PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Problems with housing officer

Options
Wondering if somebody could help me here.

It was brought to my attention recently that a housing officer for my LA was searching for me on facebook after a complaint was made by a neighbouring tenant due to the legal pruning back of overgrown bushes. The Housing officer must have occidentally clicked 'add friend' as this came up on my notifications. This then happened again with another housing officer within the same authority. Why do these people have the right to try and snoop information from my facebook page, and where do I stand. I did make a complaint and very quickly noticed that both offenders within this situation had 'blocked' me from their accounts, unfortunately it becomes fairy obvious this has happened when they still appear on facebook through my other account.

Long list of issues with this housing officer.

I know this sounds a strange situation, but I dont see why they would find the need to be searching for me on facebook in the first place.

Regards
«13456

Comments

  • anselld
    anselld Posts: 8,634 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you don't want people searching for information on you then don't place it in the public domain.... simple!
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Facebook is public (other than the bits you make private).

    Public means anyone can view.

    Increasingly employers look at job applicants' facebook pages etc, so again - if you want to keep aspects of your life/personality/exploits private, you know what to do!
  • allen169
    allen169 Posts: 25 Forumite
    edited 3 January 2015 at 8:03PM
    My account is private, due to my employment more so, however why would a housing champion be searching for me on facebook. Perhaps a little more information into my plight.

    My Partner suffers with a condition known as Raynaud’s syndrome, a condition that could endanger the extremities of her body if the temperature drops too low. Subsequently this involves the house having to be kept constantly warm and as a result of this our Gas Bills are astronomical. As well as this my partner’s son is severely Autistic and also needs to be kept warm, especially as due to his Autism in the home He often refuses to wear adequate clothing within the home.

    This situation is made worse due to the fact that we use prepayment meters within the property, and as such our Gas Bills and electric Bills are astronomical and there is a reliance on having money available to top up the meter / shops be open to allow top ups. We are also at the mercy of fluctuating gas prices as well as a reliance on our boiler working effectively. The property is also poorly insulated and draughts regularly enter the living spaces due to a poor fitting front door. The property was recently obtained back from my ex wife after a three year court battle ending in an occupation order after she moved away. The house was trashed, walls smashed, wires hanging from the ceiling etc all of which the council have refused to repair, citing my use of a joint tenancy to get back into my home quoting I am jointly liable for the damage (I didn't have access to the property for three years as the locks were changed when my wife kicked me out whilst having her affair)

    When I first moved back into the property I installed a DEFRA Exempt Wood Burning Fuel device (Morso Squirrel) to provide an alternative and cheaper source of heat to our property. As well as this I also wanted to do my part for the environment with what is technically a carbon neutral device. I had the appliance installed by a professional HETAS registered engineer who also relined the existing chimney to the property. I was later informed by the council that such a device is not allowed in a council home and I was forced to remove the device. I have regularly complained to the council about this, who refuse to listen to my reasoning and point blank refuse to allow me to install the device. Each time citing different reasons for the refusal.

    My issue here is the fact that we have no alternative source of heating to the property. (The ex removed the electric fire) If our gas boiler breaks down my partner and her child suffer.

    The use of the wood burning stove alleviates any worries we have and provides us with an alternative and eco-friendly method of heating our home especially as I have access to a limitless supply of kiln dried wood.

    Recently we were left for a period of 36 hours without hot water and heating due to a boiler breakdown. Although this has now been rectified, my partner suffered due to the cold as well as our child. Another issue has also occurred where our gas meter broke and again we were left without hot water and heating. Both of these situations highlighted the need to be able to use the wood stove to provide warmth to my family. Again, the use of an electronic room heater is not possible due to the cost of electric and the noise generated which upsets the autistic child (He is unable to tolerate the noise generated by fans as part of his Autism)

    To make matters worse I have since found out that my local council conducted a trial of seven new build council homes with wood fuelled room heaters. The trial has now ended however these properties are allowed to continue to benefit from the use of such a device. I find it highly unfair that there seems to exist one rule for one and another for everybody else.

