Council inspection for repairs -what are my responsibilities?

[Looby]

i'd get arsey with them tbh.

point out that you've been there over 10 years and things weren't that great when you moved in and you were expecting a new kitchen anyway in the near future.

i don't suppose you have any photos hanging around of your flat from back then?

^^^ This. That's bang out of order if it's in bad condition anyway.

 

[sheothebudworths]

That's well out of order!

Yes.. arsey! ...like baldrick says!

 

[scumbalina]

Don't know if I have any photos....they say that as I didn't report each problem as it arose it's my responsibility. Think it's gonna cost a fortune!!! We're gonna try and do a bodge job with the doors I've got, I'm tempted to go and get one of the drawers from my new place to replace the missing one...

Also, they told me they'd be a new kitchen and bathroom put in, one of which would be done by last October, they're now saying I wouldn't have been told I could have both and that it's not due to be done till the end of this financial year, so the next poor bastard who lives here's gonna be stuck with the kitchen from hell

 

[baldrick]

hmmm. that doesn't sound right to me. i know it's a council tenancy, but surely you only have to pay for stuff that's NOT wear and tear?

You've been there for 10 years ffs! Was there an inventory when you moved in?

 

[scumbalina]

hmmm. that doesn't sound right to me. i know it's a council tenancy, but surely you only have to pay for stuff that's NOT wear and tear?

You've been there for 10 years ffs! Was there an inventory when you moved in?

I dunno, don't think they were that hot on things like this back then. I've put up with a lot living here, it's been really damp the whole time to the point that loads of stuff went mouldy and they've done jack shit, I've had one heater for the whole place, nightmare neighbours, asbestos that wasn't removed safely, promised this new kitchen and bathroom that has never appeard and now I'm having to pay for the work that they should be doing

To be fair, it does say (I've just checked) in my tenancy that if I don't report stuff when it happens it's my responsibilty. But they've known about the damage for over a year as they inspected the place for a new kitchen and have done nothing since...

 

[marty21]

ime, in 13 odd years of working in social housing , repairs never actually get around to charging tenants for work to void flats after they vacate, in every housing association i have worked in, there was no actual method for recharging tenants for the work, i don't think they can put ito n the rent account either

 

[scumbalina]

ime, in 13 odd years of working in social housing , repairs never actually get around to charging tenants for work to void flats after they vacate, in every housing association i have worked in, there was no actual method for recharging tenants for the work, i don't think they can put ito n the rent account either

She said I'd be sent an invoice and they'd work out a payment scheme.

Maybe she's just being mean, she seems mean

 

[marty21]

She said I'd be sent an invoice and they'd work out a payment scheme.

Maybe she's just being mean, she seems mean

she does seem mean, you can argue that the kitchen units are wear and tear, that they would have been replacing them anyway, as it's easier to put in a new kitchen in a void flat, than it is with a tenant living there - kitchens should be replaced every 10/15 years as a rule

 

[scumbalina]

she does seem mean, you can argue that the kitchen units are wear and tear, that they would have been replacing them anyway, as it's easier to put in a new kitchen in a void flat, than it is with a tenant living there - kitchens should be replaced every 10/15 years as a rule

I said similar, they reckon that as I didn't get them repaired as they got dmamged it's my responsibility, even if it is wear and tear, and that they won't bring forward doing the kitchen up, they want to get someone in there straight away (it wasn't just her, but a guy from the sub-contractors).

Hopefully if I can replace everything except this one drawer they might let it go?

She said it's ony recently they've started cracking down on this kinda thing...maybe since she started working there


The annoying thing is they're gonna give me a £150 of decorating vouchers for the new place, but then maybe charge me cash for these repairs. I've got paint etc already, so I'd rather just not have the vouchers, but they won't do it like that...and if they'd give them to me now I could go and buy a drawer. I reckon even if there's just that to be replaced it's gonnna be dear, as they look to be about £30 then add on crazy council man hours, and if we can't fix a couple of them it's gonna be into the hundreds I bet. I did ask if she knew how much and she implied a lot.

I even tried rubbing my bump and looking forlorn, but nothing

 

[scumbalina]

Is there a chance they could be trying to scare me into doing as much as I can? Cos if so, I don't need it I've been packing and cleaning all week, trying to get it up to scratch, I ws up at 6.30am today scrubbing the bloody kitchen floor and washing all the doors, I'm a bit sick of it now and have the back ache from hell.

Yet still not clean enough for them

 

[scumbalina]

One more thing She told me everything they want me to do, but said that as my flat was so full of stuff (me and Mr S both work from home so there's boxes everywhere) they cpould get really good look. Normally they'd come back in a week and say if you'd done enough, then give you the keys, if I understood her correctly, but in this case she's gonna try and get me the keys early so I can move my stuff out so that I can get it all cleaned up and sorted. But this means that they might not come back and inspect it again, thus not giving me the option to put things right myself if they find anything wrong/it's not up to standard, meaning I'll definately get charged for anything. It doesn't seem fair that I'm getting penalised for having lots of stuff...

