Council Flat Problems with Walls - Advice Needed

chrisb1357 · 1 October 2009 at 3:26PM

Hi all,

We got our council flat on Monday this week and its our first one. Problem we have is they removed all the old style celling tiles that was on celling around the flat, When doing this they have pulled down alot of the wall paper that would have been ok until they did this.

The person removing them did not think about scoring around the edge of the tiles before taking them down.

We now have to strip all the walls in the place to fix this problem which we did not expect to do due to being on a low income and not much money behind us at the minute.

I did some tests on the wall to see how good the plaster is behind the paper where it needs removing and its so bad that it crumbles off in my hand in places and just a nock will make it fall off.

This means that when we remove the paper its going to need to be re skimmed on the walls like this which means more cost for us just beause the council work men did not take care.

Can anyone advice what we should do as we just dont have the money to do all this. Should the council put it right for us or not.

Chris

rum1 · 1 October 2009 at 5:07PM

The council should have given you a decorating allowance if the flat isnt up to standard..At the same time you should viewed the flat and pointed out all the defects wich they should repair for you

Errata · 1 October 2009 at 5:08PM

The plaster will fall off the walls when you strip the paper off if it has 'blown' and it sounds like it has. The council is then responsible for replastering the walls, not you.
Blown plaster makes a hollow sound when you tap it, even through wallpaper, because it's come away from the wall and only being held up by the wallpaper.

chrisb1357 · 1 October 2009 at 5:53PM

Hi all,

We did have a look around the flat before we took it over but you dont always see things first time. We did notice that we needed to re paper which i did not mind doing but we did not know what the plaster was like under it until you started to remove the paper.

If i tap the plaster where its cracked it falls off. Should i remove the rest of the paper before speaking to them or just leave it until.

We did ask about a decorating help or grant to tidy it up as its been left with red walls LOL in places and the faults allready said above and no carpets which we dont need to worry about yet but they said nothing is there to help us fund for painting or DIY and they cant help us in anyway

Chris

Errata · 1 October 2009 at 6:32PM

This is what happened to me: moved into a council (now housing association) property which had evil paper on the walls of the hall. I started to strip the hall and as the paper came off so did large lumps of plaster. I tapped all the walls in several places and they sounded hollow (blown). I continued stripping the paper off and by the time I'd finished 50% of the plaster had fallen off. I reported it to repairs dept. and a plasterer came out and removed what was left and replastered all the walls. Because I had to emulsion when the plaster had dried the council gave me a £20 decorating voucher.

What I would do in your shoes: strip all the paper and remove any loose plaster that hasn't fallen off with the paper. Phone council, explain plaster's fallen off and ask for someone to come out and inspect asap and arrange for the walls to be made good and give me a decorating allowance.

Councils won't give decorating grants because a property isn't decorated to an incoming tenants taste, and a pre letting inspection should have ensured a property was left in a reasonably clean and tidy condition. Councils don't provide carpets, or grants for carpets.

chrisb1357 · 1 October 2009 at 7:40PM

Many Thanks,

Am not worried about the painting or floors its the fact that the plaster is coming off. Think i will remove all the paper and take it from there. i can see the council saying they cant do the re plaster.

Chris

Errata · 1 October 2009 at 7:48PM

If some plaster is left and could fall off injure someone, I think a council would look on it as a fairly urgent repair.

chrisb1357 · 1 October 2009 at 7:58PM

Well its only small hand sized bits but its always hard to tell how much will come off next and its in the hall way. I think am best to strip what i can and see what they say

chris

munkypuzzel · 1 October 2009 at 8:11PM

Am i the only one that thinks this is just another person who wants everything handed on a plate to them??

Why dont you save up and decorate with your own money like the rest of have to??? Guess that would be like too much hard work...

chrisb1357 · 1 October 2009 at 8:13PM

Nope i am not asking for free stuff.

Like i stated above i am happy to paint it myself and do DIY and fit flooring its just the plaster issue that i am talking about. I have allready started on some rooms with my own paid for stuff and not FREE. I am not a Scrounger like you have tried to put it above and i work for my money even that i am on a low income.

Chris