Council have asked for walls to be prepared...

GhostWarrior

We live in a council house and recently had a counter top shorted to fit in a larger cooker. During the work, an electrician told us we'd have to have the cooker switch moved as it should never have been above the cooker area in the first place. We spoke to a Housing Inspector who told us that wouldn't be an issue but we'd also need the kitchen re-plastered as it was crumbling in places during his inspection. He told us the plastering is the council's responsibility but we'd have to prep the walls for it.

I've started stripping the walls today and it's worse than expected. Some chunks are coming away. Other areas have 4 layers of wallpaper, there's different types of plaster and evidence of previous tiles. I'm concerned that continuing will do more damage. 

I've attached an image of behind the sink as it gives an example of everything. This was just a going over with steamer and scraper, the paper and plaster came away together in places. You can see patchwork jobs. That's painted wood on the right side that only had one layer of paper and lining paper, and no plaster.

Richmc

So it's the council offering to do half a job try to insist that they do the prep as well after all it's their failing plaster, if they still refuse contact your local councillor and complain, if they can't solve it try your MP and cc in the councilor and whoever the council official who you have been dealing with, I've found issues get resolved faster with your MP involved (Cornwall council).

EssexExile

I can't imagine they expect you to go any further than you have.

casper_gutman

I'd tend to agree with @EssexExile. Certainly they can't reasonably expect a tenant to do more than that. If more was needed they'd have to provide much more specific detail about the steps to take. Even then it would be ridiculous for them to expect a non-professional to do much more than clear things out of the way and strip wallpaper etc.

Murmansk

I think you should just strip off the paper if you can and not worry about bits of plaster coming off as it's going to be replastered