Council House and mix up of taps

Emma133

Hi

I was hoping there would be someone who could advise me on this matter.

I have recently completed a council house exchange, and we noticed that the taps in the kitchen are on the opposite way round to usual, which isn't a great problem just a bit confusing at times. However in our bathroom basin the taps are the opposite way round but labelled incorrectly, i.e. the tap with the blue C is Hot and the tap with the red H is cold. The kids get very mixed up and as one is only 3 she is used to the sign on the tap as well as the position.

We have contacted our housing officer who has basically said we took the exchange as seen and so it is our problem, however we cannot complete the work ourselfs without proving we are able to do so....

My opinion is if the housing officer didn't spot it on her inspection how on earth was I supposed to spot it on my view. It didn't cross my mind to test the taps.

Any advice appreciated.

bungle4by4

the tops of the taps (blue and red bits) are generally speaking interchangable you normally just put a thin screwdriver and POP the top off. and swap the colours round

Emma133

sorry these taps don't have the colours round I should have explained that earlier, the tops with the letters don't look very popable either!

bungle4by4

take a pic and pop it on here.

Emma133

I will thanks for the help, will have to dig the camera out of a box will get back tomorrow.

adonis

As this is a council property I would be inclined to send them a letter telling them that the taps are incorrectly fitted and labeled, the hot should be on the left and the cold on the right.
If a child or visitor (perhaps partially sighted) turned on the hot tap by mistake they could be scalded and the council could be held liable.

Emma133

Thank you for your replys, I have again contacted the council and they are passing the situation to an inspector. I am hoping once they have seen the problem they will rectify it, otherwise I have to make a complaint in writing apparently.

plumber_carl

you may find that no action will be taken,,, the cold should be on the right,, but theres no law to support this,,, in every 100 houses i visit may be five are like yours its very common problem,,, its a very easy job to swap around,,, but its up to the individual you get to insect them

MonkeyMad

adonis wrote: »

As this is a council property I would be inclined to send them a letter telling them that the taps are incorrectly fitted and labeled, the hot should be on the left and the cold on the right.
If a child or visitor (perhaps partially sighted) turned on the hot tap by mistake they could be scalded and the council could be held liable.

You might prefer them this way round, but I don't think it is a hard requirement. The householder should be supervising the use of the taps in young children, warning partially sighted visitors if the taps are the other way round to normal, and turning the water down if it is hot enough to scald. I'm sure the OP can put a blob of red or blue paint onto the taps without having to threaten the Council.