Housing association taking unreasonably long time to repair a leak

AdrianC

You reported the leak. They fixed it within three months.
You reported the recurrence of the leak. They fixed it within three months.
You reported the recurrence of the leak. They've not fixed it yet, after about three months.

It sounds like the issue is more deep-rooted than yet another quick patch repair will sort - so they're probably looking into more substantial roof repairs. These are rarely quick to arrange. As a leaseholder, you are not responsible for organising the fix - but you will be paying your share of it, either through the service charge/sinking fund, or through a section 20 notice. They need to get a number of quotes and ensure they're getting good value.
https://www.lease-advice.org/faq/what-is-the-section-20-consultation-process-for-major-works/

heffalump123

AdrianC wrote: »

You reported the leak. They fixed it within three months.
You reported the recurrence of the leak. They fixed it within three months.
You reported the recurrence of the leak. They've not fixed it yet, after about three months.

It sounds like the issue is more deep-rooted than yet another quick patch repair will sort - so they're probably looking into more substantial roof repairs. These are rarely quick to arrange. As a leaseholder, you are not responsible for organising the fix - but you will be paying your share of it, either through the service charge/sinking fund, or through a section 20 notice. They need to get a number of quotes and ensure they're getting good value.
https://www.lease-advice.org/faq/what-is-the-section-20-consultation-process-for-major-works/

Hi AdrianC

Thanks for your response. Are you saying that three months is considered a reasonable period of time for a housing association to respond to a repair? I've asked mine to let me know what their standard response time a number of times as I've no idea what to expect but they have not responded to this question. I felt a repair should be done within a few weeks - especially as my plasterwork has become increasingly damaged due to continual leaking. However if three months is considered by the industry as an acceptable response time then that does shine some new light on my situation.

AdrianC

I'm making no comment at all about the reasonableness of the timescales.

Also, whether it was reasonable or not for a couple of localised patch repairs (which haven't worked) is a very different question to whether it's reasonable for a major re-roofing project.

Either way, you don't have a lot of choice about it.

Where the external leak is causing the internal damage, I'd expect the freeholder to contribute to the repair of that internal damage, either directly by doing the work, or financially.

Chandler85

The response time is probably due to the seriousness or lack of, we haven't seen your leak so it is difficult to comment. If it causing discoloration then loose plaster after 2 months then the impact is less then it gushing waster through your whole flat.


How new is the flat? The issue you get with housing associations, is if this is a new build it will probably be maintained by the developer/ builder still as they often have long extra warranties on the building as part of the construction contract. So they are essentially having to get them to come and fix it which makes things much much slower.


Otherwise, you have to request the repair, ask them what there timescale is maybe? If they say 3 months then they are responsible for the damage it causes. If they say 2 weeks, maybe you have unluckily fallen through the cracks, it's possible.



If they aren't doing what they should then try complaining to them through there normal channels, stage 1, stage 2 etc until it is fixed. If that fails then consider legal action, I would hope it wouldn't get that far!

NeilCr

During the three months periods are they actually carrying out any investigations?

Or is it absolutely nothing happens for three months and then one day along comes someone to repair it?

I get where AdrianC is coming from. We have a problem with one of our flats and finding the root cause has been difficult and expensive

AdrianC

NeilCr wrote: »

During the three months periods are they actually carrying out any investigations?

Or is it absolutely nothing happens for three months and then one day along comes someone to repair it?

Even if the OP is sitting there every working hour, watching and waiting, they have no way of knowing. When nobody's on site, they may well be working back in the office to get quotes, arrange visits, etc.

NeilCr

AdrianC wrote: »

Even if the OP is sitting there every working hour, watching and waiting, they have no way of knowing. When nobody's on site, they may well be working back in the office to get quotes, arrange visits, etc.

Oh sure

But they may well have some idea. Other flat owners/HA explains that contractors are doing this, that or the other/etc

OP did say HA was blaming contractors but didn't elaborate.

Fire_Fox

heffalump123 wrote: »

Hello everyone

I should have made clear that the leak is an external building structural issue rather than a leak in my own window. I pay a service charge which includes building maintenance.

The housing association has already accepted responsibility - that has not been an issue.

The issue is how long they are taking. My understanding is it would be legally difficult for me to repair this myself. So I have to go via the housing association.

This has been going on for a long time so I want to get some legal advice. But I'm unable to find solicitors who say they can advise property owners in housing association buildings. So I was wondering if I should go for a firm that works with housing association tenancies - I know I am not a tenant but I pay the housing association a service charge so there could be overlap?

Thanks everyone
Cathy

How have you been reporting and chasing up this issue? Are you reporting and chasing in writing, so forming a paper trail? What are the job title(s) of your contact(s) at the Housing Association? Have you exhausted the HA's complaints procedure?

If your flat is in England or Wales it is unlikely you are an outright property owner (freeholder) more likely you are a 'long leaseholder' (less commonly 'longhold tenant'). The Housing Association are the freeholder and the management company.

Are you aware of the Leasehold Advisory Service? Their website is excellent and covers most eventualities.