To be annoyed at council waiting times

If she tries to change it herself and fucks the whole fitting up, then what?

I think a lot of people on this thread think that most people would think.....my lightbulb has gone, why don't I try and find a solution whilst I'm waiting for the (no doubt over worked) council. It's not rocket science. Most of us of have inconveniences we have to work through

want2b if the rules state that you must not touch the electrical fitting or be in breach of your tenancy agreement (and who knows what else) you have to be pretty bloody stupid to break those rules.

You could be evicted, invalidate contents and buildings insurance and held responsible for anything that went wrong.

If the council have said they will change it, then it must be their responsibility.

You are correct Chasing about council tennants do not deserve to be treated lime shit. However councils work on a prority basis and a light bulb will be far down the list. The OP could use 1 of the many suggestions as a temp solution.

What part do you not understand, prettyseahorse?

chasing The OP hasn't taken a picture to share to find a solution. I'm sure collectively we could have had the light fixed by now.

There are rules and there are rules. Being in a tower block the bathroom will be dark as it's probably windowless. Everyone else in the country changes their own lightbulbs even when the unit it's in is sealed.

If it's the councils responsibility to change the bulb,they should bloody well fix it asap.

I think a lot of people on this thread ahve never read a tenancy agreement in their lives

Indeed seahorses but people in here can't grasp that !

WTAF?

Do you all think you can treat the OP like shit on your shoes because she's a council tenant?

This thread is a fucking disgrace. The council are the landlords here and should keep their housing stock in good repair.

Since when does not charging market rent = a subsidy? Not to mention the fact that in many areas social housing rent is the same as private?

For those asking what the disabled would do, there is a register kept of households who can't do things like change a lightbulb. Normally it's my Dad who goes over and changes it right away. The maintenance teams always have spare lightbulbs on them as my Dad has a really strict policy about them being replaced by employees on the spot.

The OP hasn't said she is disabled, just that she expects them to come over and change her lightbulb right away. Most housing associations would be agog that someone able bodied would call and ask that.

The best story I have about lightbulbs is the lady who called because the lightbulb was out in her microwave. She was partially sighted and deaf so the light going off was how she knew her food was done. My dad saw her name in the log book and went over in person to check on her the following day. The maintenance team had told her they wouldn't fix it because you can't fix a light in a microwave. My dad called the maintenance team in over their lunch break and showed them how to fix it while they ate. My father is 73 and is looking quite ill these days with his prostate cancer.

Thtas just rose tinted glasses lostinaseasofbubbles being a tenant is generally really crap.

I'd give anything for us to be able to earn like we used to so we could buy our own house. It would be much better than any council house we might (never) get offered and 99% f rpivate rented wont take non working tenatns even due to disability so we can only choose from the least desirable private rented.

I dont have a garden, a freezer, or a tumble dryer, and went 3 months without a washing machine, but if you want to swap lost , just let me know! I'm ready to pack!

I still think however the OP has no right to moan. The council haven't said they won't fix it, it's just not a priority and rightly so. Priority appointments are for things like gas and plumbing leaks, people with no working loo. If I called an electrician tomorrow unless it was an emergency I'd have to wait for an appointment like everyone else. I am not saying the OP should have to do it herself or that it's an ideal situation but it's a bloody light bulb blown in a bathroom. It's not really a hardship to have to bathe your children at a different time or use a torch propped up on a shelf.

If the council had no obligation to change the bulb in the bathroom and is the tenants responsibility don't you think they would have told her that when she phoned up to report it? If they don't have to come out they won't and they'll tell you, but you're all to busy judging

Head torch! £1! www.poundland.co.uk/home-and-pet/around-the-home/lighting-and-electrical/electrek-7-led-head-torch

I have several rechargeable lamps (one for each child and a spare) because for some reason this area is prone to power cuts. I know that doesn't help you now but it might be something to consider for another time or might be something you could invest in. Mine weren't too costly, £7 or something.

Is your only child 3m old? Or do you have older ones? My preschoolers love glow stick bathtimes (lights off, two glowsticks under the water) - lights up the bathroom just enough for a bath and they think it's great fun. Poundland sells packs of glow sticks most of the time.

As for the actual wait to repair. It sucks, it really does. Must admit I'm slightly jealous though. I miss being a tenant and having someone I can ask to repair stuff. We went without a working shower for 18 months because we couldn't afford to get it fixed. I wished I'd still been a tenant often during those 18 months (and every time my boiler does something horrible!). Hopefully they can squeeze you in a bit earlier than you think.

Oh but it is flogging please compare council housing in different parts of the country other than the South East

Well, if it was your own property you'd have to do it yourself

Council's property, council's responsibility. Your property, your responsibility. That's how it works. No point in homeowners being bitter because they were lucky enough to be in a position to buy a house and now have to pay to get things repaired! The council are responsible for their properties, so for example if the boiler breaks they have to come and fix it. The tenant doesn't and shouldn't have have to pay for the repair. If you're a homeowner then you are responsible for fixing your own boiler.

If you want to get free repairs in the house you live in then sell up and apply for a council house.

Not read past page 3 but in case this isn't a wind up; washing up bowl on living room floor? Buy a baby bath & use that in a room with light, (they're pretty cheap or try eBay/Freecycle)? I think Poundland sell those circular lights that you stick somewhere and you press them to turn on/off, get a couple of those? Three weeks will fly by.

Not every where Huffle yeah we all know people are waiting for years in the South East but that's not the same everywhere

We are waiting and have had all sort sof diffuclties getting housed and have medical issues but I still say that if the council have to change it because of its design then they should, and ASAP. It is not the OP's fault.

Why should she have to buy throw away plastic ligths that she will no longer need after the light is fixed? (and before anyone says anything to that; if she need the extra ligths she would ahve them already)

That was to prettyseahorse