To think this isn't acceptable!

[2MumsAreBetterThan1]

Have just had a new bathroom installed by the landlord (social housing) of my home as part of planned improvement works they are doing.

I tried to say no to this as just 6 months earlier I had re-tiled and decorated the bathroom as well as fitting a shower (all with permission) but was told I had no choice, fair enough not my house.

Anyway they came and ripped out my brand new tiles, flooring and shower and also the bath toilet and sink, all this was skipped, such a waste considering most of it was brand new! The toilet only replaced 6 weeks ago as part of a repair!

They then obviously fitted new one's in their place.
Now here is the problem. The bath they have fitted is SO SO narrow it's unbelieveable! It's 4 inches narrower than the old bath PLUS it curves inwards so in actual fact at the narrowest point is a good 6 inches narrower.

I actually cannot fit!

I am a size 14, not tiny but not huge either, a little over average I believe and I am so squashed in the bath I cannot move and I have to lie/ sit with my arms up in the air as there is no room for them!

My hips and shoulders are too wide, it is physically impossible to wash like this.

Don't get me wrong I am gratefull of the housing but I do pay my rent and I don't feel I should have to put up with this, especially as my bathroom was immaculate, almost brand new and had no issues.

Now I have one I cannot use, what on earth do I do?

They have not finished the work yet, coming back to do the tiling tomorrow. Do I let them carry on or refuse any more work until this is sorted?

I told the plumber it was too narrow, before trying it and was told thats what everyone has, no choice.

[OHforDUCKScake]

Do you really need to bath with your arms in the air or can you put them on the sides?

[itwasallyellow]

YANBU but expect to be told you are, and that you should be grateful for your 'subsidised' home.

[naturalbaby]

Is there a shower over the bath or in the bathroom?

[TwickOrTweasels]

They a) should have told you about the planned work before letting you spend money on decorating and b) should have consulted you as to what you want.

Like you say, you pay your rent, regardless of whether it's private or social housing. YANBU

[itwasallyellow]

Just wondering though, didn't you know there were plans for home improvements before you installed your own bathroom?

[ihatethecold]

Ridiculous!
They should have left yours in. How annoying! .

[2MumsAreBetterThan1]

Ohforduckscake There are no sides, they are about an inch thick so can't rest your arms on them, they either hang out the side or are up in the air.

I cannot fit them down the side at all and my hips, thighs are litterally wedged in, was bloody hard getting out and I tell you it does NOTHING for self confidence, diet starts tomorrow!

itwasallyellow I am also worried about that, but before anyone wants to tell me (and my goat) to get off my lazy (clearly too fat) arse. The only reason I have a council house is because I lost my bought house after having to reduce hours at work due to my severely disabled son arriving.

My partner however now works full time as so we do pay full rent and council tax and as soon as we have enough money to put a deposit on a house and pay for the adaptions my son needs we will be moving, sadly I doubt this will be for quite a while yet.

[Methe]

Don't be ridiculous.

I dont believe they are installing baths so small that people who are a size 14 can't fit in them.

Either you're fibbing or your fatter than you think you are.

( and i am a 14 with a mini bath in a tiny bathroom so i do kind of get where you're coming from..)

[2MumsAreBetterThan1]

No there is no shower, well there was but they have ripped it out now and have no plans to replace it unless I want to pay £220 to them.

Also no I had NO idea they were doing work, and it was NOT mentioned to me when I sought the permission to fit a shower and re-do my bathroom.

It was also not mentioned when they fitted the new toilet.

They came round 4 weeks ago to look at the bathroom and tell me what they were doing. I explained it had just been done and I would rather it was left to be told no.

I said can you not just change the sink then as the toilet has just been replaced, bath is fine, tiles just done etc. and again was told no.

I phoned the council myself to plead my case and once again was told no, they have to do them all at the the same time they said.

No wonder they have no money!

[IneedAsockamnesty]

they are actually obliged to consult with you regarding these things and should have offered you the option keeping your bathroom subject to an inspection.

did they rip out your shower? if so please make sure they dont do what the la i used to work for does and thats charge you £375 to fit a new one.

[2MumsAreBetterThan1]

Methe Can't quite believe it myself but it really is true.

Like I said it's 4 inches narrower and because it curves inwards (in some fancy modern design) at it's narrowest point which just so happens to be where your arse is) it is tiny.

Will go measure actually.

Definately a size 14, just had to get re-measured and go clothes shopping after spending the last year in maternity clothes.

I think it's more the fact I have very wide hips and shoulders then the fat IYSWIM as fat squishes, bone dosn't.

