Housing Assocation Inspection & Charges

JasonHand

Hi,

Hoping I've posting this in the correct place.

My partner is soon to be moving into a new property and as such has just cancelled her tenancy with the local housing association.

Today she has had her inspection and has been told a number of jobs which need carrying out within 2 weeks.

One piece of work which they have said needs doing is the inside doors need replacing. When she originally moved in there were no inside doors to start with and she had to pay for this herself!! Can they really insist these get replaced when there weren't any in to start with!?

They have also insisted that a number of rooms also need re-decorating. The rooms have only just been decorated and again I don't believe they can insist on this kind of work?

What kind of powers do Housing Assocations have in making sure people do work ad requested?

Many Thanks
Jaosn

taxsaver

I don't see how they can. A LL is not entitle to improve the property at the expense of the tenant and I don't see why a HA should be any different from a private LL.

BitterAndTwisted

I suggest that your friend puts all of her observations to the HA IN WRITING. If the issue of internal doors was that important they should have ensured there were some when she took on the tenancy! How clean and new was the decorating when they moved in? If in adequate condition then the property should only have to be returned in a similar adequate condition. I would point out the the LA that the property has been decorated quite recently.

What sort of inventory or check-in was conducted when your friend took on the property?

squinty

OP - was your partner allocated the property or did she complete a mutual exchange?

t0rt0ise

Or is it a house owned by someone else and managed by the HA?

RuthnJasper

Does she still have her tenancy agreement for that property? It may possibly say there what she is and is not liable for. If she doesn't have it anymore, she could always request a copy from the HA in question.

When I moved into my HA home a few years ago with Jasper-dog, we were given a book with photos of the house (plus boiler, radiators, etc.) prior to our moving-in, as well as a copy of the full terms and conditions to which we had signed.

Good luck - hope all goes well. x

JasonHand

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your advice.

Just spoke to her and she isn't sure is she still has her tenancy agreement. The agreement was signed when she rented from the council. I'd guess any liabilty on there would still count but any other alleged liabilty wouldn't

She was also told she would need to relawn the back garden. At the moment its just soil but tidy. When she moved in it was basically a bog.

They also mentioned a tree which was over a certain size. She wasn't even aware that there was a maximum size.

I believe the housing was by mutual agreement.

Just one other point she had rung the HA a few weeks ago mentioning her concerns over the inspection and things which she had done, but because these were pre housing assocation she was told to worry about them. And now they have given her a long list of things to do

squinty

JasonHand wrote: »

Hi Guys,


I believe the housing was by mutual agreement.

OK, if you mean mutual exchange that is a crucial difference from having the tenancy in her own name.

She has taken over all aspects of the tenancy from the person she exchanged with. If the original tenant removed doors, it is the new tenant (the assignee) who is responsible for replacing them.

Similarly, If when the orignal tenant had a reasonable garden when they took over, it is up to the assignee to reinstate it to the original condition.

i.e. its not relevant what the condition of the property was like when your partner moved - its the condition when the original tenant moved in that is important. The HA are within their rights to ask for this. The extra difficulty with this is that your partner will not be able to prove the condition of tenancy when the original tenants moved in.