Can I refuse council upgrades to my property?

emma_oneill35

The local council (Fife) want to upgrade the bathroom. This includes new sink and toilet as well as a wet wall. We have our bathroom tiled which cost £700 in 2008 and would be unable to afford to do it again. When they upgraded the kitchen they ripped all the flooring up and we haven't been able to afford to replace it since, due to a change in circumstances. Been walking on bare floorboards in the kitchen for two years.  
There is nothing wrong with the bathroom, everything is in good working order. They just want to upgrade because they have the money for it. We refused last year when they were doing the programme and now they're doing a catch up of missed properties and we want to refuse again but not sure if they'll accept. The refusal is based on the grounds they will damage the tiles and not make repairs and we can't afford to replace them. After the mess they made of the kitchen we really don't want to let them in. 

TELLIT01

Did you complain to the council about the state the kitchen was left in and, if so, how did they respond?  Regarding the bathroom, again - contact the council and ask if they will make good to the tiling after the refit. 

bradders1983

Well it's not your house, so clearly the answer is "no". If you want to do your own thing to your own house, buy your own at the going rate. Yes this sounds harsh but there it is.

comeandgo

Same happened to my mother in her council house.  Her kitchen was new, my brother fitted it even though it was a council house.  Two years later council say they are refurbishing.  They pulled the lot out and fitted an inferior product.  We could not stop them.

Hasbeen

Why would anyone who are renting, pay money to do up someone else's property?

shaun_from_Africa

Hasbeen said:

Why would anyone who are renting, pay money to do up someone else's property?

Possibly because they intend staying there for a long time to come and want somewhere that is done up to a good standard.
I know someone who moved into a council owned property about 30 years ago and they have a secured tenancy so if they wish, they can stay there for the rest of their life.
As the rent is very reasonable, I don't see anything wrong with them spending money to get the property to a standard that they are happy with and enjoy, a property where they may well never move out of (unless it's in a coffin)

neilmcl

Hasbeen said:

Why would anyone who are renting, pay money to do up someone else's property?

Because it's not the same as a private rental. Someone with a secure tenancy for example could live in the house for rest of their lives so it's quite reasonable they might want go in for home improvements, although the sensible thing would be to ask the council first to see if they would do it themselves or have any objections.

bradders1983

shaun_from_Africa said:

Hasbeen said:

Why would anyone who are renting, pay money to do up someone else's property?

Possibly because they intend staying there for a long time to come and want somewhere that is done up to a good standard.
I know someone who moved into a council owned property about 30 years ago and they have a secured tenancy so if they wish, they can stay there for the rest of their life.
As the rent is very reasonable, I don't see anything wrong with them spending money to get the property to a standard that they are happy with and enjoy, a property where they may well never move out of (unless it's in a coffin)

But at the end of the day, they don't own the house.

neilmcl

bradders1983 said:

shaun_from_Africa said:

Hasbeen said:

Why would anyone who are renting, pay money to do up someone else's property?

Possibly because they intend staying there for a long time to come and want somewhere that is done up to a good standard.
I know someone who moved into a council owned property about 30 years ago and they have a secured tenancy so if they wish, they can stay there for the rest of their life.
As the rent is very reasonable, I don't see anything wrong with them spending money to get the property to a standard that they are happy with and enjoy, a property where they may well never move out of (unless it's in a coffin)

But at the end of the day, they don't own the house.

Yes, and?

bradders1983

neilmcl said:

bradders1983 said:

shaun_from_Africa said:

Hasbeen said:

Why would anyone who are renting, pay money to do up someone else's property?

Possibly because they intend staying there for a long time to come and want somewhere that is done up to a good standard.
I know someone who moved into a council owned property about 30 years ago and they have a secured tenancy so if they wish, they can stay there for the rest of their life.
As the rent is very reasonable, I don't see anything wrong with them spending money to get the property to a standard that they are happy with and enjoy, a property where they may well never move out of (unless it's in a coffin)

But at the end of the day, they don't own the house.

Yes, and?

I already made the point in my first reply to this thread. 

Maybe the OP can buy the house off the council, in which case he/she can do as he/she pleases. Until then, the council are the landlord. If they want to put a new bathroom in, tough titties.

wilfred30

No, they can't.  Right to Buy was abolished in Scotland a few years ago.