At my wits end with council wet room.

gigi112

1) I never requested a wet room
2) yes I do expect them to fix it considering it’s on their instruction that it’s been installed and not correctly
3) had I known the wet room leaks, rots skirting board and causes untold damp I’d have never took the property
4) half height doors are offered, as the sink has been moved to accommodate the wet room I now have no bathroom space whatsoever and do not want a bathroom that is riddled with damp and wood rot. 

Don’t see why asking them to take the problematic thing out is an issue considering I do not need it?

HampshireH

gigi112 said:

1) I never requested a wet room
2) yes I do expect them to fix it considering it’s on their instruction that it’s been installed and not correctly
3) had I known the wet room leaks, rots skirting board and causes untold damp I’d have never took the property
4) half height doors are offered, as the sink has been moved to accommodate the wet room I now have no bathroom space whatsoever and do not want a bathroom that is riddled with damp and wood rot. 

Don’t see why asking them to take the problematic thing out is an issue considering I do not need it?

Of course you can ask, but depending on how long ago it was fitted (they get paid for by the council under grant funding) and when it is due for replacement (often 25 years after install) as well as cost to repair will all be taken into consideration by the HA.

They have an obligation to carry out any repairs absolutely. A new bathroom is between £4.5-6k if it's not needed they will not replace it.

The surveyor you had put today should have checked the floor etc when they were there. Replacement floor is much cheaper than ripping out a wet room and installing a bathroom.

propertyrental

Ah! I thought they had it put in!

gigi112

Can I just add I fled domestic violence to this property. I was homeless. Turning it down would have had me unable to bid for 3 months. I have no issue with wet rooms hence why I accepted it, the wet room would be fab, if it worked as it should. It’s not fit for purpose so therefore, if it is causing damage to my property and my possessions, I am within my right to complain. 

deannagone

When I was in a similar situation, homeless, there was no opportunity to refuse an offer.  You couldn't even appeal until you'd moved in.  If you refused any offer, you were deemed voluntarily homeless. I suspect refusing on the basis of not liking a wet room (not having used it you would not know it hadn't been installed properly) would not be in any way sufficient grounds to refuse a property.

I had repair problems.  It took two official complaints but after the second, and backing from my MP, I was able to get the situation resolved, whereas before it was just ignored.

I also was recommended by OT to have a partly adapted kitchen put in, and a no step shower.  I wasn't impressed by the contractors who came round to assess the bathroom and didn't proceed (there were plumbing issues that I knew the council would not sort out before the shower was installed and the contractors said was nothing to do with them - I have a hot water cylinder that is suitable for a 1 bed property in a 3 bed property, leaks and insufficient pressure.  Putting a pump in will just empty the cylinder in one minute flat.  The council still won't resolve this, several years later so no hope of a shower being installed). 

Having had the kitchen installed I knew I made the right decision.  It was shambolic.  The contractors just want to get the money, they don't actually care if it is fit for purpose. The council just wanted it to pass their 'design' red tape.  But once installed, there were cupboard doors that wouldn't open because of the way the cupboards and appliances were placed. There's no co-ordination with other council run repair services that might need to be used beforehand.  Its just a tick box exercise. Kitchen/shower installed tick.  Doesn't matter if it is fit for purpose.

I am lucky to have social housing, but the downside is the shambolic and reluctant repair services. And getting to the point where you are offered a property was stressful in the extreme.  I tend to prefer to get repairs done myself.  You get the odd person who knows what they are doing, but there are also quite a few people on the repair team that either can't be bothered or who don't know what they are doing.  However, considering I am paying rent that is a third of private rental costs, its swings and roundabouts.

jonnydeppiwish!

elsien said:

jonnydeppiwish! said:

propertyrental said:

Ah! I thought they had it put in!

So they rented it after it was installed? Surely then they just need to find another property to rent then?

What is your issue here? Do you not like social housing tenants? 
The OP has a housing association property. The landlord has an obligation to keep it in a good state of repair.
Why should the OP give up a secure tenancy with a reasonable rent for a private rental, which they may not be able to afford anyway, because the landlord isn’t meeting their repair obligations? 

No not all - I asking why the tenant took the property if they didn’t like the bathroom.  You wouldn’t go into a private rental and say they wanted it changed.

So far the only issue that’s been mentioned that’s poor is the fact there is rotting wooden skirting, which can be easily rectified.

With the fitting of a half shower door, and the Op could also fit a curtain above, surely the council has fulfilled its commitments?

gigi112 said:

jonnydeppiwish! said:

propertyrental said:

Ah! I thought they had it put in!

So they rented it after it was installed? Surely then they just need to find another property to rent then?

Oh for god sake. You could say that about the person who’s had the wet room installed no? Unsuitable bathroom, find somewhere else?

In my area other properties are in excess of £1200 for a 2 bedroom, I work full time and I cannot afford it. I asked advice, not judgement and snide remarks. Clown. 

No one is judging or passing snide remarks - it’s a question that requires an answer so the full situation is understood. 

I apologise if it comes across as such but it is not meant. 

FreeBear

jonnydeppiwish! said: So far the only issue that’s been mentioned that’s poor is the fact there is rotting wooden skirting, which can be easily rectified.

Wooden skirting in a wet room is a really bad idea.

The flooring need to curve up where the floor meets wall and extend up by 100-150mm. If you just stick the flooring down and cut it flush with the skirting, water will get behind - Sure, you can whack a bit of silicone sealant in, but it still leaves a join that will fail.

On top of that, there should be a fall to the drainage point so that water does not pool. Sounds like the installation of the OP's flooring fails on both fall and edge sealing. If the HA doesn't want to acknowledge faulty installation, then start writing letters to the local councilors and maybe the local MP (although, the latter probably won't get involved). Another avenue of attack is the press - In light of the coroner's ruling in the death of Awaab Ishak (where mould was a contributory factor), I'm sure the reporters would take an interest.

Fixing a leaking wet room floor is going to involve stripping out many of the fittings, and depending on the extent of water damage uncovered, a major & expensive job. Funding the job should be down to the HA as it is their property and not by the OP.

Morglin

Sometimes, you need to bite the bullet, with social housing, and save to get the work done yourself.

My kitchen or bathroom didn't work for us, so (with permission) ripped them both out and we had them done to our design and for our health needs.

I hate wet rooms - a walk in shower is better.

Debbie9009

The OP, doesn’t want the wet room replacing on a whim, they want it replacing because it is rotting, not an unreasonable expectation in my opinion. It may be cheaper to rip the whole thing out and replace with a standard bathroom, than to try and fix it.

OP the only thing I can think of that others haven’t said is to contact your GP, and see if they would put anything in writing about health issues that could be caused by the mould to you or your child.

I hope you are able to get something sorted.

Skiddaw1

Me too OP. I think one poster here really needs to take a step back and examine their motives.

Good luck....