Not about benefits but someone please help

Tehya

Hi everyone,

I've tried searching on the net but am getting nowhere fast.

We have a bit of a problem a drain has collapsed in our garden (housing association) for the second time since Christmas.

This time though human waste has come up one of the drains and is now all over our path, We have reported this to the HA and they are saying they have 24 hours to sort it out even though they are classing it as an emergency. We have food being delivered in an hour or so and as we are both disabled we can not get out there to clean it up, the mess is right in front of the doorstep so can barely be avoided.

Has anyone got any knowledge or useful info as to what our rights are concerning this, can the HA wait that long to fix and clear up after this?

Tehya

dmg24

I think twenty four hours is the generally accepted turnaround for emergency faults, I know it is for my local social housing LL.

Could you delay your food delivery until tomorrow?

Jowo_2

If the HA drag their feet, then contact your local environmental health department who can undertake an inspection and compel the HA to do the work.

It is unfeasible to expect any significant repair to be done immediately or the resolution to necessarily be able to be timed with the tenants personal commitments.

What does your tenancy handbook say about the turnaround on repairs?

NASA_2

Tehya wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've tried searching on the net but am getting nowhere fast.

We have a bit of a problem a drain has collapsed in our garden (housing association) for the second time since Christmas.

This time though human waste has come up one of the drains and is now all over our path, We have reported this to the HA and they are saying they have 24 hours to sort it out even though they are classing it as an emergency. We have food being delivered in an hour or so and as we are both disabled we can not get out there to clean it up, the mess is right in front of the doorstep so can barely be avoided.

Has anyone got any knowledge or useful info as to what our rights are concerning this, can the HA wait that long to fix and clear up after this?

Tehya

I would imagine they are allowed that amount of time unless there is an immediate risk to the health and safety of yourselves or others. Which it doesnt look as if there is here.

Tehya

Hi thanks for the help. The food being delivered is much needed as we're already late ordering it because of the holidays and being disabled we can't get out for more. I'm not too bothered about the repair I can wait for that. It's the fact we have a two inch deep by two foot wide pool of toilet waste in my front garden. You can not get to the front door without either going through it or trying to jump over it none of which we can do. Can't go over the grass either as that is full of it too. The HA were rubbish as usual and even though the whole area is full of flies they seem to think this is not a health hazard.

Thanks for the advice anyway at least it's helped get it off my chest but it seems we're just going to have to live with it until they decide to sort it out.

Tehya

dmg24

NASA wrote: »

I would imagine they are allowed that amount of time unless there is an immediate risk to the health and safety of yourselves or others. Which it doesnt look as if there is here.

The twenty four hour turnaround is usually where there is an immediate risk!

Tehya, if they don't get it sorted properly this time I would contact your local MP.

bezzza

I had same problem just over a week ago - my housing association had guys here within an hour of my calling and it was a Sunday too. They spent 3 hours clearing drains, removing excrement and hosing down the path and area by front door - they were excellent! They even called the next day to make sure everything was ok. For all the bad things said about housing associations/trusts I think mine went above and beyond what I expected. The policy for mine is an emergency has to be looked at within 4 hours - 4 hours is shocking!

karenx

Can one of your neighbours help clear it up for now? Or do you have any relatives near who can pop over?

real1314

Tehya wrote: »

Hi thanks for the help. The food being delivered is much needed as we're already late ordering it because of the holidays and being disabled we can't get out for more. I'm not too bothered about the repair I can wait for that. It's the fact we have a two inch deep by two foot wide pool of toilet waste in my front garden. You can not get to the front door without either going through it or trying to jump over it none of which we can do. Can't go over the grass either as that is full of it too. The HA were rubbish as usual and even though the whole area is full of flies they seem to think this is not a health hazard.

Thanks for the advice anyway at least it's helped get it off my chest but it seems we're just going to have to live with it until they decide to sort it out.

Tehya

Ask the delivery service to go round to the back door if possible?

Tehya

Hello again,

Aww it's lovely to have so many people give advice just what I needed. The ASDA delivery guy was fab, he was able to pretty much step round it all though we had covered the mess with some of our boxes from our move here at Christmas.

And guess what the drain contractors have just turned up so fingers crossed they can fix it this time but it will most likely be done properly tomorrow but at least they'll clean up tonight. At least we don't have to have a chemical toilet like we did all over Christmas and New Year.

I'm definitely over sensitive to problems with the HA as we are going through a process of complaints with them. We have a list of 40 separate incidents/jobs that have gone wrong in just the four months we've been here and considering this property is adapted for us as we're disabled you wouldn't believe the problems we've had. From the bathroom leaking into the living room the day before we moved in to the stair lift being stuck at the top of the stairs so our removal men could not take our belongings upstairs. We had to live thirsty boxes in our lounge until we could get it fixed. Then because they made such a mess of the kitchen floor it's had to be dug up, re-skimmed and relaid twice.

Oh well at least it looks like someone has got their finger out time.

Thanks again for your help it's very much appreciated.

Tehya