News RSS Feed


Elderly Weymouth widow's new home shock

11:30am Saturday 11th February 2012 in News By Emma Walker

DISTRESSED: Violet Gallet and her grand-daughter Amanda Bussell DISTRESSED: Violet Gallet and her grand-daughter Amanda Bussell

A DYING elderly woman who wants to spend her last months of life near her family has been sent to live in a filthy flat, relatives have claimed.

Violet Gallett, 79, applied for social housing in Weymouth last October so she could live closer to her remaining family after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

She was supposed to move into her new home in Leam-ington Road, Lane-house, on Thurs-day but her family found the ground floor flat to be in a ‘filthy’ condition. It is believed drug users used to live at the flat as needles were found.

Mrs Gallett, who gave up her home in Birmingham to move to Dorset, has to live with relatives in Weymouth until the Synergy Housing flat is cleaned.

Synergy has admitted the condition of the flat was ‘unacceptable’.

Amanda Bussell, granddaughter of Mrs Gallett, said: “It’s just not right. I’m fuming.

“My nan cried her eyes out when she saw it, we just couldn’t believe it.

“It was in an awful condition and she only has months to live.”

Mrs Bussell, of Norfolk Road, Weymouth, added: “When we first came to look, the cleaners wouldn’t let us in because one of the cleaners said there was blood up the walls and needles on the floor.

“We contacted the council on the morning my nan was meant to move in and they sent cleaners round. But even after it had been cleaned there was still dirt, mould and damp.

“The skirting boards and window sills were all cracked, chipped and broken off.

“What’s most worrying is that all the window locks were broken and there were open wires everywhere. It’s not even user-friendly, she needs a walk-in shower and she is only about four feet tall so she can’t even reach the light switches.”

Widow Mrs Gallett chose to leave her home of 40 years in Birmingham and move to Weymouth to be close to her daughter Jackie Robins and grandchildren.

Mrs Robins said: “Between the doctors and the family we managed to get her down here so she could live out her last days surrounded by loved ones.

“We are her only family able to look after her properly.

“She has been offered another property which wouldn’t be available until February 19, which still isn’t good enough.

“Synergy even had the nerve to send her flowers and chocolates to say sorry but that hasn’t helped either.”

Mrs Gallett said: “I’m really fed up.

“At the moment I’m living with my daughter but I want my own home. I’ve come all the way here and given up my home in Birmingham. It’s disgusting that pensioners are treated like this.

“They say they kill the old ones off first.”

Arthur Preece, who lives opposite to the flat in Leamington Road, said: “Lots of people have come and gone from that flat, I think there were drug users living there once. It’s been boarded up for ages.

“It seems a bit crazy that they would put an elderly and ill woman in a flat that is not fit to live in.

“I reckon it’s a problem with the Synergy system, they saw her on the waiting list and just wanted to fill the room.”

‘condition did not meet normal letting standards’

A spokesman from Synergy Housing said: “Synergy Housing has been liaising with Mrs Gallett regarding a move to one of our properties in Weymouth. “One of our lettings officers accompanied Mrs Gallett to view a property that had been allocated. “Unfortunately, when we viewed the property we were disappointed in the condition which did not meet our normal letting standards. “Synergy Housing has apologised to Mrs Gallett for the unacceptable standard of the property and we are rectifying this situation by undertaking a full redecoration of the property which will start on Monday and is due to be completed by Thursday so that Mrs Gallett can move in later next week. “Mrs Gallett will not be charged any rent until this situation has been resolved and will be reimbursed any other expenses incurred due to the delay in moving. “We are undertaking an investigation into why this situation occurred to ensure that this does not happen again.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council housing spokeswoman Amanda Legg, said: “The borough council runs the housing register and advertises properties available in the area.

“The council nominates applicants that are on the housing list to these properties. “Sometimes properties are left in unsatisfactory conditions. It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure a property is a decent standard.”

Comments(39)

iampuzzled says...
11:42am Sat 11 Feb 12

I wonder why it wasn't checked beforehand?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

lloydyg33 says...
12:08pm Sat 11 Feb 12

This is my great-nan as i live in bournemouth and have not been in contact with the family i was unaware of the situation. But who in their right mind would house someone in a property of that state! let alone an elderly lady that has lung cancer and not long to live! I like how the spokeswomen of the council (Amanda Legg) has passed the buck on to the landlord of the property, saying its their responsibility for the state of the premises! How can you justify that sometimes the properties are in unsatisfactory conditions? Maybe they need to start looking after the people who really need the help and worry about the people that want to stick needles in their arms after!!! NOT HAPPY!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Dorset Guy says...
12:55pm Sat 11 Feb 12

