Rental help and advice

HappyMJ

djh77 wrote: »

Okay, the windows have locks on them but we have no keys for the locks. The HA said it is not their issue and we need to contact the previous tenant to find out where the keys are. We do not have contact details for the previous tenant so can't get hold of them. Catch 22. And its not just the opening of the windows, what if the fall through them or something? I know its double glazed, but that doesn't mean it is unbreakable.

And LittleMax, I have not complained about having no garden. We are fine as we are for the moment. The kids have room to play in etc. When another baby comes along, they won't. Not sure how that is complaining I on't have a garden?

Look, I am looking foe sensible advice here, thought I might get some. We are in the situation we are in now, I accept that, nothing we can do about it. We did not 'plan' to have a third child here, I already said that. If we would have known we were having a third child we would never have moved here. But we are where we are.

I can put the baby in the bigger room with the two boys once she reaches a year old, but then again, it gives the kids no play room at all.

Replace the window locks.

djh77

HappyMJ wrote: »

Replace the window locks.

Not allowed to replace locks/doors or window frames in our HA property, I have already asked that. Only thing we are allowed to replace 'structurally' if you like is the glass out of a window if it breaks.

Werdnal

OP, no one here can magic you up an extra room, a bigger flat etc. Most of the advice and suggestions you have received are trying to be helpful to your situation!

There are no doubt ways you could secure the window adequately to allow the bunk beds to fit alongside it.

Is there any route to appeal the HA decision? If not, then you are stuck for 15 months until you qualify for a re-assessment. However, this still might not award you any improvement in your current housing overnight anyway!

Its the same as any owner-occupier who suddenly found another child on the way and for whatever reason cannot afford to sell up and move, so you have to make the best of it and try to compromise a little until things resolve themselves.

Don't sound so ungrateful to those who have replied trying to offer advice to your situation! Its not our fault ...


As for the window locks, speak to a local window supplier (or even find out who fitted yours) as there are only a finite number of different keys, and you can get replacements quite easily. You should find that all the windows in the house are "keyed alike" so you should only need 1 replacement key to lock/unlock all your windows! You may even find your neighbour's window keys fit yours!!!!!

HappyMJ

djh77 wrote: »

Not allowed to replace locks/doors or window frames in our HA property, I have already asked that. Only thing we are allowed to replace 'structurally' if you like is the glass out of a window if it breaks.

You are allowed to replace locks for security reasons as long as you put the original ones back when you leave.

djh77

I am not ungrateful at all, sorry if it came across that way.

I have no issue with living here for another year and half, if we then get reassesed and can then, with a resonable chance, get a three bedroom property. If however we have zero chance of getting a three bed property in 15 months time, then I would rather look at other options now. It is the safety aspect of the window that bugs me. Your right, I am going to have to do something with it, but am getting little or no help from the HA on the issue. Effectively they say the room is big enough so that is the end of their responsibility.

You know, we both work hard, like most other people do. We get no benefits at all, and it irks with me a little that I can't even get a straight answer from our HA as to whether in 15 months we will be overcrowded or not. I do not want to spend the rest of my life having to live with 3 children (of different sex's) in one room, or turning our living room into a bedroom.

djh77

HappyMJ wrote: »

You are allowed to replace locks for security reasons as long as you put the original ones back when you leave.

I can only go on what I am told from our HA, which is that we are not allowed to change windows/doors/window frames or locks on the windows.

If you can point me to some legislation that states otherwise I would be grateful.

I am not sure about bars up at the windows, I will give them a call and ask them about that. It does seem like a good idea as it would solve my issue with them falling thorough the window. Don't see any issue with it, but will check.

HappyMJ

djh77 wrote: »

I am not ungrateful at all, sorry if it came across that way.

I have no issue with living here for another year and half, if we then get reassesed and can then, with a resonable chance, get a three bedroom property. If however we have zero chance of getting a three bed property in 15 months time, then I would rather look at other options now. It is the safety aspect of the window that bugs me. Your right, I am going to have to do something with it, but am getting little or no help from the HA on the issue. Effectively they say the room is big enough so that is the end of their responsibility.

You know, we both work hard, like most other people do. We get no benefits at all, and it irks with me a little that I can't even get a straight answer from our HA as to whether in 15 months we will be overcrowded or not. I do not want to spend the rest of my life having to live with 3 children (of different sex's) in one room, or turning our living room into a bedroom.

You will not be overcrowded in 15 months time as your living room is considered a room suitable for sleeping so if you do not wish for 3 children to share a room or use your living room as a bedroom then you will need to save up a lot of money so you can go into the private rental market and get a suitably sized property. This will cost you more money.

HappyMJ

djh77 wrote: »

I can only go on what I am told from our HA, which is that we are not allowed to change windows/doors/window frames or locks on the windows.

If you can point me to some legislation that states otherwise I would be grateful.

I am not sure about bars up at the windows, I will give them a call and ask them about that. It does seem like a good idea as it would solve my issue with them falling thorough the window. Don't see any issue with it, but will check.

It's common sense. You can't go drilling into anything but if you can remove the lock using a screwdriver then you can replace it with another one.

djh77

HappyMJ wrote: »

You will not be overcrowded in 15 months time as your living room is considered a room suitable for sleeping so if you do not wish for 3 children to share a room or use your living room as a bedroom then you will need to save up a lot of money so you can go into the private rental market and get a suitably sized property. This will cost you more money.

Which comes back to our conditions. I work nights, sometimes I do twighlight overtime shifts, so when I have to sleep in the day, what are the wife and baby supposed to do with no 'living' space?

I already know what the answer is going to be, not the HA's problem, nothing in the law that states otherwise etc.

djh77

HappyMJ wrote: »

It's common sense. You can't go drilling into anything but if you can remove the lock using a screwdriver then you can replace it with another one.

So I should now break my tenancy agreement?