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A couple of years ago, Michael was unhappy living in a housing association warden assisted bedsit. In 2009 Michael decided to move because he wanted more independence. His small ground floor bedsit faced onto a noisy street, he wanted a separate bedroom as he didn’t like having his bed in his lounge. Michael was also finding that no one was using the communal lounge and was feeling socially isolated. Michael had made the decision to move but didn’t know how to go about it. He said, “if someone helps me, then I know what I’m doing, if they don’t then I get in a mess”.

With Michael’s agreement, an appointment was arranged

with a housing officer from Weymouth and Portland housing department. Michael was introduced to his advocate Chris, who went with him and made notes so everything that he was told could be re-explained to him if he forgot anything. Once Michael was clear about the procedures to follow he was able to independently bid for flats.

After a short while Michael received a phone call saying that he had been successful on a bid and would he like to view the flat to see if it was suitable for him. He took Chris along with him but soon realised that this flat wasn’t what he was looking for, “it was too small and square”. Michael went back to bidding for properties and not long after, he got a phone call asking if he could move on 17th October. He went to view the property and instantly liked it. It had a separate bedroom from the living room, it was away from a busy road and set in some lovely gardens, there seemed to be a real sense of community with the residents, they meet regularly and have social events.

Chris helped Michael to understand the paperwork that needed to be completed to enable him to move out of a bedsit into a flat.

Michael says “I organised my own move and got everything ready to go, a mate picked me up with a van and we made two journeys”.

Michael realised that he wanted his independence and that if he has any problems he can contact Dorset Advocacy who will support him.

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