Council Refusing To Do Repairs

dollydoodar

Back in 2015 after living in the property for one winter and realising that it was virtually impossible to heat the living room, I asked my housing officer to help with the issue. He arranged a heating calculation done by a council contractor which reported that I need the outside walls insulated and a bigger radiator. Months went by so I enquired as to when work would commence and was told that I had never had a calculation done as they could not find any record of it. They ordered a second one to be done and the exact same thing happened again. Both calculations were done by the same man, we laughed at the council's blunder when he came the second time. Finally, a couple of weeks ago I made a formal complaint as my housing officer suggested and this time they sent a council heating engineer who measured the room by gauging it with his eye and guesswork which he claimed stemmed from his previous 25 years experience, something that he mentioned with pride quite a few times even though he had forgotten his tape measure :rotfl: He went back and reported that I do not need a bigger radiator and that I may need to have the walls insulated but he couldn't say for sure as he is not a builder. I am disabled and I have to live in one room in the winter as the other room is too cold. This will be my 5th winter here. I want to take them to court for this awful treatment but I do not know where to find a good solicitor. Does someone on here know a good one? TIA

theartfullodger

Do you own the place or rent it, please? I assume renting as you mention a housing officer.



If renting - from council, housing association or private landlord, please? Have you written, keeping a copy, a calm polite letter of complaint to your landlord, please?

G_M

Have you got copies of either of the two reports done by the 'council contractor'?

Norman_Castle

Page 18, specifically SAP rating might be relevant https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7812/138355.pdf


Pointless getting a solicitor until you know you have a case. As above, can you get a copy of the original report?


In the short term focus on getting a larger radiation as that is easier and cheaper than external insulation so far more likely to happen.

[Deleted User]

I had a similar problem, got insulating wallpaper, problems solved. If you receive extra benefits because of disability, hopefully you can allot some of that to get the wallpaper and have it installed.

Councils are very slow to take such a thing seriously. It can be better to just get on with it.

I also use heated blankets/throws to cut my heating costs. They are wonderful lol.

Solution for you depends on whether you want quick or that 'you are right' tickbox checked.

You could contact your councillor for advice.

maladict

Have you tried contacting Shelter? They should be able to give you some advice including details of solicitors who work in that area who might offer at least an initial free consultation.

dollydoodar

Thank you, everyone. I do rent the place yes. After the council heating inspector did his review, he decided that all I need is an elbow on a leaking radiator in a completely different room. They sent the contractors who did the previous heating calculations to do the elbow and it's always the same man who comes and he knows me and he knows what jobs he did at my place. He called up the last calculation he did on his handheld computer which was back in June this year and he let me take a screenshot of his report. He had written down the measurements of the room and they are different from the recent measurements taken by the council's heating inspector but then they would be. He also said that they will have previous years' work schedules and results held on file but his machine only goes back one year. I am going to save up for the work to be done privately as I cannot afford to get stressed about the issue as stress enhances my pain condition. I will be determined to find a solicitor to help recuperate the money spent on making the place warm enough. Unfortunately, I live in a victorian property so they will have to use a breathable board and plaster which is more costly and I bet that's why the council is trying to avoid doing it. How low can you swoop leaving a tenant who lives with chronic pain in a cold flat, in fact going all out to make sure that the work will not get completed by not taking the correct measurements? I don't know how they sleep at night. You would think it was coming out of their wages, they must be brainwashed...

tealady

dollydoodar wrote: »

Thank you, everyone. I don't know how they sleep at night. You would think it was coming out of their wages, they must be brainwashed...

I used to work for my LA and yes I did sleep well at night, it didnt come out of my wages and I was not brainwashed.
Council staff are human and humans make mistakes.
You have 2 free options.
1) make a formal complaint
2) speak to your local Councillor.

Of course you could pay to have things done yourself if you wish.

warby68

You are chasing a limited resource and unfortunately I am sure that an inefficient heating system will always be lower priority than no heating at all and you will always be in that 'trap'.

I understand the frustration but, for your health alone, you would surely be better pursuing your own solutions than entering a 5th winter freezing on principle. Not all are very costly.

Any legal angle would be very difficult - you do have heating, it just isn't very good.

Sometimes you have to look after yourself even if technically its someone else's job.

comeandgo

To help you in the short term you could buy a heated throw. That will be cheaper and less stressful than doing repairs and getting solicitor involved. Maybe you could hint at some family member that it would be an ideal Christmas gift.

Robin9

Simple things - lined curtains, a sausage on the door. (as above Christmas gifts - better than another bottle of sherry.)

In addition to the radiator do you have a focal point gas fire ?

How much do you run your heating ? Hopefully not just an hour when you get up and a few hours in the evening. My MIL was convinced that 16 deg was warm enough - in her latter months we ran it at 22 deg 24 hours a day.

Do you claim Warm Homes Grant ? Don't forget you get £200 Heating Allowance plus extra payments when it is cold.