 

[marty21]

they would usually do a pre void inspection, and then when you give them the keys do another inspection to spec the void works, there's a chance they are trying scare tactics, to get you to clean obsessively and replace drawers and that - tbh when i do post void inspections, some tenants are very good, some live a load of old toot

i'm sure you're one of the nice ones

 

[scumbalina]

they would usually do a pre void inspection, and then when you give them the keys do another inspection to spec the void works, there's a chance they are trying scare tactics, to get you to clean obsessively and replace drawers and that - tbh when i do post void inspections, some tenants are very good, some live a load of old toot

i'm sure you're one of the nice ones

oooh, I made it very clear that I wanted to leave it in a good state, I don't want the next person to have to clear up after me, that would be mean

 

[marty21]

oooh, I made it very clear that I wanted to leave it in a good state, I don't want the next person to have to clear up after me, that would be mean

generally, the way it works, is that when someone moves out, contractors carry out void works, and should leave the flat in a relatively tidy state - it may not be redecorated, new tenants tend to be given adecoration allowance, to save money (on magnolia paint really)

 

[baldrick]

awww, scumbalina, that lady sounds really mean i can't believe how unreasonable she's being. hopefully it will be just a case of doing the best you can cleaning wise and somehow sticking the cupboard doors back on

we had to do that in our old house - we were praying that the inspection guy wouldn't look in one of the cupboards as the door would have come off in his hand fortunately he didn't, and we got our money back wishing you similar luck

 

[scumbalina]

She's back in a bit to give me the keys to the new place, I'll ask her if she'll let it go if I just patch up everything except the one drawer.

 

[geminisnake]

What's wrong with the drawer?? Hubby is a joiner and maybe he could describe a successful bodge for you?? If the doors etc have fallen off the kitchen units get some good no nails glue and glue the screws in with that!!

Does sound like your housing officer could have been recruited from my area Is there a special course they get sent on to become an up your own arse bitch??

If mine ever comes back she's getting told to come back at another time when I will have a witness present.

 

[scumbalina]

What's wrong with the drawer?? Hubby is a joiner and maybe he could describe a successful bodge for you?? If the doors etc have fallen off the kitchen units get some good no nails glue and glue the screws in with that!!

.

Aw, thanks, the problem is I threw it away It was totally stuffed and I biined it without thinking


I reckon Mr S will be able to fix the other ones, but if we run into trouble it's be great to get some advice from your other half, thanks

 

[bluestreak]

ime, in 13 odd years of working in social housing , repairs never actually get around to charging tenants for work to void flats after they vacate, in every housing association i have worked in, there was no actual method for recharging tenants for the work, i don't think they can put ito n the rent account either

Camden recharge first and THEN do the repairs. If the repairs officers remember to check that the tenant has to pay.

In reality it's completely hit and miss.

In the end, they're not going to pay for stuff that they think has been mistreated, and a kitchen unit should last far more than 10 years. I'm not saying you were responsible scumbalina, cos I don't think you're the sort of person who'd mistreat their own place. But if you haven't reported it, and didn't get them to fix it earlier, this is the first they've heard of it. You can't blame them for being suspicious. You wouldn't believe what some tenants try and get away with. Personally I'd advise that you should get them to repair it, and make a formal complaint if they try and charge you more than a few quid. With a good case you should be able to get the fees removed. I'm more than happy to offer any help or advice in this, as I've worked in complaints resolution in the housing sector for a few years now.

 

[scumbalina]

Camden recharge first and THEN do the repairs. If the repairs officers remember to check that the tenant has to pay.

In reality it's completely hit and miss.

In the end, they're not going to pay for stuff that they think has been mistreated, and a kitchen unit should last far more than 10 years. I'm not saying you were responsible scumbalina, cos I don't think you're the sort of person who'd mistreat their own place. But if you haven't reported it, and didn't get them to fix it earlier, this is the first they've heard of it. You can't blame them for being suspicious. You wouldn't believe what some tenants try and get away with. Personally I'd advise that you should get them to repair it, and make a formal complaint if they try and charge you more than a few quid. With a good case you should be able to get the fees removed. I'm more than happy to offer any help or advice in this, as I've worked in complaints resolution in the housing sector for a few years now.

Thanks

They have known about the repairs for over a year, could that go in my favour?

ETA...the units where really old and worn when I moved in

 

[geminisnake]

Pm me if you need a hand. Going out soon so won't be able to respond til later

 

[scumbalina]

Bumped to add that I've just had a bill for nearly £300