[HecateLarpo]

So they gave you permission to fit a new bathroom (I assume in writing, my HA does everything in writing, so you should still have it, yes?) and then told you they were going to rip it out and you had no choice? And the first you knew of this was after they had given permission for the new suite? You didn't get an inspection? Or notification of planned improvements?

If that's the case, then go to them and complain. Show them the permission, tell them you would not have spent £X had you known that they were going to rip it out and furthermore, they have left you with a bath you can't use. And insist on them coming out to see it (this may involve the embarrassment of you getting in there - fully clothed of course ) to show them what you mean.

They should compensate you because they should never have given you permission to have a new suite. They know about these improvements YEARS in advance. They should have told you about them.

[2MumsAreBetterThan1]

Oh and quickly. the bathroom isn't small so no reason for a small bath.

There is at least 10 inches of space at the side of the bath so no reason for such a small one.

[2MumsAreBetterThan1]

It's like this the bath, not the same one but same style in the sense it curves INWARDS and is a narrow bath without the curve.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=narrow+bath+curved&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=UvgJcDbArKnA4M:&imgrefurl=www.mitchellsbathrooms.com/bath-screens/index.html&docid=c2LeCmHVsfN8TM&imgurl=www.mitchellsbathrooms.com/images/products/Vitra/Delphi_Shower_Bath.jpg&w=600&h=600&ei=AQh7UP7wOcrQ0QWvroHQBg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=182&vpy=156&dur=97&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=170&ty=166&sig=103164791176220213882&page=2&tbnh=148&tbnw=153&start=21&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=narrow+bath+curved&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=UvgJcDbArKnA4M:&imgrefurl=www.mitchellsbathrooms.com/bath-screens/index.html&docid=c2LeCmHVsfN8TM&imgurl=www.mitchellsbathrooms.com/images/products/Vitra/Delphi_Shower_Bath.jpg&w=600&h=600&ei=AQh7UP7wOcrQ0QWvroHQBg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=182&vpy=156&dur=97&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=170&ty=166&sig=103164791176220213882&page=2&tbnh=148&tbnw=153&start=21&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:20,i:132

[HecateLarpo]

You'll have to sit at the tap end then, I suppose?

[2MumsAreBetterThan1]

It's the same Hecate, it narrows towards the middle so dosn't matter what end you sit.

[EllenParsons]

The mind really boggles at this. I would be really upset and furious in your situation. Sounds completely crazy that they insist on new when what you had was already new and more suitable than this. Shocking!

[TakeMyEyesButNotTheGoat]

DP is a projects manager of a maintenance firm contracted to run these planned works for council and HA properties.

He gets this all the time. TBH many remnants complain because it is not what they want, not to their taste or they want more expensive tiles/more cupboards/extra sockets etc.

The reason they use standard fixtures and fittings is because of repair works.

As for you spending money on it. Are you serious?

Why spend that amount of money on a property you don't own? I private rent, I would never do that even if it was social housing. That is your own fault, not something to complain to the council about.

[ImperialBlether]

Oh my sister in law had baths like this - they were a nightmare. Stick to your guns and refuse to let them continue working until it's changed. It's ridiculous that you have a bath that wouldn't suit half the population.

[2MumsAreBetterThan1]

Ok it's 17 inches wide at the smallest point, 20 inches at the widest point.

That's internal measurements.

Not even sure if my son's bath seat will fit, best try that as will be really stuck if it dosn't.

[lljkk]

That's outrageous OP. Sorry my only idea is to take your story to a tabloid newspaper (probably a bad idea, but they love this kind of stuff).

[2MumsAreBetterThan1]

Takemyeyes I didn't complain, it was MY choice to spend the money. I hated the bathroom, wanted a shower so asked for permission and CHOSE to spend the money. Like I said in my OP fair enough, it's their house.

I just thought it was such a waste of money but I did not complain.
I am complaining that the new facilities fitted are not fit for use!

[quoteunquote]

OP I completely believe you,

Our local housing association does a lot of these sort of "improvements", and there are plenty of baths which are on the market, that normal people can't fit in, we as building contractors spend a lot of time making sure clients are very careful what they buy, the outer measurements of baths can have little relation to the inner size.

Write and invite the chief executive around to sit in it, so that they can see for themselves it doesn't work.

I would also ask why you were not informed when you applied for permission to do your own improvements why you were not warned that it was a waste of money and time.

[TakeMyEyesButNotTheGoat]

If its because your sons bath seat doesn't fit then that's a different matter entirely. You would have a right to demand a bigger bath.

[cantspel]

20 inches is over half a metre wide. That is not particularly narrow so just sit that end if you find the narrow end too narrow.