Council housing, what right do council housing officer have to inspect your house?

looby75

And can they start eviction proceeding if they decide it's not tidy enough? No damage to any of the fixtures or fittings, not hoarder style full, no rent arrears or any problems with the neighbours. Just a bit cluttered and untidy in one room after a bout of illness. All other rooms are ok including the kitchen and bathroom and they were offered the chance to inspect them. They declined to do so concentrated on the one room only and have stated they intend to visit again in 4 weeks time to make sure it's tidied up.

Any advice would be welcome.

ILW

Are you sure these were council housing officers?

richardw

What does it say in your rental agreement about 'tidiness'?

BitterAndTwisted

"Just a bit cluttered and untidy in one room"

Not grounds for any action that I can think of. What prompted their visit?

looby75

ILW wrote: »

Are you sure these were council housing officers?

Yes he definitely, was he was new to the area and came to see me about an unrelated issue.

richardw wrote: »

What does it say in your rental agreement about 'tidiness'?

Nothing at all, just that all fixtures and fittings should be kept in a good state of repair, all repairs reported promptly (not that they are ever fixed promptly but thats a whole other thread) the only part of the tenancy agreement that says anything about tidiness is in relation to the garden.

Its not a problem as such as as soon as I'm feeling better (hopefully in the next few days) I'm planning to have a big spring clean anyway, I just don't like the idea that he can just knock on the door and demand to see my house whenever he wants. I've lived in this house for 16 years and never had a problem before now. I explained to him I had been ill and you can see that most of the stuff laying round is my sons, I just haven't been well enough to tidy it up or had the will power to have an argument with him to get him to do it by himself

As I said the rest of the house is fine, a lot of stuff is still in boxes as the house was refurbished last year and we had to put everything into storage. I haven't managed to redecorate fully yet as I am a lone parent with no family to speak of to help me out so it's going to take time. He said that wasn't a issue he was more concerned about "cleanliness" thats when I offered to show him the kitchen and the bathroom as to me thats where you really can see how clean a house usually is but he declined. I'm just really confused.

looby75

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

"Just a bit cluttered and untidy in one room"

Not grounds for any action that I can think of. What prompted their visit?

to ask why I hadn't used the decorating vouchers that they issued when the house was refurbished. I explained that I hadn't had chance yet because the shop they can be used in is in the middle of a hard to get to industrial estate and I don't have a car to get there. My father in law who usually gives me lifts to places can't at the moment as my mother in law has terminal cancer and can't be left alone. The only time he's able to take me is at weekends but as it's a trade shop it's not open at weekends. :wall: He specifically stated that the decoration wasn't an issue though, they just wanted to make sure I hadn't lost the vouchers.

ValHaller

Do you have anything in writing from them? If not, I would suggest you just write a note of what happened for your diary and forget about it.

geri1965_2

Sounds like he needs to be told what is appropriate, might just be new and a bit too keen.

BitterAndTwisted

As long as the stuff making the place cluttered and untidy isn't a health or fire-hazard you're not likely to be in breach of your tenancy. From what I've seen on the telly about housing officers they appear to be more inclined to help tenants resolve the issues than just get busy with the possession notices.

aliasojo

What a damned cheek.

Have you phoned the council specifically to ask what their policy is on 'untidiness'? I would have.

looby75

nothing in writing what so ever, he just verbally told me that he would give me 4 weeks and would call back "randomly" to check the house again. I told him that as soon as I was better I would be sorting it anyway so didn't need 4 weeks.

I haven't phoned the council because I can hardly talk at the moment and more than a few words sets me off coughing, which is pretty much the reason I didn't tell him go and jump today lol