Nothing changes 30 years ago I looked at a flat with a friend we met the housing officer late afternoon fully boarded up no electricity just a torch to look by and the threat that she only had one more offer or she woud be put back down the list.There is no reason thease days with instant communication that a property cant be turned round in days in a good state of repair They can do it on TV to private housed (I know all stage managed) but im sure it can be done ith Managers who actually get out to inspect voids

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

shy talk says...
1:01pm Sat 11 Feb 12

It is the responsibility of the Landlord not the council to ensure the property is habitable. Clean,good repair, gas and electric safety checked. Also the the council housing have a duty of care to ensure the housing stock is fit for purpose. It beggars belief that Synergy Housing do not carry out at least three monthly checks on their tenants. To ensure the tenants are behaving themselves and complying with the tenancy agreement.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Crabber says...
1:15pm Sat 11 Feb 12

I have a friend who was shown a flat in Sheltered Accommodation which was absolutely disgusting, whilst see was loooking around I spoke to some of the elderly residents who said the place used to have a permanent Warden now GONE. The Communal Areas used to be Cleaned every 2 days now STOPPED. There used to be Day Trips out and Activity Afternoons & Bingo Evenings now all GONE.I myself went in and had a look around and in the living room there was a Filthy Dirty Stained Carpet on the Floor, I enquired as to what the Huge Stain might be and was told by the Council Official " Ah that's were they found the previous occupant after he had Died" I asked "if they Council would remove and replace the carpet and also redecorate" The reply was " No we haven't the money or the resources to do this". Need less to say my friend didn't take the flat.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
1:35pm Sat 11 Feb 12

well just to clarify that i applied for sheltered accommodation on behalf of my mum as the doctor said she should be here sooner rather than later ,so i applied and was told shes not priority ,after lots of phone calls etc she became priority for a sheltered home ,but every time i rang to say i had seen a empty property, i was told it had been allocated but there was a flat ,as i was worried my mum could die any Minuit i was so happy to be offered it ,with the understanding that if a bungalow came along she would be considered ,and was told yes she would ,i understand about the difficulty as there are other people needing sheltered accommodation but my mum might only need it for a few months ,she is 4ft nothing cant get into a bath ,and can hardly see ,i did see a sheltered bungalow near me but was told it was adapted for disabled ,think my mum qualifies as disabled ,i was also offers a studio flat up 2 flights of stars Bering in mind she cant climb stairs as she cant hardly breath,she has been coming to Weymouth for 40 years twice a year on holiday as she loved it ,any way the flat is being decorate maybe covering up the damp !!!!which is not good for her condition ,well after begging pleading and being told there could be a bungalow on the 19 of Feb and could take 4/6 weeks to do up i didn't think i had time and now its been allocated beringin mind i was told there's nothing they could do till they had the keys on the 19 ,so looks like its the flat! which is not suitable no safety doors or windows but hey she could be dead in a few weeks then the problems solved ,maybe we shouldn't spend her £480 pounds shes saved to get the carpets , oh then all the curtains for so many windows ,will be a nice flat for a couple with a baby when its done ,oh and yes Synge did say it was up to her to decorate it as it was a special needs flat not sheltered which they would have done all ,one exhausted daughter but you do what you have to do for your parents ,well if you have a heart ,and don't want them to die alone .

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
1:51pm Sat 11 Feb 12

Crabber wrote:
I have a friend who was shown a flat in Sheltered Accommodation which was absolutely disgusting, whilst see was loooking around I spoke to some of the elderly residents who said the place used to have a permanent Warden now GONE. The Communal Areas used to be Cleaned every 2 days now STOPPED. There used to be Day Trips out and Activity Afternoons & Bingo Evenings now all GONE.I myself went in and had a look around and in the living room there was a Filthy Dirty Stained Carpet on the Floor, I enquired as to what the Huge Stain might be and was told by the Council Official " Ah that's were they found the previous occupant after he had Died" I asked "if they Council would remove and replace the carpet and also redecorate" The reply was " No we haven't the money or the resources to do this". Need less to say my friend didn't take the flat.
no money for our ederly but loads for rocks on a rounderbout ,!!!!!!!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Peter6 says...
2:10pm Sat 11 Feb 12

Disgraceful, this should not have happened, I hope that an investigation will de made to see how this happened and the responsible parties disciplined.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
2:15pm Sat 11 Feb 12

iampuzzled wrote:
I wonder why it wasn't checked beforehand?
i was taken in the flat in a bad state and Synge said look at it with an eye how it would look when they did it up well i did ,then when i went back ,it was nearly just as bad all they did was clean it well if you call spraying water all over was clean ,oh yes they did the kitchen and bath room but with still some problems ,and they did say we would have to do the rest big job not just decorating ,now i know why no one els wanted the flat.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Dorset Guy says...
4:27pm Sat 11 Feb 12

