Council House, no hot water + u turn on fascia replacements

Chef1980uk

Our Immersion heater has broken at the element part meaning whenever we turn it on it the electricity to the house shorts out. This has been like it now for two days and after todays inspection we have been told it won't be fixed until Monday at the earliest. With three toddlers, two only 18 months old,its going to be tricky.

The council suggests we start using our coal fire for the hot water which reluctantly we would, but due to the chimney needing rebuilding, (a job that has been in the works for 3 months now but no still no start date), have been told we should not use our fire until its been fixed. So where do we stand?

Then, today, after 2 months of waiting for our Fascia's to be replaced due to constant work needing doing to the guttering, we have been told they are now not being replaced because the RSPB have told them they are not allowed as we live in a conservation area (wasn't even aware this could happen?)

This is the first time we have lived in a council house and in the past 18 months of doing so we seem to be getting ******** from a very tall height.

Is there anything we can do other than send in a complaint?

SouthCoast

Is this relevant?

In what is the biggest UK bankruptcy since Woolworths in 2008, property services giant Connaught has formally entered administration.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11228059

WestonDave

If the RSPB are involved then there will be an issue around nesting birds -possibly not in your eaves but in others in the same job - estates tend to be done as one big block. It is illegal to disturb nesting birds whilst they are using the nest, and certain bird nesting sites are also protected - we have swifts in our eaves and if we were to have the fascias done we would legally have to have them done out of nesting season and ensure we leave holes for the swifts to use in future. Clearly some homeowners will just ignore this but a council cannot risk it.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Wait a whole week for boiler repairs and a LL who abides by RSPB/conservation restrictions? You could always move, if you feel that strongly about social housing! I'm sure they would have no problem re-letting your property.

Jowo_2

Does your social housing landlord provide a tenant handbook or info on their website about how they classify particular types of repair and mention their turnaround time on them? The delay might be unavoidable if its a case of ordering a spare part. It's highly inconvenient but may not be classed as an emergency.

Do they publish their complaints procedure?

Here's some info from the Shelter website about your rights and their responsibilties. In the meantime, it looks like you are going to have to boil kettles for hot water and use friends/relatives properties or the local swimming pool for showers and baths.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_social_housing

tbs624

Check out your Council website or , as Jowo says, any tenancy guide that you have been given.

In particular, you should check out the "right to repair" scheme , for repairs costing under 250 quid

Problems with hot water should be dealt with within 1 day if between October and May and within 3 working days if between 1 May and 31 October.

In the meantime can a neighbour help you out? You don't need a huge amount of water to keep small kids clean.

ILW

You could get a plumber in for the tank, changing an emersion is not usually a big job.

martindow

Who has told you that you should not use the coal fire? Do the council know this?

If they think you have coal as an alternative method of water heating there is not the same urgency to fix your boiler.

poppysarah

Has a smoke test been done on the chimney to show it's safe to use? (I@m not sure what level of work it needs)

RSPB? Why would they interfere unless there are nesting birds?

Take the kids to a neighbours or give them a wash with a flannel for a couple of days.
Kids don't die if they don't have a soak in the bath every day.

You have a kettle to heat water - just be careful not to get boiling water near the kids.

If your property is going to be damp because of rainwater fittings not functioning then they must be repaired.

Speak to a local councillor about the long term repairs - sometimes you have to wait for a program to be put in place to do the whole area. A pain but it'll get done.

Your hot water issue isn't a massive problem.

Save up and ask permission for having an electric shower put in. Will be a bonus in the long term for you.

JoolzS

How about just simply thinking before you complain. You are one of the fortunate people who has been given a chance to live in social housing. Your hot water problem is going to be solved within a few days at absolutely no cost to you. It may be inconvenient, but it will be sorted out. If it is really an unbearable situation then you could pay someone to come and fix it for you.

Julie

hoo

i am not going to be condescending and preech about how lucky you are to live in social housing etc because I am sure that given the choice you would prefer to own your own home but i am just going to offer practical advice from someone that has been there.

Sometimes repairs can take longer than expected due to parts needing to be ordered etc but you just have to be patient. At least it's not full on winter!! As someone mentioned previously use a kettle to boil water and strip wash the kids or do what we did and go swimming, not only will it keep the little ones amused but you can use the pools showers!!

Again as per the previous person mentioned - save for an electric shower to be installed so if this does happen in the future then you will have a second option.

On the complaints front it is often more hassle than it is worth. You will find yourself getting stressed out and spending time writing letters making calls etc and end up with a half !!!!!d mass produced letter of apology. Let it go and spend the time with the kids!!

best of luck xx