Housing Association emergency front door replacement.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Practical advice is for your neighbour to speak to the HA. The likelyhood is that they WILL charge him and, as I've said already, add it to his rent account as a re-charge. Without wishing to sound harsh, the damage was his fault, not the HA's. As you say, accidents happen and this one, like so many, was avoidable.

As for letting the building burn down? Do you really need an answer to that question?

The new kitchen comment was merely to point out that even HA's have a finite resource. What they spend on his door they won't be able to spend elsewhere.

BitterAndTwisted

FOXGLOVE wrote: »

I don't understand how they can ask people to pay - especially as he was out and we called the fire brigade.

He said that the reason he had to pay was because he had left the cooker on and it was negligence.

But your neighbour WAS negligent. Your neighbour should thank their lucky stars that you did spot this conflagration in the making as the outcome could have been so much worse for all of you.

Just because you don't like the answers does not mean that everybody else in the world except you is wrong.

Alias_Omega

Contents insurance would not cover the damage to the door, as this would be covered under buildings insurnace.

The Tenant should pay, the tenant caused the problem.


Sorry,

Alias

sKiTz-0

It was his fault for leaving the cooker on then going out.

If i left my cooker on then house insurance would cover it.

Were I not to have house insurance, I would have to pay for a new door. Who else is going to pay? Who else should pay? If I had left the cooker on it is nobody else's fault but my own. To say that he shouldn't pay is ridiculous.

But that's the gamble you take if you don't take out insurance isn't it?

benoit

FOXGLOVE wrote: »

Anyone with any practical advice on this?

I'm sure the last thing my neighbour wanted to see when he got home today was the fire engine outisde and his door busted in. Accidents happen, but perhaps this "stupidity" only happens to social housing tenants, judging by comments made so far.

Both myself and my neighbour work, so we are the taxpayers you talk about.

Should we ignore the negligence and let the building burn down next time? I'd much rather have my building safe than be worried about a "new kitchen".

I welcome any advice on this.

The same thing happened in our block a couple of years ago when a tenant left the chip pan on & forgot about it. The kitchen was destroyed but the HA were very clear that the tenant was responsible for paying to repair the damage because she was negligent in leaving the chip pan on.

Tenants have to take some responsibility for their actions. If you can't afford to buy a new front door then don't leave the cooker unattended while you go out. If people were more aware of their duties as laid out in the tenancy agreement then they would be much less inclined to make 'mistakes' of this nature because they would know that they are the ones who have to pay for it.

Your neighbour is going to have to take this one on the chin, ultimately as much as you might think it's wrong he was negligent & is therefore responsible for the damage his actions have caused. Think about it, what if your home had been destroyed by this? Would you still be disgusted that he should be responsible for the damage?

Sorry if it's not what you wanted to hear but it's all laid out in the tenancy agreement what damage the HA will or will not pay for and any damage caused as a result of the negligence of the tenant will not be paid for by the HA, and neither should it be.

Jowo_2

Go to the benefits board and ask if there are any grants and loans from the DWP that could assist a low income person to pay for a replacement door.

As your neigbour is in employment, he could speak to his bank about a loan or overdraft to pay for the door, join a credit union which will offer low interest loans or ask his employer for an advance.

How does he cope with other unexpected expenses like a broken washing machine, new furniture...?

benoit

Jowo wrote: »

Go to the benefits board and ask if there are any grants and loans from the DWP that could assist a low income person to pay for a replacement door.

I don't expect the DWP get many requests for a replacement door grant. lol

Jowo_2

benoit wrote: »

I don't expect the DWP get many requests for a replacement door grant. lol

No idea, probably not, the benefits board is full of queries by claimants/low income applicants who want or expect loans or grants for various sometimes weird and wonderful reasons, only the experienced members there can advise.

oz0707

He should pay...

Brb

Could always give freecycle a go. I know on mine there has been some on there recently as ppl are sprucing up their homes. Probably wouldn't be the prettiest door but a sand down and paint would sort that.

Btw. Should never go without insurance. I'm a single mum currently on benefits and thank gosh I had mine Oct 2008 when private rented house flooded!