Can someone tell me how Housing Association property compares with private rented on take over that is a good comparason to make?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

portland rebel says...
4:47pm Sat 11 Feb 12

private rental is no better, its a matter of there you are like it or lump it, and no you cant decorate it either.
as someone said above plenty of money to waste on art or for that matter anything olympic.
this country is like a duck on a pond, looks all pretty on the surface but the legs are going mad and cant keep up.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

dun-me-ed-in says...
6:27pm Sat 11 Feb 12

Just awful, Amanda Legg and the persons involved who work at Synergy Housing should be made to sit on the Pooh on Sticks they call art work with dunce caps.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Ferndown Steve says...
10:24pm Sat 11 Feb 12

Synergy have their own 'void standard' when re-letting properties - obviously and utterly, not acceptable, if this is the result !....

This standard obviously falls well short, by sounds of it and should be reviewed with those responsible reprimanded !

In this particular case, dignity and respect for our older generation and their specific needs was totally ignored !! - No excuses !!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

DorchesterBoy says...
12:37am Sun 12 Feb 12

It's terrible, but as others have pointed out, why did Synergy not check on the condition of the flat. As i understand it, the landlord agrees to let the flat to Synergy. In effect the landlord will lose out in this situation.
Another little situation that caught a friend of mine out - he was receiving housing benefit direct from the council for a tenant of his for 18 months. The tenant scarpered. The council then found he had been fraudulently claiming. And in that circumstance they are able to claim the money back from the landlord, my friend, who subsequently fell behind with the mortgage and lost the place. Landlords make little or no money on renting to these kind of tenants (those with drug habits, not elderly people). It's hardly a surprise no money gets spent.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

weymouth donkey says...
10:24am Sun 12 Feb 12

Should have stayed in Birmingham

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

weymouth donkey says...
10:25am Sun 12 Feb 12

Many other people would love to come down here as well

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
5:21pm Sun 12 Feb 12

weymouth donkey wrote:
Should have stayed in Birmingham
well maybe when your old and sick you would like to die alone and scared ,shes paid her dues no mater where she lives and is entitled to live in a nice home with dignity ,how dare you !!!!and she was born and bread here

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

madmiacat says...
5:32pm Sun 12 Feb 12

there is a government policy called the Decent Homes Standard. the basic points are as follows: The Decent Homes Standard has four criteria which are:

It meets the current statutory minimum standard for housing (i.e. the dwelling should be free of category 1 hazards under the HHSRS)
It is in a reasonable state of repair
It has reasonably modern facilities and services
It provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.

further details can be found at http://webarchive.na
tionalarchives.gov.u
k/20100519193351/htt
p://www.communities.
gov.uk/housing/decen
thomes/whatis/

I hope this helps the family get the housing the widdow deserves.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
5:33pm Sun 12 Feb 12

weymouth donkey wrote:
Should have stayed in Birmingham
well maybe when your old and sick you would like to die alone and scared ,shes paid her dues no mater where she lives and is entitled to live in a nice home with dignity ,how dare you !!!!and she was born and bread here

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

scooby-doo says...
6:10pm Sun 12 Feb 12

I live above the flat in question. Synergy have to take a real hard look at themselves. for years i had been complaining that the property was being used for drug abuse. Me and my family had been threatened, abused, kept up all hours of the night by various drug addicts squatting at the property. we begged Synergy to investigate and they kept saying there was no evidence, basically they made me feel i was a lier. i could not have my children stay over as felt it was unsafe, Synergy did not even visit the property if they did they would of seen the level of drug abuse. As long as they receive there rent they don't care. Drug addicts and alcoholics are given social housing to abuse. everyone deserves a chance but should be one chance then out so more deserving people get rehoused.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

biggestoaf says...
6:55pm Sun 12 Feb 12

When the Conservatives started encouraging councils to sell housing stock to companies like Synergy they said competition would drive up standards and give tenants a better deal. Doesn't look as though it's working does it? Strangely the Conservatives are now saying exactly the same about their Health Service reforms. You have been warned.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
7:32pm Sun 12 Feb 12

madmiacat wrote:
there is a government policy called the Decent Homes Standard. the basic points are as follows: The Decent Homes Standard has four criteria which are:

It meets the current statutory minimum standard for housing (i.e. the dwelling should be free of category 1 hazards under the HHSRS)
It is in a reasonable state of repair
It has reasonably modern facilities and services
It provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.

further details can be found at http://webarchive.na

tionalarchives.gov.u

k/20100519193351/htt

p://www.communities.

