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Council Flat was burgled - Council haven't replaced the insecure door. What can I do?
AB___
Posts: 1 Newbie
Hello, I'm wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I rent a flat from the council that needs the front door replacing due to a break-in and I'm not having much luck with getting the repair done.
On 4th October I returned home with my 77 years old mother from the hospital where she had just been diagnosed with Cancer. I live with my mother in a council flat that is in her name. When she tried to enter the flat she found that the key spun around in the lock. We then noticed crowbar marks on the door. I looked through the letterbox and saw a light left on and books all over the hallway. I realised then that we had been burgled. We called the police because we could not enter the property and were concerned that someone was still in there. They arrived eventually and had to ram open the door to get in. The entire place had been ransacked, there were personal papers everywhere and mum had cash she had taken out from the bank for health related costs stolen. No electricals were stolen, perhaps because there were too conspicuous to take out or too old.
The council sent round someone to change one of the locks on the door and told us that we would need the door changed and new locks fitted. We can lock the door, but it is only superficially secure. The door post and door are damaged, the handle has come off and you can see inside the flat where there is a gap between the door and the doorpost. I have contacted the Council with photographic evidence and I have been told that I would be contacted by the contractors to provide a repair date. I have heard nothing back. I have continued to contact the council to outline that my mother has just had a double mastectomy and we will need to go to hospital for her chemotherapy treatment. We do not feel confident or safe that the flat is secure to do this frequently.
Two weeks ago I called the Council and was told that the repair completion date was 13th Nov. I phoned again yesterday and I was told that the repair date is now 12th Dec. I feel that this is unacceptable for a front door that has only been made superficially secure.
What I require from the council is a date by which the repair will be completed that is not changed every time I call. If they cannot do this then I can source the repair myself and send them the bill. I am not sure about the law around this and whether my local Councillor can help clarify this issue.
The amount of stress this has placed on my mother who is already unwell is immense and I feel frustrated that I am paying rent (we do not receive housing benefit) to a landlord that is not communicating with me and offering a clear repair date that will happen ASAP.
What do you think my next move should be? What would be helpful?
On 4th October I returned home with my 77 years old mother from the hospital where she had just been diagnosed with Cancer. I live with my mother in a council flat that is in her name. When she tried to enter the flat she found that the key spun around in the lock. We then noticed crowbar marks on the door. I looked through the letterbox and saw a light left on and books all over the hallway. I realised then that we had been burgled. We called the police because we could not enter the property and were concerned that someone was still in there. They arrived eventually and had to ram open the door to get in. The entire place had been ransacked, there were personal papers everywhere and mum had cash she had taken out from the bank for health related costs stolen. No electricals were stolen, perhaps because there were too conspicuous to take out or too old.
The council sent round someone to change one of the locks on the door and told us that we would need the door changed and new locks fitted. We can lock the door, but it is only superficially secure. The door post and door are damaged, the handle has come off and you can see inside the flat where there is a gap between the door and the doorpost. I have contacted the Council with photographic evidence and I have been told that I would be contacted by the contractors to provide a repair date. I have heard nothing back. I have continued to contact the council to outline that my mother has just had a double mastectomy and we will need to go to hospital for her chemotherapy treatment. We do not feel confident or safe that the flat is secure to do this frequently.
Two weeks ago I called the Council and was told that the repair completion date was 13th Nov. I phoned again yesterday and I was told that the repair date is now 12th Dec. I feel that this is unacceptable for a front door that has only been made superficially secure.
What I require from the council is a date by which the repair will be completed that is not changed every time I call. If they cannot do this then I can source the repair myself and send them the bill. I am not sure about the law around this and whether my local Councillor can help clarify this issue.
The amount of stress this has placed on my mother who is already unwell is immense and I feel frustrated that I am paying rent (we do not receive housing benefit) to a landlord that is not communicating with me and offering a clear repair date that will happen ASAP.
What do you think my next move should be? What would be helpful?
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Comments
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Update: following the valid points made by other posters DON'T try getting your MP involved lol.
Get contents insurance so repairs can be made a little quicker. I realise the ultimate responsibility for repair is the council's, but councils are not overly quick and repairs aren't always as good as they could be. One of the joys of renting at much lower than market rate (I speak as a council tenant myself) - its quicker and better to do some repairs yourself. I know in my case, my rent is a third of private rental costs so I don't mind so much.
Depending on how much damage there is and where, you could find replacing the damaged side of the door frame is enough to make the entrance secure again.
Its also worth bearing in mind that the council have already supplied a door that wasn't overly secure. Is it worth installing a more secure door yourself. It won't be cheap, but it will help prevent the situation you found yourself in.0 -
I'd start by contacting your local councillor/s. The contact details should be on the LA's website. Definitely elevate to your MP if you're getting nowhere after that.0
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Yes, councillor(s) are more relevant. They're likely to be able to walk into the relevant department and see what's going on. MPs, apart from anything else, are a bit preoccupied at the moment.0
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Another vote for the Councillors; you can email them via
https://www.writetothem.com/
but a better idea might be to send that email and simultaneously try to meet or ring one of the councillors for your local Ward;
Your local Council website will have detail of their contact numbers (if they are as transparent as mine) emails and better still, "surgeries" where they meet and listen to the people who vote for them.
Good luck0 -
Wrong time to contact your MP, in 5 weeks they may no longer be your MPIf you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0
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Don't tell them the back story when you contact the council.
It doesn't matter is your mother is 40 and in full health, it doesn't affect their policies for an insecure door.
Just tell them its insecure and needs fixing.0 -
lincroft1710 wrote: »Wrong time to contact your MP, in 5 weeks they may no longer be your MP
From tomorrow (I think) they are no longer your MP.0 -
Changed my post lol.0
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I’d get a handyman or carpenter in to improve the security temporarily. You should not change the door yourself because it’s a fire door.No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?0
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From tomorrow (I think) they are no longer your MP.
Thanks, I wasn't sure on the actual date when an MP ceased to be an MP and (if seeking re-election) became a prospective Parliamentary candidate.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0
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