I am in the process of looking for a flat close to home, because my OCD and Aspergers puts stress on my family and I want to have an independent life, particularly as my parents grow old. I am on Band A for social housing , meaning that I am high priority due to my disability.
The problem is that I have a really severe phobia of dogs, have OCD about fires and living around others in a flat complex, and am worried about the social aspect of flat living. The dog phobia, however, is the main concern because most of the flats allow dogs, and even the ones that have a no pets policy in practice never enforce it, or so I have been told. I cannot be anywhere near most dogs without having a panic attack, the exception being Golden Retrievers.
The county council do have a limited supply of private, social rented bungalows, but they give priority to those in wheelchairs and the elderly, but a bungalow would completely meet my needs as I would have a private door. I believe the council does not understand mental health and invisible disability needs. What should I do? Have I a case for a bungalow? Should my needs be put behind a physically disabled person?