    I have been in communication with the Council regarding this matter on numerous occasions. The officers at the council are Rude and non-sympathetic to my families plight, and I am disgusted at the attitude I have recently experienced.

    During recent correspondence with the Director of housing and neighbourhood services, I was told that neither he nor his staff would continue to engage in further debate with me regarding the situation unless I made an official complaint or approached the ombudsman. I find it hard to believe that the council would prefer me to make an official complaint and risk the wrath of the ombudsman rather than discuss the situation with me sensibly. The general attitude feels one of complacency in the sense that the outcome of any complaint is already predetermined and that there is no danger to the council if such a complaint was to be undertaken.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Ring them and ask them?
  • allen169
    allen169 Posts: 25 Forumite
    In relation to the damage I mentioned, I made the council aware that my ex was damaging the property out of spite prior to my return, who again point blank refused to do anything to stop this. They then had the cheek to send me a warning letter regarding making repairs without authorisation, when they refused to make the repairs. We still have live wires hanging from the ceiling, doors missing, pipes exposed etc. The housing officer I also mentioned later turned out to be a 'friend' of my ex. After the court gave the occupation order the housing officer continued to try and conduct a pre termination inspection of the property ready for re letting to a new tenant.
  • anselld
    anselld Posts: 8,634 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    So the real issue is the Council not letting you install a wood burner?

    Have you confirmed that rule actually exists in your lease?

    Complain to your local Councillor.
    Complain to the local government ombudsman.
    Complain to you MP.
    Contact the press.
    Use it anyway and challenge any attempt to force its removal.
  • allen169
    allen169 Posts: 25 Forumite
    edited 3 January 2015 at 8:33PM
    The issue is regarding numerous things, however yes, the wood burner is an issue. I have contacted my MP, to no avail, he was given the same response I was given, a resounding no. The Local councillor has also been no help, he received the same response, again No. I was told if the device was reinstated they could end my secure tenancy. So I really do not know where I stand. One thing is for certain, they seem quite happy with leaving the property in a condition that is not exactly safe. This comes from a council who appear to have been able to get away with a fair bit recently.
  • allen169
    allen169 Posts: 25 Forumite
    anselld wrote: »
    So the real issue is the Council not letting you install a wood burner?

    Have you confirmed that rule actually exists in your lease?

    Complain to your local Councillor.
    Complain to the local government ombudsman.
    Complain to you MP.
    Contact the press.
    Use it anyway and challenge any attempt to force its removal.

    There is no specific section within my tenancy agreement that states a wood burning stove would not be allowed, however it was an unofficial automatic decline if you were to apply for the tenant alteration, however no formal policy existed. Strangely however since I made my initial complaint to the council a formal policy was then created.
  • Poppie68
    Poppie68 Posts: 4,881 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Did you get permission to fit the burner?...
    While you don't need a certificate or have an inspect the fitting of burners are controlled under the Building Regs.
    If not this is maybe a good reason instructed you to remove it from their property.
  • allen169
    allen169 Posts: 25 Forumite
    Poppie68 wrote: »
    Did you get permission to fit the burner?...
    While you don't need a certificate or have an inspect the fitting of burners are controlled under the Building Regs.
    If not this is maybe a good reason instructed you to remove it from their property.

    The burner was installed using a HETAS engineer. The chimney relined and building control notified. The device was also certified and I was given a HETAS certificate. Unfortunately I was unaware at the time I needed permission from the council to install the device. They made it quite clear however they would not be responsible for making repairs to the property. The burner was installed when the chimney breast was made safe with the installation of a new lintel, the old one had been damaged by the ex. In hindsight obtaining permission prior would have been more useful, however I have since applied for permission and this is constantly declined. Interestingly I would be allowed to install a biomass room heater. The council say they can't guarantee I would be burning wood with a correct moisture content to meet the Defra exemption applied to my stove.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 257.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.