Council tenant help needed

Mrs_Huggett

I hope spomeone will be able to help me with this problem that a family member has, they have just been given a larger council property, and it was refitted some time ago for the elderly couple that lived there, this means that they do not have a convential bathroom, but a wetroom (horrible, looks like a hospital room), The council have made a big deal about the property they have left having to be put back into it's original state, but they are refusing to put a bath into the new property, as the family member has a young baby I wondered if they would be able to use that fact to get the council to sort it out. They have learnt that the property did once have a bath and that the changes were made to accomodate the elderly couple, surely the same rule should apply to councils as it does to their tenants? Any guidance would be gratefully received. Thanks!

Jowo_2

I can't advise but usually Shelter offers free expert advice to tenants and may be in the position to give you the legal position on this.

What does their tenancy agreement and tenant handbook say to the tenants about changes to the property? Did this couple make modifications to their original property without the consent of the council and have been ordered to return it back without unauthorised changes to comply with their actual obligations?

And do I understand because they have to restore the property back to its original condition they feel the council should make changes to the new one which the council modified at the request of the previous tenants, presumably to comply with disability legislation?

Didn't these tenants view the property and agree to accept it in its current state?

When I had a council property, it was made clear when I viewed it and signed the new tenancy agreement that I had to take it as-is with absolutely no obligation for the council to redecorate it. In my case, the bath was stained and chipped but as it didn't leak, they wouldn't replace it. The previous tenant was a heavy smoker and all the walls and ceilings were stained but there was no redecoration grant.

Morglin

I would be really surprised if the council put this back to being a bathroom with a bath in.

Wet rooms are installed, in council properties, (usally via the DFG system) for elderly and disabled (if medical evidence supplied), they cost a lot of money to do, and councils are very reluctant to change them once they are done, in case the current tenants ever need one, or anyone disabled/elderly rents it in the future - then the whole thing has to start again.

I had a wet room installed by the council at a home of mine - after I left, the new tenants were told that if they wanted it changed, they had to do it themselves at their own cost.

Councils have a legal obligation to make sure there is a usable bathroom - but there's no obligation on them as to what sort of bathroom it is, providing there is either a bath OR a shower.

Shelter will give you advice though.

Lin

Pssst

I doubt they have an obligation to refit the bathroom. Someone has probably spent a fortune fitting it as a special needs bathroom already!

Your family member should be thankful that they have actually been able to secure a tenancy as local authority housing is now like gold dust.

But thats another debate.

poppysarah

There is one council that was looking at bannning baths from new build properties to save water.

They should go and speak to their local councillor.
Could the accept a different property? If this one is set up for an older person then why change it at all? It's not like there's only a few oldies about.
Could they discuss with the council sharing the cost if they don't want to move?

m_13

I'm not really understanding the issue with the wet room! Is it because it 'looks horrible' that they don't want it?

If the child is too young to be showered - and I've seen a small child under a continental shower next to a swimming pool literally pinned to the floor with the power of the water and unable to get up - then they can use a baby bath until they are big enough.

In some ways I'm cross that there are disabled people who need adapted homes and can't get them but your family member - who has no disabilities - has been given an adapted home they don't need.

mazza111

My niece had the same problem. However, both the children had recurring chest and ear infections. She went to her local counselor who campaigned to have a bath installed for her. It's not easy trying to shower a baby tbh. It's bad enough trying to get some of the little gits into the bath. I gotta admit, although I like to have my shower in the morning, I would dreadfully miss my bath if it wasn't there, nothing quite like soaking in the tub, with a nice glass of wine, candles and a good book

Pssst

Just get a plastic bath tub and fill it from the taps in the wet room.

When not in use,hang on the back of the door.

seven-day-weekend

I think it's fair enough really.

A person without a disability can use a wetroom, whereas many disabled people can't use a conventional bathroom.

As someone else has said, a plastic bath can be used for the child until they are old enough to use the shower.

Now the Council have adapted it, it would be a waste of money to change it back, imho.

PasturesNew

I though babies were washed in the kitchen sink, or in a bowl. Certainly we were washed in the kitchen sink until we were about 3.

I'd just get a baby bath and fill it from the shower head when it gets a bit older.

greenface

PasturesNew wrote: »

I though babies were washed in the kitchen sink, or in a bowl. Certainly we were washed in the kitchen sink until we were about 3.

I'd just get a baby bath and fill it from the shower head when it gets a bit older.

AHH you were lucky we had six of us in a dinosaur egg with water from a soggy swamp.
We had to adapt our bathroom to a wet room at a big cost