Housing Assoc renovations result in damage. Where do I stand?

missyp284

Hi, I'm posting this on behalf of my mum. She lives in a housing assoc property and was advised some renovations would be carried out to the property.
In order to do so she would have to lift the carpet on her landing. My mum is 73 years old, is recovering from cancer, has arthritis in her ankles, knees, hips and spine along with other serious medical conditions.
We advised the HA that she would not be able to do this and did not sign the paperwork giving the contractors the go ahead to proceed.
I was present when this took place so I could give my mum the support she needed.

A few days later, unbeknownst to me the site manager visited my mother and told her they would lift the carpet and go ahead with the work.

They have done this, and torn the carpet. They are now refusing to have the carpet re laid as it is not their responsibility.

My mum cannot afford to pay a carpet fitter to do this. Does she have any sort of recourse?
I'm going to call the HA tomorrow but want to know where we stand before I do.

moromir

Following the site manager's visit did your mum sign for consent to the work?

What does the consent form say about damage?

missyp284

moromir wrote: »

Following the site manager's visit did your mum sign for consent to the work?

What does the consent form say about damage?

No. She never signed anything and I don't know what it says about damage. Because it wasn't signed we didn't get a chance to read it.
They just keep saying they're not liable. Which technically, they probably aren't, but does that apply if she didn't sign?

ihatemyhouse

complain to the HA, I think they will sort it, as it will be less hassle to fix than put up with the complaining, that what the HA use to do when I lived in a flat

missyp284

ihatemyhouse wrote: »

complain to the HA, I think they will sort it, as it will be less hassle to fix than put up with the complaining, that what the HA use to do when I lived in a flat

Yeah. I plan on calling them tomorrow. I know the same has happened to a neighbour and the HA don't want to know!!!!
Got to try though. It's just totally unacceptable.

AlexMac

HA's are non-profit making, charitable landlords. So even if some of their staff or contractors are rude rassolles, the management and trustees (the unpaid, legally accountable people who are in effect, the senior management) are generally well intentioned people who don't want to Si hite on their tenants.

So how persistent do you feel?

Go on their website, find out their complaints procedure, and log a formal complaint. If that's not clear, ring 'em and ask how to make a formal complaint (they are bound to have a complaints procedure,

If that doesn't work, find out the name of the Chief executive of the HA and write to her or him

and if that don't work find out the name of the chairman/woman of their trustees or management board (from Companies House or the Charity Commission) and write to them, as they run the HA

And if that fails, ask who regulates Housing Associations (probably the Housing Corporation) and write to them. Simultaneously, write to your Local Council Ward Councillor (easily done via https://www.writetothem.com ) because Housing Associations are independent, but work closely with, and only get funding for new build with the agreement of their local council. Although this is a trivial issue, no-one likes to be criticised ...

And if none of this works, start again, right at the beginning, and say that instead of a complaint, you are claiming on their insurance (the contractors' or the HA's) And go through the whole movie again.

I could go on.... Will you? Let the web be your friend!

You might or might not get a new carpet. But at least you'll give 'em grief

Good luck

G_M

missyp284 wrote: »

No. She never signed anything and I don't know what it says about damage. Because it wasn't signed we didn't get a chance to read it.
They just keep saying they're not liable. Which technically, they probably aren't,
Why
but does that apply if she didn't sign?

Whether she signed or not makes no difference!

Some contractors, employed by the HA, caused some damage.

The HA is responsible.

If they will not accept responsibility, sue.

missyp284

Thanks for the replies.

As for how persistent I feel.....I'm like a dog with a bone if I know I'm fighting for what's right. So I would do whatever it takes.
However, I'm not sure if my mum will feel that way. Her house has been like a building site for three weeks now, when it should have been just I we one week. And she just wants everything back to normal.

But, there's some good stuff there I can just drop into the conversation when I call them tomorrow.

We don't even want a new carpet as she has the same throughout the whole house. Just the one they took up put back. A good fitter should be able to lay it so the damage doesn't show. So not unreasonable, considering.

Shelldean

I live in a HA house and a couple of yrs ago, had new kitchen fitted.
While the sparkys were doing the new electrics, they used screws that were too long. And as a result they came through into the hall. This meant the plaster blew.


They refused to accept it was the sparky, despite the fact you could feel the point of the screw as you ran your hand down the wall.


I called and called they finally accepted it was the sparky but they denied it was down to them to repair.
So I called and called some more. I emailed, and I made a HUGE nuisance of myself.
They finally agreed to repair the blown plaster and repaint. But as we had no more of the hallway paint they also included a tin of paint.


Must admit this took me several weeks and in the end my OH did the painting as we just wanted them gone.
The only bonus was they gave us enough paint to redo the whole hallway so it matched.


You will have to persistent if your mums HA is any thing like ours

moromir

missyp284 wrote: »

No. She never signed anything and I don't know what it says about damage. Because it wasn't signed we didn't get a chance to read it.
They just keep saying they're not liable. Which technically, they probably aren't, but does that apply if she didn't sign?

Ok well if she didn't sign anything she hasn't signed away her rights.

Contractors under the employment of the HA have gained entry to a property and carried out work without the consent of the resident, and caused damage in the process.

Any chance she got the name of the contracted company?

A stiff letter to their boss with a quote for replacement carpet should do the trick, if not, small claims.

They should have insurance for this kind of thing.

missyp284

moromir wrote: »

Ok well if she didn't sign anything she hasn't signed away her rights.

Contractors under the employment of the HA have gained entry to a property and carried out work without the consent of the resident, and caused damage in the process.

Any chance she got the name of the contracted company?

A stiff letter to their boss with a quote for replacement carpet should do the trick, if not, small claims.

They should have insurance for this kind of thing.

I can ask her. I think they might even still be on site so should be able to find out regardless