A disabled Big Issue vendor has launched legal action to get an accessible home: ‘I’ve had enough’

 Jason Sallis featured on the front cover of the Big Issue in August 2025 as we highlighted his plea for an accessible home. 

The London vendor is an amputee and suffers from ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes. He uses a wheelchair on his pitch and at his home in Barnet, North London, and Housing association Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) has been his landlord since 2014. 

But his home is not equipped for his wheelchair and now he is taking legal action against the housing association in order to end his long wait for a suitable home. 

“I have burned my body on unshielded radiators, suffered agonising stump blistering from a defective ventilation system, and had my mobility equipment destroyed by narrow walls,” said Sallis. “I am taking this all the way to a judge to ensure no other wheelchair user is left to rot like this.” 

Sallis was moved to a new ground-floor property in 2022 but has found the home is not accessible for his wheelchair, limiting his mobility and causing damage to the property as he moves around it. He is also unable to tend to the garden, which is overgrown. 

NHG has previously admitted “service failings in complaint handling, communication and confirmation of repair completion” and offered Sallis £1,550 in compensation in 2025. The housing association has been “proactively looking to make a direct offer of a property”, it said. 

Sallis, without legal representation, is taking NHG to court claiming £99,200 in damages. “I want to do it off my own back,” Sallis said. “I want to make sure that people know that it’s possible.” 

The Big Issue vendor claims living in the unsuitable property has impacted his health. 

He has twice been hospitalised this year: once for a tumour on his neck that proved to be benign and swelling in his legs due to oedema. Sallis claims the latter is down to his living conditions.  

“I’ve had enough,” said Sallis. “It’s just basically denying a liability even though all those complaint responses were all upheld. 

“I sent them doctors’ letters, hospital letters saying about all this [his spells in hospital] and they seem to still not be bothered. It’s as if they just don’t care.” 

Read more:

• Big Issue sellers celebrated in the House of Lords for National Vendor Week
• Young disabled people are shut out from housing and forced to live with their parents
• ‘We just want our homes not to hurt us’: Disabled people trapped in temporary accommodation

A Barnet Council inspection on 21 September found several issues with the property but noted that there were no category one hazards present. These hazards are considered the most serious and some require urgent action from social housing landlords under Awaab’s Law. While the legislation currently requires damp and mould to be fixed to strict timeframes, excess cold and heat, structural collapse and fire and explosion risks are among the issues that will be introduced in next month’s second phase. 

The inspector did note that Sallis is left with no choice but to charge the batteries that power his electric wheelchair next to his bed every night, blocking off his escape route in the event of a fire. 

NHG has planned works on the windows, floors and heating system in the property. 

“It’s just the stress of it all. Hence why I love getting out to do the Big Issue so I’m away from it,” said Sallis. 

“I can’t think of life without getting out to do the Big Issue.” 

A spokesperson for Notting Hill Genesis said: “We understand Mr Sallis and his partner have faced some challenges in their current home and we are doing all we can to provide them with support.

“There is a significant shortage of fully accessible ground floor accommodation across London, which can cause transfer delays. Mr Sallis is registered on our waiting list and has been awarded the highest priority banding in recognition of his medical and housing need. He was offered to view another home in September, but the property was not viewed by Mr Sallis.

“In the meantime, we continue working with Mr Sallis to complete the requested works to his home and to ensure the required adjustments are completed. 

“We are taking the appropriate advice regarding potential legal action and are not in a position to comment further at this stage.”

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