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Council still refusing to do repairs

Afternoon Everyone,
I've posted before about my neighbours issues with the council. Basically no repairs have been done for over 10 years despite the repairs having been logged etc.
Have been to the law centre nearly three weeks ago, resulting in the solicitor having written a letter to the council for them to carry out an 'urgent survey' on the repairs to be done. So much for urgent, have heard nothing from the council nor the law centre since. Have called up both, council 'unaware' of any such urgent survey but have some repairs logged (since april) to be completed, law centre still to get back about the survey to be carried out as I told them about the council's cluelessness.
Not sure what to do, my poor neighbour has no heating, awful single glazed windows with gaps in between the frames - so it's absolutely freezing. The boiler they were meant to put in, still hasn't been done despite them knowing about the needing to do the repair and having left a shittone of copper piping up her stairs, again since summer. The only repair they had actually carried out was on her taps that she managed to cut herself on because if was really that bad and the next day they were replaced.
This is just ridiculous, I am wanting to write a letter to a councillor / MP about this on her behalf but am not all too sure as to what to write. any suggestions would be appreciated.
On the other hand, what is a reasonable amount of time for the council to have arranged for this urgent survey for the repairs? I mean surely 3 weeks is plenty of time and thus would it be better to go back to the law centre and apply for a court order? This is what they said would be the next step. P.s the law centre have been aware of all of this since April and were very much surprised that nothing has been done.
Any advice would be realllly appreciated. Thanks guys
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Comments

  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    First and foremost make sure your neighbour has some form of heating. Free standing heaters of some kind. You said 'no heating'. Did you really mean that?

    Next get everyone involved. MP, councillor, Law Centre, Shelter, Social Services (if relevant - children? elderly?)local paper etc etc

    The more the merrier.

    Look at it from all angles - piping on stairs? health and safety? is the neighbour suffering from any health problems?

    MPs, in particular, can be extremely helpful in getting councils moving.
  • Thanks for the reply,
    In relation to no heating - the central heating doesn't work. Which does leave her with a gas fire in the kitchen. But that is all. I don't think that a gas fire in the kitchen (of a three storey maisonette) is enough to heat the place. So of course the reliance is mainly on blankets and lots of layers. They are fully aware of the repairs that need doing, just outright refuse to do them. Or in the case of central heating replacement and boiler, they arrived, left the pipes decided that some dry cat food was cat poop and claimed they couldn't work under such conditions.
    In relation to the councillor / MP - what do I write. As in evidently inform them of the situation, but conclude with what? I don't want to sound pushy .. do I simply enquire as to whether they will be able to somehow assist on the matter?
    Ombudsman will not get involved as far as I'm concerned as legal action can and sort of is being taken.
    Not too sure as to why the law centre suddenly became very silent, they seemed very appalled and on side during the meetings and since the letter was sent and we had contacted them about the lack of action - they are just on the incognito. Quite sad, i'm sure they are busy but her case was given priority.
    And i'm not too sure as to what is classed as elderly, but she is in her 50's and the conditions which they left her in - lack of heating, gappy windows that let in all the outside cold air has left her with a really bad cold, possibly chest infection and she did have several nose bleeds recently due to the stress - as she knows they will hopefully eventually do something but the waiting and feeling generally down about the way she is being treated has left her very unwell and depressed if you must.
    I am doing as much for her as I can, but not quite sure as to what the next step is aside from the writing to the councillor / mp.
    again, thank you for the response.
  • Eejay
    Eejay Posts: 333 Forumite
    Which council is this?

    Is the copper piping on her actual stairs or "up her stairs" as in on her landing? Nothing should be on the stairs as it's a hazard.

    Is there any way of blocking the gaps in the window frames? It won't be much of an improvement but it could help keep a little heat in. There are some other ideas here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24757144 I think the film over the windows is a good idea, and draught excluders could be used in the room she's in at the time.

    Is there a reason she hasn't got any other heaters? Fan heaters don't cost much but are obviously quite expensive to run.

    My Mum has just turned 50 and I think she's a good 20 years off being 'elderly' - your neighbour isn't 'elderly' either but I suppose the stress and ill health caused by these problems is 'aging' her.

    I think you need to write a letter outlining what needs to be done, the problems it's causing, and suggesting alternatives for in the meantime - even if they do the work needed, it isn't going to be the same day. Alternatives could include something like working out the cost to heat a room with a radiator and suggest the council pays the difference between that and the cost to run a fan heater (maybe also pay for the fan heater). Make it a very formal letter and quite assertive, and send it to the council, and also send a copy to your local MP but with a politer letter explaining what the problem is and what you are trying to do about it, and ask if they can offer some support. I have written to an MP for help with the council before and they did try - we hit another 'dead end' but at least they made the effort :)

    If you need any help with writing the letter, PM me with all the info you want to include and I'll see if I can help at all.
  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just one more suggestion.

    Often MPs are very useful in these cases because they go to the 'top person' in the council and ask them to look into it. (usually they 'know someone!')

    I don't know who the law centre wrote to or who you spoke to but it could be that they are not one or the same person dealing with it.

    find out who the law centre wrote to (have you a copy of the letter they sent?)

    It could be that the letter has been passed to some totally different department to deal with and that is why 'they' (ie the people you spoke to) knew nothing about it.

    Hope you understand what I mean!
  • Thanks for the reply, I PM'd you by the way :)
    and the law centre did not provide a copy of the letter they had sent to the council, only sent her a letter stating what they did and what she should expect - the urgent survey, being the initial thing to get things going.
    And presumably the letter went to the corporate level, but in theory should be on the system.
    I mean surely after a reasonable time has passed, which i believe it has, she and the law centre have every right to apply for a court order - a means that will guarantee that these repairs are done and done in an actually reasonable time frame.
    Thanks again
  • Errata
    Errata Posts: 38,230 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Is there any reason the neighbour can't discuss with the Law Centre, local Councillor, MP or the Council?
    .................:)....I'm smiling because I have no idea what's going on ...:)
  • She is... she is the one who is directly in contact with the law centre / council. I just help out by attending the law centre meeting with her and just generally try to assist with the whole situation. Plus even if I wanted to be more involved, I couldn't as it's not me who is the claimant.
  • Eejay
    Eejay Posts: 333 Forumite
    Have received it thanks, will get back to you in a bit :)
  • Eejay
    Eejay Posts: 333 Forumite
    Have replied to you, but not sure if it's actually sent. If you haven't received it please let me know and I'll try again! :)
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