Problems with housing officer

Pixie5740

allen169 wrote: »

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.

Then you pay a qualified electrician to sort the electrics. It what people who aren't qualifed Sparks do. Likewise, if you don't have the skills to sort the door then pay a joiner. Your wood burner is saving you money by reducing your gas bills. Use these savings to pay for the repairs. You still don't seem to be grasping the concept of joint and several liability. You could have ended the joint tenancy rather than keeping yourself saddled when a vengeful ex.

As for the wood burning stove it's a gamble. Keep it and risk eviction (who knows how likely that is) or get rid of it.

You've been given advice it's just maybe not what you want to hear. Whatever is suggested there's always an excuse and some reason why you and your family are victims.

Poppie68

I think all replies are rather tame.:)

In regards to your issue with the ex...your were still liable for all damage as a joint tenant as you were aware of the vandalism at the time you had the option of calling the police, having the ex removed and an order of protection granted which would of resulted in her tenancy being revoked...this was your job at that time not the HA. You were within your rights to enter the property whenever you wanted and could of took control of the household a lot sooner which would probably reduced the damage done by the ex.

Forgive me for being blunt but it sounds like you both have been a thorn in the HA sides for quite sometime and as long as they are full filling there duty as LL they will not spend money repairing wilful damage, it will be in your contract that you signed and agreed to.

DTDfanBoy

I suspect the housing officers are checking out your facebook profile so they can get a better idea about their number one problem tenant

Poppie68

You don't have to be an expert joiner to hang a door...or maybe try a pair of thermal curtains to keep the draft out.

Poppie68

sniggings wrote: »

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.





The problem with requesting a move is the cost, he will still be liable for all repairs, if he stays and slowly gets through them himself or sources cheaper tradesmen he could potentially depending on the scale of damage save himself thousands...there is also a good chance he would lose his right to a tenancy.

sniggings

Poppie68 wrote: »

The problem with requesting a move is the cost, he will still be liable for all repairs, if he stays and slowly gets through them himself or sources cheaper tradesmen he could potentially depending on the scale of damage save himself thousands...there is also a good chance he would lose his right to a tenancy.

Not knowing the house, this is all guess work, but this house, fixed still sounds unsuitable, a house shouldn't cost that much to heat, a door off etc shouldn't make a well insulated home cold, but would make a bad insulated home worse.

With a move they would be making savings year on year, the repairs need paying for whether the OP moves or not, why fix a lemon!

Poppie68

Asking for a move may trigger a review of the tenancy..

Op have you checked with the HA about the insulation, maybe this is an area they maybe willing to provide funding to if it's found to be inadequate.. thermal blinds can also make a huge difference on your Windows and can be found fairly cheaply on the internet...

sniggings

Poppie68 wrote: »

Asking for a move may trigger a review of the tenancy..

.

A request to move for medical reasons or a swap would not trigger a review, the OP has a secure tenancy they can not review the tenancy for such a request.

jude47

One thing that doesn't seem to have been mentioned so far (unless I've missed it) and I have no idea if it would be possible, is coming to some sort of compromise with the Local Authority, i.e. that they carry out the repairs to the standard required to make the house habitable then charge them back to the OP, to be repaid at a weekly/fortnightly/monthly rate realistically affordable to the OP.


If this cannot be agreed, then OP, there are some possible sources of help for you:


SSAFA Forces Help/Royal British Legion if you or partner ever served in the forces
Trade Union welfare funds if you or partner are a current member or fee-paying retired/unemployed member
Employment Benevolent Funds (for example, the are benevolent funds for former fire-fighters, former shop workers etc. A search online should help find any suitable for you)


Hope this helps.




Jude

allen169

A move would be out of the question. We also have to be of close local to the local school etc, so the house is in an ideal position.

To those who say I have had an excuse for everything. Please think before you type, one day you may just be on the receiving end of such a reply, and Im sure wouldn't appreciate the response. Before posting, think, would I be happy to receive that as a reply...

The property isn't a housing association property, but a council owned home.

To the person who said buy thermal curtains, that really wasn't very productive, almost as good as the council response I received telling me to use extra blankets...

The woodburner would alleviate a lot of our heating worries, many of you are not taking into account I have an unlimited supply of free wood, so the heating costs are irrelevant. It would also allow us to reduce our reliance on the gas heating system. An electric fire is out of the question.

Yes the council have valid reasons, but the same reasons could be said for the installation of a gas fire, they carry the same dangers, however these are allowed..

My question still remains, how do I challenge the council on their decision to refuse, and does anybody here who live in council properties have the use of a wood burning device.