Problems with housing officer

AdrianC

allen169 wrote: »

The council also have a duty of care to the tenant under hse. So exposed pipes and live wires are surely not my responsibility to repair.

If they do repair damage caused by the tenant(s), then they can bill the tenant(s) for that repair. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.

And unless I had a magic key in the previous years allowing me to enter the property to cause the damage I don't see how it could be fair.

You really don't understand the concept of being on a joint tenancy, do you? It is not the council's problem whether you were there or not. You were on the tenancy at the time. You were their tenant. You are liable for the actions of yourself and your fellow tenants. You are STILL the tenant. You are complaining about things for which you are liable.

Pixie5740

What can the council actually do about this wood burning stove? Will they evict you if you don't remove it?

Edit: Yes you are responsible for repairing the damage caused by your ex. As is she. That's what joint and several liability means. You can't use being a joint tenancy to gain possession of the property and then claim you don't have joint and several liability. If you're that concerned about the welfare of this autistic child then you'd have sorted the exposed wires and door by now.

Poppie68

Not all electric fires generate an audible noise...I know my daughter's or in laws doesn't.... Pay a visit to a fireplace showroom and test them out.

allen169

Pixie5740 wrote: »

What can the council actually do about this wood burning stove? Will they evict you if you don't remove it?

Edit: Yes you are responsible for repairing the damage caused by your ex. As is she. That's what joint and several liability means. You can't use being a joint tenancy to gain possession of the property and then claim you don't have joint and several liability. If you're that concerned about the welfare of this autistic child then you'd have sorted the exposed wires and door by now.

I can't touch the electrics, im not an electrician. The council require the work to be done by somebody qualified. Same with the door, im not a joiner. Its not a simple job, as the door frame sags, and any door would require a fair amount of planing.

allen169

Ivana_Tinkle wrote: »

I have Raynaud’s syndrome too and I'm completely bemused by the way you're talking about it as if it were a disability, necessitating adaptations to your home, rather than an inconvenience (albeit often a fairly troublesome one). You certainly don't need to be running up huge heating bills to manage it. In fact, since it's changes in temperature which cause problems, rather than the temperature itself, keeping your house too warm could arguably make things worse. I find wearing gloves at all times (fingerless inside, good-quality windproof ones outside), thick socks/slippers, hand warmers when necessary and being sure never to put my hands or feet in cold water are the most effective measures.

If you bring up Raynaud's in your dicussions with these officials, the first thing they're going to do is Google the syndrome and realise that it's completely irrelevant to your argument.

Its the cold temperature that causes my partners circulation to be obstructed. Not the warmth. You shouldn't have to wear gloves in a property when the home should be able to be adequately heated.

Incidentally do you have high heating bills? or do you find the gloves etc enough to get through the cold.

To those who are saying about the autism, may I suggest you check google to find out why parents with children who have autism have some of the highest heating bills....

allen169

Poppie68 wrote: »

Not all electric fires generate an audible noise...I know my daughter's or in laws doesn't.... Pay a visit to a fireplace showroom and test them out.

Have you ever used an electric fire whilst on prepayment meters? They cost more to run than any device out there! Im wanting to reduce the cost of heating the home, not increase it, but thankyou for your advice.

allen169

AdrianC wrote: »

And therein lies your problem, distilled to basics.

There is only one tenancy here.
During that tenancy, damage has been deliberately caused to the property by the tenant(s).
Now the tenant(s) are demanding the council fix that damage.

Your complaint, and demands for restitution for that damage, lies against your ex, privately. Not the council, as your landlords. It is not their problem. The habitability of the property has not been affected by their action or inaction, but by the current tenant(s).

Bed. Made. Lie.

The council were made aware by myself that my partner was damaging the property at the time the damage was occurring, they chose not to act to prevent the damage from being undertaken. How does that stand.

You also have no idea of the other issues surrounding this problem, so I politely will refrain from lying in a bed that I haven't made for myself.

allen169

They could apply to the court to have my tenancy ended because it would be deemed a breach of tenancy, unauthorised alteration.

To be honest, I came here for advice and all I seem to have received is a lot of posts bashing me. I don't see the point of a forum if constructive advice can't be given. I have more chance of getting advice here on how to avoid paying a debt than a genuine housing question.

Sorry for the moan.

marleyboy

allen169 wrote: »

To those who are saying about the autism, may I suggest you check google to find out why parents with children who have autism have some of the highest heating bills....

Alternatively, asking helps clarify Google and its misinformation.

Speaking as a parent with a SEVERELY autistic child, our bills are no more expensive than they ever were without our child.

sniggings

every suggestion made you have made an excuse, the fact is, you either live with the situation or change it.

Moving should be your aim, to a more suitable property, ask for a swap or ask about moving on medical grounds.

Yes the child may not like the move, but will e better for them in the long run, you as a parent need to make those choices and not just look at the short term.

Fix the door, you can't complain you can't keep the place warm,and at the same time have no door, that is just daft.

You need to get out of your head that prepayment meters are so much more expensive, yes they cost more but not that much more.

A wood burner is more expensive to run than gas, so I fail to see why you are wanting one.

The child is very likely to get higher benefits because of his condition, I would expect that is plenty for the heating costs.