HA does not class toilet not working as an emergency!

robin_banks

Ahem , You'd be 'Potty' to miss it.

Sorry.

Zelie

In fact, you'd be a complete loo-ser if you didn't go.

blueberrypie

It seems to me there are two issues here. The first is that your toilet does not currently flush. Jumping up and down (here or at the HA offices) isn't going to change that. So your options are to complain, or to have a go at fixing it yourself (or both! not mutually exclusive LOL) If you decide not to try, or you try but don't succeed in fixing it, you'll have to accept that it isn't going to work for the next few days.

I'm sure you're upset that part of your party isn't going to be as you expected it to be, but I think the suggestion of putting a sign over the toilet about facilities around the world is a great one. You could even leave a small box somewhere in the bathroom for people to make donations to one of the organisations which helps provide clean water to developing countries ("My toilet isn't flushing right now. Please use the bucket provided - fill it from the tap and pour it down. You can use the minute this takes to think about people around the world who don't have access to clean water...") Your friends, far from thinking badly of you because your loo won't flush, will be impressed by your reasonable attitude and your ability to turn a negative into a positive. And one of them might even fix the loo for you ;-)

The second issue is that you're not happy with your HA. That's not something you can do much about right this minute, but you can make plans about what you'll do next week. Maybe you're going to write a letter of complaint, or see your local councillor. Maybe you're going to look for a new place to rent. Maybe there's a tenants' association you can get involved in. A plan nearly always works better than a rant (not that a rant doesn't sometimes make us feel better, but plans tend to get more done!)

EliteHeat

blueberrypie wrote: »

It seems to me there are two issues here. The first is that your toilet does not currently flush. Jumping up and down (here or at the HA offices) isn't going to change that. So your options are to complain, or to have a go at fixing it yourself (or both! not mutually exclusive LOL) If you decide not to try, or you try but don't succeed in fixing it, you'll have to accept that it isn't going to work for the next few days.

I'm sure you're upset that part of your party isn't going to be as you expected it to be, but I think the suggestion of putting a sign over the toilet about facilities around the world is a great one. You could even leave a small box somewhere in the bathroom for people to make donations to one of the organisations which helps provide clean water to developing countries ("My toilet isn't flushing right now. Please use the bucket provided - fill it from the tap and pour it down. You can use the minute this takes to think about people around the world who don't have access to clean water...") Your friends, far from thinking badly of you because your loo won't flush, will be impressed by your reasonable attitude and your ability to turn a negative into a positive. And one of them might even fix the loo for you ;-)

The second issue is that you're not happy with your HA. That's not something you can do much about right this minute, but you can make plans about what you'll do next week. Maybe you're going to write a letter of complaint, or see your local councillor. Maybe you're going to look for a new place to rent. Maybe there's a tenants' association you can get involved in. A plan nearly always works better than a rant (not that a rant doesn't sometimes make us feel better, but plans tend to get more done!)

Well, that sucked the fun out of that one then!

Blackpool_Saver

When i had a council property a toilet that didn't flush was considered to be a criteria 1 call out, my how things have changed. I am speaking to OP now, have you any idea how to fix it yourself?
I am pretty hopeless at things like that but I have on occasions fastened the interior bits with string or dropped a big lot of water down to force stuff through through the u bend......

N1SEXYTING

Maybe I should have titled this, HA resident's handbook states toilet not working (does not specify if this means toilet not flushing or toilet blocked) as emergency which will be fixed WITHIN 24 HOURS, emergency repair line initially states job to be carried out today but then another person then state it is not an emergency...is my HA in breach of its own policy and procedure!

I was not looking for sympathy, I was just venting, before posting this, I had already sent an email to my HA office as well as the headoffice, I was just venting. I was already intending on finding alternatives and have even called my husband's friend who's a plumber to come and have a look at it. I do not intend to sue the HA but will be putting in an official complaint.

Maybe because i do have a number of frustrations about the way this particular housing association is managing their properties including the fact that i have at least 3 other minor outstanding repairs and one major one. also I am reluctant to attempt to fix the problem myself base on the fact that I have been explicitly warned by my housing officer not to do anything that might damage the property seeing as it is a listed one!

Its not the end of the world for my party and I really don't understand my bringing up the party has resulted in so much disgust, since when is it a crime to have a party, in fact, why don't all you who are so quick to jump and make assumptions and rude judgements all come to celebrate the new year with me!

In fact I now have a fantastic funny story to share with my guests on the 'regulars' of moneysaving expert posters who are so superior in their owner occupier properties fixing such 'minor' problems and having a great lol at the ones who are not in their situation.

and this is the end of it for me! thanks to those who have given constructive advice and insights to the situation

EmRayMarRhys

Zennie, thank you but it was three years ago.
Just using it as an illustration

RobertoMoir

welshsue wrote: »

#12 could not agree more with your comments. I have found this a lot on these forums (ebay included). You put a genuine question or concern and you get a lot of saddoes with nothing better to do than slag you off.

These people ought to go out and get a life..

Can't argue with any of that. It is vexing to go through that but sadly it's part of life on the interwebs.

However, there is a group of people who ask questions or want advice and then shout the odds and accuse people of being rude or "slagging them off" or whatever simply because they didn't hear what they want to hear. I humbly submit that these people are just as bad as the group you're railing against.

Head-Out-Of-Sand

Hi N1Sexything,

Hope you manage to get this sorted soon, what a pain in the bum. (no pun intended).

I do get your point, if it's in your handbook, you're simply expecting them to stick to their own rules. I'm sure they wouldn't like it if you started making up your own rules about when you felt like paying them!

I am a resident landlord with two tenants and I always make sure I do my best to get repairs done asap to things such as heating, toilet & hotwater/shower, as it is a pain - what some homeowners seem to be missing the point of at the moment is that one of the benefits of renting is exactly that - it is someone elses responsibility to keep the place maintained, that's what you pay them for and that's what's written in THEIR terms! I have to fix everything myself and while I love having ownership of the place, it is a total b*llache sometimes!!!

I think there are some shades of "up to school in the snow in short trousers uphill both ways" going on here as well...come on guys, it's ok to complain when things aren't right! We all have our own levels of tolerance as well!

If you're having regular problems with getting HA to keep up with maintenance it may be worth keeping a diary of problems and writing to them about your concerns (apologies if you're already doing this)

Hang in there & if you can't sort it yourself, hopefully HA will get off their backsides and get it fixed!

Hope you enjoy your party!!!

P.S. Blueberrypie - love the toilet charity idea!! I might put one in my bathroom for my lodgers..."While you are having your excessive 40 minute morning shower using my elecy & water, please take a moment to think about those who do not have access to hot showers!"

Head-Out-Of-Sand

EliteHeat wrote: »

Personally I try and conserve water by not flushing at all - I just leave it to the next person who uses the toilet to choose whether to use the second-hand water or flush it and replace with fresh - similar to sharing bath water really.

The added advantage is that I save even more water by not having to wash my hands since I don't touch the filthy flushing lever.

Arrrrgh. Duuuuuuude.

But...but...you *wipe*, right?? Bottom-residing germs pass easily through 3-ply toilet paper...sorry, my ocd is kicking in!!! Off to flick the lightswitches to calm me down a bit he he...

He he. I live with people who use the no-flush thing. Although I do not believe they are in any way motivated by saving the planet!!! :rotfl: