Absolutely FUMING at my local council - UNBELIEVABLY bad treatment

KittyKate

Hi guys. I'm totally disgusted at my local council and I just want to share/vent.

My dad lives in a little council rented 1 bed bungalow on a street designated for retired people. He is only 64 however - and perfectly able. He does have rheumatoid arthritis and is sensitive to the cold.

Currently the council is doing renovations of all the rented accomodation in his village - kitchen extension, bathroom refurb and a gas fire to replace the coal one. He was really pleased at this and keen for it to start.

Now the council states that each tenant will recieve 3 weeks notice and a load of cardboard boxes to pack up their stuff. No-one in the entire village has had more than 3 days! Obviously it's a huge struggle to pack up all your kitchen, bathroom, larder and outhouse (the kitchen was extended into the outhouse) into boxes in 2 days (as they started on the 3rd). My dad managed all this, just, and even (against my advice!) moved his fridge, freezer and freestanding cupboard into the lounge (the builders would have done this, but they're rather heavy handed, and my dad wanted to help as much as he could).

So, last Wednesday he got up at 7am to wait for the builders at 8am. No show. Calls the council. 'Oh..I don't know who told you it would be Weds, it's Thurs!' (the building work co-ordinator told him weds.). He waits on Thurs. No show. 'oh we can't knock out the kitchen wall till we have some plastic sheeting on the floor - another team does that!' So on Friday morning (after being told on Monday they'd be there Weds) the plastic sheeting is put down (it took 10 minutes).

The builders uncoupled his cooker and washer and moved them, and knocked the wall out. They then went home. My dad thought they had gone to get some more tools but they just drove off! Leaving his cooker unplugged (they are supposed to reconnect it every night so the tenants can eat).

They don't work Sat-Sun and refused to send out an electrician to sort it out as the council wouldn't foot the £120 call out charge. On Monday an electrician turned up at 4.30 but had 'the wrong tools'.

Now, 3pm on Tuesday no further work has been done since Friday for 2hrs and my dad has been without a cooker for 5 days. He has a microwave, but no worktops and the floor is covered in filthy plastic in all rooms (as his boiler is being removed in the bedroom). To cook anything he has to squat on the floor (impossible with arthritis) and warm up some bol sauce and eat it with instant mash. Most days he manages on sandwiches.

He now has the flu as he has no coal for a fire (council told him not to buy any more) and there is a gaping hole in the wall covered by tarp in the kitchen (and a 1 inch gap under the door which connects the kitchen and lounge.

I am DISGUSTED the council can treat my dad like this (and he is not the only one by far, of course). 2 old ladies on his street are ill from the stress. The builders put a main gas line OVER their electric cooker and are refusing to move it!! What if there was a pan fire!

My dad phones me up in the evening and he sounds sick, miserable and upset. It's breaking my heart. He can't stay at mine as it's that bit too far away to supervise the builders and I can't stay at his as I work full time, and if I did get a few days off, there is nowhere for me to sleep as his house is like a dumping ground.

The council promise the earth when you call them but it's all total lies. He has been lied to by about 20 people in the last 2 days, had the phone put down, been called a 'sob story' by a member of the council staff. I tried to make a high level complaint but funnily enough the managers are all 'busy' and no one will listen. When they promise you a call back it never comes.

My uncle who lives a few doors from my dad is also being renovated and his house was left for the weekend with no cooker and on the kitchen wall (low down) a broken plug socket, incorrectly wired, with LIVE wires sticking out the holes. The inspector said if a child had touched it (he has 4 grandkids under 5) they would be killed instantly.

What can I do about these scumbags - environmental health? The local MP couldn't give a toss. The more houses that are started the bigger the bonus he gets. Doesn't state they need to be finished though

lynzpower

is the road he lives on "shletered accom" in any way.

It sounds to me like the council are neglecting thier duties as no cooking facilitiesfor someone who is vulnerable ( ie living in a property suitable for older people only)

I would call shelter immieidaltly. and keep holding

My understanding id the property is not fit for habitaition ( hole in exterior walll, not cooking facilities) and therefore they should be putting him in alternative accomodation until the property is fit. Shelter and environmental health should be able to confirm

It snot a question of whether your local MP gives a toss- you have to get down there and start agitating. your dad should be phoning evenry 2 mins to get them to do something.

Twopints

Get on to his local councillor and also the councillor responsible for Housing. Make sure you pass them all the info in writing (just like in your post).

Good Luck.

hollydays

Did they put anything in writing as to the date? Would seem unusual not to.Was he asked if he had any disabilities that made this hard for him? Could you contact the Chief Executive, or equivalent of the Council.
Have to say this is very poor.Tell them to sort it or you will contact the local press.

neiljc_2

Kittykate

does your dad meet the definition of disability in the disability discrimination act

“A person with a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term effect upon their ability to carry out normal day to day activities”

with Rheumatoid Arthritis I suspect he might.

If this is a district or City council they have new obligations under the Disability Equality Duty part of the Disability Discrimination Act to promote disability equality.

what this would mean for your dad is that the council will probably have someone who is the equality and diversity officer/manager.

I would speak to them and ask them to investigate as a matter of urgency. If nothing else he/she will be reminding the relevant depts of their responsibilities to disabled customers.

KittyKate

lynzpower wrote: »

is the road he lives on "shletered accom" in any way.

It sounds to me like the council are neglecting thier duties as no cooking facilitiesfor someone who is vulnerable ( ie living in a property suitable for older people only)

I would call shelter immieidaltly. and keep holding

My understanding id the property is not fit for habitaition ( hole in exterior walll, not cooking facilities) and therefore they should be putting him in alternative accomodation until the property is fit. Shelter and environmental health should be able to confirm

It snot a question of whether your local MP gives a toss- you have to get down there and start agitating. your dad should be phoning evenry 2 mins to get them to do something.

Sadly it's not classed as sheltered accommodation it's just known as an 'old people's cul de sac', probably because the bungalows are tiny, 1bed and really only suitable for an older person. Hence it's only the over 55's that get housed there. He's been there 12 years I think.

The more my dad calls, the more the office gets p*ssed off with him and the less they do - pathetic isn't it?! He gets the 'yes, yes, well, we can't call the builders with you on the line, we'll call them and call you back in 30 minutes'. He does this a few times a day, and hey presto it's 4pm (when allegedly the regular builders finish for the day, but it's usually 2.30 - 3!)

nej

Try his MP?

KittyKate

neiljc wrote: »

Kittykate

does your dad meet the definition of disability in the disability discrimination act

“A person with a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term effect upon their ability to carry out normal day to day activities”

with Rheumatoid Arthritis I suspect he might.

If this is a district or City council they have new obligations under the Disability Equality Duty part of the Disability Discrimination Act to promote disability equality.

what this would mean for your dad is that the council will probably have someone who is the equality and diversity officer/manager.

I would speak to them and ask them to investigate as a matter of urgency. If nothing else he/she will be reminding the relevant depts of their responsibilities to disabled customers.

I never thought of that - yes, he is classed as disabled. I will give them a call.

KittyKate

nej wrote: »

Try his MP?

Read my OP - they just don't care, sadly. All about the money and nothing about giving a damn for humans.

Emmzi

It's horrible. hugs.

Our local council rehouse you temporarily for that kind of work.

Is there any way he could stay with you or friends for a week until it's sorted? Surely it isnt his job to supervise the builders?

asea

KittyKate wrote: »

Read my OP - they just don't care, sadly. All about the money and nothing about giving a damn for humans.

have you actually tried the MP though? Your OP doesn't state whether you have or not, you just said that he (or she!) couldn't give a toss!