being charged from February19. Council tax was also then payable from February 19.

“The council tax position was reviewed w/c May 6 and in light of the circumstances the chief finance officer used their discretion to avoid double council tax being charged. In tandem with this, all recovery action was cancelled and we are liaising with family to maximise council tax relief at taxpayers former home, to minimise the amount payable.

“We have also waived the required four weeks-notice period in relation to the termination to minimise the rent payable.

“The property met our void standard but if there were any repairs/remediation later identified by tenant, or family, we can confirm these would have been quickly addressed.”