This is a tough one and I think you need some specialist advice. Essentially, if the property is deemed not fit for human habitation then council could potentially impose ban on anyone living there. It's different when someone owns their own home, but landlords aren't allowed to let properties in certain state especially to vulnerable person. In such instances, they are normally required to find emergency alternative accomodation. Because your mother is not homeless on the street but has a bed somewhere I am not sure whether self-discharge could be counted as making herself intentionally homeless so I think you need to get advice firstly from Shelter but also I think Citizen's Advice and/or Age UK in order to help identify the best solution. If your mother is well enough to go into alternative Sheltered accomodation she might be able to get alternative temporary accomodation with planned discharge rather than self-discharge, but I appreciate such a move will be traumatic for her. Another option is of course a nursing home, but I can understand how that might be traumatic also. The key to this is, I feel, whether the state of her current rented home means it cannot be legally let, but if that is the case then no rent should be due for the period while your mother is not allowed back home. It may fall to you to help smooth a transition between hospital and wherever your mother is able to move to. It's a horrible situation to find yourself in and I hope you are able to get the answers you need and find somewhere more comfortable than hospital without causing your mother too much distress. The only other idea that came to mind is these DIY teams that transform homes over a weekend. Can the community rally round? However, the fact your mother doesn't own her own home so that major works need to be authorised may be an unfortunate spanner in the works. I do hope you are able to find a solution. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Really hope there's something I've missed. x

Contact her local MP, councillor and press - copy in the housing association who seem to be breaching her human rights. 
 

Good luck!

Dave

It is certainly possible to do all the things Dave recommends. However, I'd still suggest getting specialist advice first. This is because a complication could be if the tenant (your mother) had previously failed to report problems that needed fixing in a timely manner (leading to further deterioration and the need for extensive renovations now) as that could constitute a breach of the lease sufficient to end the tenancy. It sounds like an extremely difficult situation. Good luck and please do let us know how you get on in case any other forum users find themselves in similar difficulty.

Thanks!

Rose 

Thank you i feel that this is really the most practical route at this time point as time is of the essence. The hospital have contacted the housing association but as i say its not clear to me who at the hospital is  making the final decision to do nothing. It sounds as if its the hospital social worker.  as the nurses had previously contacted a macmillan nurse and as i say no consultant seems to be willing to take responsibility for her care and keeping us up to date. All she is getting is paracetamil and morphine

Thank you yes i will  get in touch with these charities, the queen died in balmoral which has over 100 rooms and several outbuildings. I wonder if all were in a good state or did they just focus on the room she was in. All im saying is why cant she go into the bedroom  she has been in. The housing association have known for years that the first bedroom needs fixed. They have came out several times to fix the boiler but have not been sucessful so their last resort is to rip out the whole kitchen assuming there is a leak somewhere.  The only alternative accomodation is hospice care which she and i have refused. She would rather be in her home of over 20 years. The association will do the work however they need to get quotes , authorise it, then get the workers contracted which may take a month and then the actual work they say is approv 2-3 weeks. Im not sure she has this much time, its been about a week and ive still not been told that they have a quote . As i say they plan on doing work to areas she will not use so its as if they are getting the property ready to let to the next tennant. A new kitchen is of no benefit to her as she isnt eating much solid food. In terms of heating there are enough electric heaters to heat the room and shower water is not provided by the boiler  im therefore not understanding the objection to discharge home from her medical perspective. Yes a lovely sparking home is nice but she is basically going to be in rooms they have no intention of working on at the moment

I've been thinking again about your heart-breaking situation. Maybe it is just going to be so much work sorting things that you would be better focussing on spending time with your mother given her days are now limited. Hospices can be used for respite care. They can be more pleasant places than hospitals too. I really feel for you both. Sending you and your mother a virtual hug x

Hi

If the housing association initially went in for a boiler and suddenly want to renew the kitchen unless there is a health and safety issue with the kitchen and bedroom she can surely refuse what is essentially simple replacement. Get your MP to write to the housing association ASAP requesting information if the works are essential and a danger to health and safety (if she was living there before going into hospital i would say they are not other than possibly the boiler) have the MP put in the letter she wishes to return immediately due to her failing health which they are preventing and can they please postpone all non essential works with immediate effect (your mum does mot need to be coping with workmen in and out whike she is so unwell) further have the MP insist they do the essential work such as get the boiler going and make the property available to the tenant whom they do have a contract with by way of the tenancy agreement. Don't write your self, get your MP straight on it as time is important here. 

Very best of luck to you and your mum.

Kindest

Hello thanks for all the messages. The mcmillan housing officer, hospital palliative care nurse and the housing provider had a discussion. The housing have said that  they will postpone the repairs and she can move back in if she wants so this is what will happen. Unfotunately she is getting to be less responsive. I dont know if this is because they switched her morphine from liquid to tablet or because they scanned her (not sure why they are scanning her if she only gets pain relief)

Thank you so much for updating us all. The outcome of the discussion between Mcmillan, palliative care nurse and housing provider seems sensible. Really sorry your mother is getting to be less responsive. Hope she is back home as she wishes soon as possible. So sorry you have had to deal with all this stress. I do hope your Mum is made comfortable and that you are able to spend some quality time with her. It is such a difficult time for you all. Take care x