Housing Association Landlord

computerwoman

Hi I live in a housing association house I pay £70 a week for a 2 bedroomed semi detached house what are my right's for repair's...I reported my back door as it leaked and we got flooded this summer because of this result 1 ruined floor...they wouldn't fix the floor so I went to B & Q and got some cheap floor tile's...£60 and fitted this myself to keep the cost down...then a repair man arrived with a sealent gun said the door wasn't repairable but he would stick some sealent in to stop from leaking...this did not work to my dismay...when it rained the door leaked all the more...front door started to leak he came to repair it with yes you guessed it some sealent...so I rang home housing and said this was unexceptable...there surveyer came and said yes you can have 2 new door's but not until our new financial year which is April 2008...this I find unexceptable my next door neighbour's (who are privately owed) have just had there guttering replaced so now mine doesn't meet there's HH's surveyer came round on monday last and said she was under the impression that it had been done and was supposed to be done in the summer...so why am I still waiting...now my question is where do I stand about forcing them to act and do these repair's now and not wait until next year....have I got any option's or am I stuck with it and have just got to wait....the surveyer did say to the builders next door on monday that she has given her people 14 days to complete the work but as the days go on I am thinking yeh right like never...help please what are my rights as a tenent....:D

poorbabe

HI Computerwoman, I'm not sure I can give much help but here goes.

Go further up the chain with your repairs request. If your housing manager isn't helping then the manager above should respond. Go through your tenancy agreement and see what it says re who is responsible for what. If necessary take photos and send it to the housing manager AND their manager so they can see what needs to be done. They have a process that they should be adhering to and if they aren't, complain as far up the ladder as you can til something is done.

I live in HA property and whilst I've had no repairs that need doing, I do recall (when I lived in council property) that they would drag out a repair request til April, although you were never told it was to do with lack of money :cool:

Good luck.

eldowardo

I agree with poorbabe you need to check your tenancy agreement.

Council properties when requiring repairs have different priorities, but usually they have a duty to keep them wind and water tight, which is why when you put the right to buy in on a council property they would repair it if the repair affects this 'wind and water tight' rule.

In the long run, it will ruin their property, dont forget you dont own it so I would have suggested you not to have laid those tiles etc.. Ceratinly dont go out and buy your own door!

computerwoman

thanks for your reply's I have checked my agreement and they are responsible for all major repair's ie. all door's and window's outside walls and fencing guttering all I am responsible for is the up-keep of the interior ie...decorating and furnishings anything else is there problem...I wasn't aware of any wind and wet rule so I may just use that one...thanks:Dand I am going to tell them to sort the floor out themselves in future ...:D

jezmyers

the "official" answer on this one is quite simple really. The HA are responsible for the repairs (not caused by damage done by yourself and a few other minor things) to your property. Under the "right to repair" scheme, you are able to claim for them to come and fix the property. Saying "wait until the next financial year" isn't really acceptable.

info on the right to repair scheme can be found here. Remember that the 2 separate doors are 2 separate jobs. http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/138340

There are actually loads of options you can do in order to get your HA to do the repair. Have a look at your tenancy agreement and see if it falls into that category. Write to them stating that this is the repair, what has gone on so far (with regards to the surveyor saying that it needs to be done and you are not liable) and find out what the agreed time schedule is on the repair (i'd expect 28 days). Note that if they don't complete the repair within this time then they are in breach of their agreement with you. You may also (but i wouldn't necessarily recommend you do this) withold your rent after this period of time in order to pay for the repairs from the money. There isn't a court in the land that would make a judgement against you if you were to do this.

I can go into all of this much further. Any problems just pm me.

jezmyers

just to add, if you've got any medical/health reasons for getting the work done, state that. The courts love that when an HA fails to carry out their responsibilities as a tenant.

computerwoman

well none of that worked so I have decided instead of paying around £3000 to make my garden more disabled friendly to move to a council property via exchange and put the money to that instead and sod home housing they are not worth the hasle and up-set or the gas bill I may get in april not looking forward to that one...but on the whole I think I need to get away from this landlord as they are unacceptable....thanks for all your help...cw I'll keep you posted:Dand merry christmas