3rd December, 2021.
It’s official: I was on the phone, yesterday.
Quite a lot: for me, anyway.
As it sounds like the chap next is moving out.
He’d moved in a few years ago, with his girlfriend: the pair had a child, together.
A one bedroom flat isn’t necessarily the best place to have a kid, but there you go.
At any rate: he had a few mental health issues.
Issues that may — may — have contributed to the pair splitting up: I couldn’t say for sure.
At any rate: she moved in with her parents, about a year ago.
With him retaining control of the flat, but temporary moving to his parents: as he was finding life on his own difficult.
He or his parents would look occasionally, to pick up the post.
A few months ago … ? As I wasn’t sure what was happening, I made what’s called a Concern for Welfare call to the local police, and to our landlords: as he’d not been seen for a while.
He was upright and breathing, thankfully.
What concerned me other the past few days … ?
Was that Robert Heath — my landlord’s boiler-repair/gas safety contractors — had left a note to say they’d tried gaining access to do the mandatory gas safety check.
Then left a second note: complete with a big ‘URGENT’ sticker.
Knowing how gas safety checks work, I knew a third visit would involve a visit from a engineer allowed to force entry: gas safety checks are seriously important.
I made another welfare check with the local police: who told me asking the landlord, and the NHS, would be the better option.
So I phoned the NHS on the usually 111 non-emergency number, and our landlords: through their 0300 number.
Which took a while!
The NHS told me there was little they could do: as the various bits of privacy legislation meant They couldn’t get hold of his phone number from our landlords.
Out landlords, however? Did phone: to tell me they’d contacted him and made sure he was OK.
Some thirty minutes after his parents had popped ’round: to pick up his post, and some other bits and bobs.
In the brief conversations I had with them?
I found out that he was OK, let them know about the gas check … and learnt he was planning to end his tenancy, on health grounds.
He’s better off with his parents, basically.
I’ve asked them to pass him my regards.
I can only hope life treats him well: and that a new tenant is in quickly.
~≈§≈~
