Housing Association Last Tenants Ruined Rooms What Can I Do?

dantman

Hi,
First post so plat nice

I've just taken the keys on our first HA house :j
When I went to view it the keys had only just been handed in and I was told there was some work needed doing as the last tenants had left it in a bad way.

I took the keys today and was told they had done all the work they had to do but the state the house is in is just still very bad is there anything I can do now I've taken the keys?

The bath has a hole it in and has been filled in with some sort of filler
Tiles missing from bathroom where a shower has been removed
The kitchen units are all in a state shelves inside bending to the point of snapping and the backs all pushed out and cupboard doors have peeling veneer
Chunks missing out of the worktops
Chunks of door missing and whole mechanisms from doors missing
and not to mention the filth the HA cleaner had been in and scrubbed the tiles in the kitchen and bathroom and said there was nothing more he could do and they are in a really bad way!

Is there anything I can do now they have said it's all been done and ive been given the keys or do I have to go out and buy a new bath and kitchen units and doors before I can move me and the kids in?
I've only ever had private rent before and the houses have always been liveable when I've moved in, not palaces but nothing like this.

Thanks
Dani

G_M

Errrrr.....

Have you contacted the HA?

Try popping in to their office tomorrow.

Or give them a call.

And then write a letter listing all the problems.

Sorted!

Mossfarr

I would list all the faults and take (dated) photographs of everything. Go to he Housing office and give them the list and copies of the photographs and ask for the repairs to be carried out before you move in.
If they refuse to improve the conditions I would make an official complaint. If it still isn't sorted write to your local MP and see if you can get the local press interested.

[Deleted User]

Hopefully the HA will attend to the problems you've reported but if not: -

I don't know what the problem is with the tiles but using bleach and a good hard scrub with what I call scratchy pads (the plastic sponge pads with an abrasive side) usually works wonders. I had to do the same here. It depends on what's causing the discolouration.., you don't say. If the grout is awful, a toothbrush and bleach helps or you can touch it up. If its down to scaling, a descaler works wonders (yes I have used it on baths and tiles, carefully - drip some descaler on a kitchen towel, place towel on area to be descaled, give it 15 mins and see if the scale will scrub off).

The cupboard doors you can fill and repaint.., this may not count as a repair.

The 'split' kitchen cupboards may count as a repair. State you have young children and its unhygienic/unsafe. Depending on the HA, it may take time to get the repair done. I have replaced cupboard shelves before now, it depends on the condition of the carcasses. I bought some conti board from B&Q and had them cut instore to size http://www.diy.com/departments/conti-mfc-furniture-panel-white-l2440mm-w533mm-t15mm/66186_BQ.prd. (check they have an instore cutting service). The back boards can be supported with a thin plank of wood screwed to the back of the cupboards.

You can even fill the bath (I often found I did better repairs than the 'odd job man' my previous council employed but that's not always true) but obviously it would be better if it could be replaced.

I'm now in a two bed maisonette as emergency housing. I've not seen a place in as bad a state as this was when I moved in. I had roaches lol.., they are gone now but it took a good few weeks. All walls have had to be scrubbed, don't think they'd been painted or cleaned for decades. I have a lovely acne effect wall from where a dart board was kept.., somehow they decided to use a windowsill as a dartboard as well. Took me hours and hours to get the scale out of the loo and bath.., dreadful state. I don't know how people could live like it, but its much nicer now. Lucky for me, I like scrubbing lol.

My council has done repairs though. All taps have been replaced (they were 70 years old apparently and not repairable), the boiler has been repaired twice (great that its been repaired but obviously have had some cold times), kitchen fire door reattached because it wouldn't close, masses of dead roach carcases scrubbed and cleaned away, a non working window is being repaired, I'm going to have to replace the kitchen worktops myself. I have holes in kitchen cupboard doors and work tops as well. Had to replace missing cupboard shelf supports because the shelves were hanging at an angle lol.

I managed to get carpet remnants from ebay for the stairs. Best quality carpet I've ever had, and first time I've laid it myself lol. Didn't cost much but took a lot of time cause I was scared of slashing the wrong bits lol (had to repair the original flooring before I could lay grippers too). Had to put lino down in the kitchen because there was adhesive over the original lino that I just couldn't get off even with specialist 'sticky stuff' cleaners. Another Ebay bargain lol.

But it doesn't really bother me too much. So much better than my private rental that was in a right state, no repairs done at all and no harrassing LL around (as long as I pay my rent anyway). I consider myself very very lucky.

I hope you are able to get things done, or do them yourself.., look on it as you creating your home. So much better than private rental you can lose every six months or year once you have it as you want it.

HappyMJ

dantman wrote: »

Hi,
First post so plat nice

I've just taken the keys on our first HA house :j
When I went to view it the keys had only just been handed in and I was told there was some work needed doing as the last tenants had left it in a bad way.

I took the keys today and was told they had done all the work they had to do but the state the house is in is just still very bad is there anything I can do now I've taken the keys?

The bath has a hole it in and has been filled in with some sort of filler
Tiles missing from bathroom where a shower has been removed
The kitchen units are all in a state shelves inside bending to the point of snapping and the backs all pushed out and cupboard doors have peeling veneer
Chunks missing out of the worktops
Chunks of door missing and whole mechanisms from doors missing
and not to mention the filth the HA cleaner had been in and scrubbed the tiles in the kitchen and bathroom and said there was nothing more he could do and they are in a really bad way!

Is there anything I can do now they have said it's all been done and ive been given the keys or do I have to go out and buy a new bath and kitchen units and doors before I can move me and the kids in?
I've only ever had private rent before and the houses have always been liveable when I've moved in, not palaces but nothing like this.

Thanks
Dani

Some of them can be a right mess. It's yours to do with as you please so you can rip it all out and put in new cabinets and worktop if you want. I would be getting on to the HA and getting them to fix everything before you move in.

You can hand the keys back if you wanted to but you probably will find yourself at the back of the list again waiting for however long you did this time.

HA properties seem to be a bit of a pot luck around here. You either get a gem of a property or a right mess of one.

gwynlas

Generally speaking the tenant who shouts loudest gets things done.
Go back to them and ask how does this let compare to "decent homes standard" that they are meant to adhere to,
Take photographs as office staff might well have not visited property so have no idea how bad things are,
Ask about redecoration allowance
If no joy approach local council who probably nominated you for property explaining why conditions unacceptable. Similarly visit local Councillors and MPs surgeries,
If prepared for publicity approach local press with human interest story,
All sorts of materials including kitchen cabinets might be available on local Freecycle or Gumtree. There might be local handyperson, shop window or local paper ad who could help install. Again if prepared for publicity get local press to follow up showing hoe "sisters are doing it for themselves"
Wishing you luck in building a secure home and future for your children