gov.uk/housing/decen

thomes/whatis/

I hope this helps the family get the housing the widdow deserves.
thank you for information ,

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

madmiacat says...
7:37pm Sun 12 Feb 12

no probs. social housing is regulated, you just need to shout the correct info to get action

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
12:16am Mon 13 Feb 12

madmiacat wrote:
no probs. social housing is regulated, you just need to shout the correct info to get action
yes that's true when you know where to go ,iv been running around like a headless chicken ,and not really getting any where till now thanks to my daughters ,still hopping for a shelterd accomadation but dont think its going to happen so the fight might go on for safety doors and windows ,

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

HavenSeaview says...
12:17pm Mon 13 Feb 12

Sorry but if that was my mum or nan no way would i let her live alone , i would want her to live with me so i could look after her and be company. and of course she has a right to live where she wants but with all due respect i have known somone who had a 4 year old with cancer and all they got was a run down bedsit in weymouth. she is actually lucky to get this place.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
7:22pm Mon 13 Feb 12

HavenSeaview wrote:
Sorry but if that was my mum or nan no way would i let her live alone , i would want her to live with me so i could look after her and be company. and of course she has a right to live where she wants but with all due respect i have known somone who had a 4 year old with cancer and all they got was a run down bedsit in weymouth. she is actually lucky to get this place.
yes thank you for that but guess what she don't want to live with me she still is very independent ,i would have her here but i only have one bed room my self ,and she only wants a small sheltered place ,and yes maybe she is lucky to get this flat ,but with due respect it should be livable ,

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

marabout says...
7:43pm Mon 13 Feb 12

If she doesn't want to live there then I know someone who has a bucket and sponge and is willing to clean it up before they move in. Is she interested in the flat or has she abandoned it?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
10:49pm Mon 13 Feb 12

marabout wrote:
If she doesn't want to live there then I know someone who has a bucket and sponge and is willing to clean it up before they move in. Is she interested in the flat or has she abandoned it?
well actually it needed more than a bucket and sponge ,i know she might sound ungrateful but shes 79 dying of cancer might only be there a few months ,and know she has not abandoned it or she would be homeless ,with respect i really think you should have all the facts not just half the picture ,sorry, maybe they could apply for it when she dies

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

dabtv says...
1:39pm Tue 14 Feb 12

lucky to even get an association property, i have been waiting 5 years and whilst i have been waiting my wife has died and both our families come from Weymouth!!!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

bootedsw says...
6:14pm Tue 14 Feb 12

If this had been a normal person it would never have been reported or got air time.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
6:42pm Tue 14 Feb 12

its not being normal its making a stand how the property was left and re let ,

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jmc1 says...
6:43pm Tue 14 Feb 12

bootedsw wrote:
If this had been a normal person it would never have been reported or got air time.
whats a normal person ?????

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
6:45pm Tue 14 Feb 12

dabtv wrote:
lucky to even get an association property, i have been waiting 5 years and whilst i have been waiting my wife has died and both our families come from Weymouth!!!
im very sorry for your loss i lost my husband to and was born and bread here ,and you have to fight for what you want in this world ,with respect they wont offer it you on a plate ,

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

paddyash says...
7:07pm Tue 14 Feb 12

let the poor lady live rent free and live out her last days in peace, love dignity, respect and compassion xxx

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
10:48pm Tue 14 Feb 12

by the way she wasnt offerd a property on the 19 feb i was told at the end of jan ,it could be up then but would take 4/6 weeks to do it up and yes it was a warden bungalow wasnt sure we had that time to wait .

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
2:51am Wed 15 Feb 12

paddyash wrote:
let the poor lady live rent free and live out her last days in peace, love dignity, respect and compassion xxx
thank you ,x

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jackie 1950 says...
2:51am Wed 15 Feb 12

paddyash wrote:
let the poor lady live rent free and live out her last days in peace, love dignity, respect and compassion xxx
thank you ,x

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

bootedsw says...
3:01pm Wed 15 Feb 12

I agree the property was left in awful state and thats the story here. Not the fact that an elederly person was placed in there.
As to normal if you aren't a family with kids or elderly the echo probably wouldn't feature it on the front page as there is no shock horror.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

max planck says...
12:36pm Thu 16 Feb 12

jackie 1950 wrote:
dabtv wrote: lucky to even get an association property, i have been waiting 5 years and whilst i have been waiting my wife has died and both our families come from Weymouth!!!
im very sorry for your loss i lost my husband to and was born and bread here ,and you have to fight for what you want in this world ,with respect they wont offer it you on a plate ,
Born and Bread...? What on earth does that mean?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

click2find

Most popular


About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree