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AIBU?

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AIBU to refuse temporary accommodation for external work to our home?

190 replies

allowaccess · 03/06/2026 08:52

Recently we were informed of exterior work to be done to our home (LA property). Nothing inside the house at all. No access needed to complete any of the external work other than access to the garden which is via a side gate not through the property.

We were instructed that for the duration of the work (no specific timeframe just ‘might be a few weeks’ ) that we would be placed in alternative accommodation that was miles away from where we are now and would cause significant issues for us with school as we have two children one with severe SEN. We also didn’t want to leave the house as it would be overwhelming for him to be away from familiarity for no real reason as it’s external work??

So we refused and set out in writing why. We were told no we have to vacate on a certain day. The only reason given when we pushed was ‘it will be noisy’. I said I’m fine to put up with some noise especially as it will only be between 8 am and-6pm. Again they said we need to vacate on the day and provide keys so they have access ??? They dont need access to inside.

The day has come and gone and we have stayed. My housing officer called on day 2 and said we need to allow access to the house while the work is ongoing. I said no as theres no need the work is external. They have said we need to allow access if needed to the team working. I told them again no the said they may need access to facilities! I said in that case they need to get portaloos if that’s the issue.

I then had an email giving another date to vacate for the work and a different address for temporary accommodation? Again I’ve said no. Can they actually force this or is it unreasonable as it’s not interior work ???

It hasn’t even been that noisy at all??

OP posts:
Hangingcrystal · 03/06/2026 16:43

OP, keep a diary of how many hours they are there every day.
Also do a walk about video today, on day one as to the state of your interiors, so you have dated proof.
Keep referring to your SEN children and not being prepared to disrupt them.

Email them after a week of the exact hours and times they are on site.

Be a pain in the ass.

Dancingintherain09 · 03/06/2026 16:42

Elleherd · 03/06/2026 16:36

That's why the LL wants her decanted in the 1st place.
It's a heap different with SH LL's now being forced to bring properties up to basic standards to meet the renters act in '27, or get in trouble for renting poor condition properties.
Edited to say councils are mainly backing SH lL's finally bringing buildings up to scratch. They too are under pressure to keep SH landlords OK.

Edited

What does that have to do with access to property while you are not there. SH LL still have to abide by the rule of rental law. That states they do not access your home while you are not there. As you pay for the those facilities not them.
NOBODY has the right to access your home that YOU pay for while you are not there. We were LL and also have worked with SH the rules are the same. As long as you are paying rent that is YOUR home and have rights to not allow access unless you are home to supervise it.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 03/06/2026 16:40

Use of the facilities does not just mean the loo. 🙄
I suspect it is also for health and safety, if they're working on the roof, removing some exterior etc. Bits may fall off, there may be dust/particles that aren't good for you. They may need to get in to get to the other side of the roof.

Elleherd · 03/06/2026 16:36

Dancingintherain09 · 03/06/2026 16:25

According to shelter website A landlord cannot insist access to your property unless prearranged and someone is home. So no do not hand over keys for access reasons. You do not need to. If they keep pushing tell them you will contact CAB or your local council/MP

That's why the LL wants her decanted in the 1st place.
It's a heap different with SH LL's now being forced to bring properties up to basic standards to meet the renters act in '27, or get in trouble for renting poor condition properties.
Edited to say councils are mainly backing SH lL's finally bringing buildings up to scratch. They too are under pressure to keep SH landlords OK.

Dancingintherain09 · 03/06/2026 16:25

According to shelter website A landlord cannot insist access to your property unless prearranged and someone is home. So no do not hand over keys for access reasons. You do not need to. If they keep pushing tell them you will contact CAB or your local council/MP

AIBU to refuse temporary accommodation for external work to our home?
BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/06/2026 16:18

Dancingintherain09 · 03/06/2026 16:10

But if they want access to go inside tge house that she pays for to use the 'facilities' then it should not be expected.
She says for the water snd utilities it not for the LA to then say other random contractors have a right to use that. If you rent somewhere should your Landlord then have the right to come in and use your toilet because it's theirs?

Contractors have no right to enter the house, while you are not there.
You don't know who these contractors are they could be going through your belongings, personal items or stealing stuff.

If you read my previous posts you’ll see
thats exactly what I’ve been saying

Dancingintherain09 · 03/06/2026 16:10

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/06/2026 13:51

The property is still hers whilst she has a contract with them.

But if they want access to go inside tge house that she pays for to use the 'facilities' then it should not be expected.
She says for the water snd utilities it not for the LA to then say other random contractors have a right to use that. If you rent somewhere should your Landlord then have the right to come in and use your toilet because it's theirs?

Contractors have no right to enter the house, while you are not there.
You don't know who these contractors are they could be going through your belongings, personal items or stealing stuff.

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/06/2026 16:05

allowaccess · 03/06/2026 16:03

I’ve emailed my housing officer. Declined the new offer of temporary accommodation and explained again why. I’ve also asked for clarification about noise levels and reasons for wanting me to vacate and asked about what they mean by ‘facilities’.
They only worked on the house for 2 hours today so I can see why it will take ‘weeks’

Thanks for the update OP
It will be interesting to see what they mean by facilities

allowaccess · 03/06/2026 16:03

I’ve emailed my housing officer. Declined the new offer of temporary accommodation and explained again why. I’ve also asked for clarification about noise levels and reasons for wanting me to vacate and asked about what they mean by ‘facilities’.
They only worked on the house for 2 hours today so I can see why it will take ‘weeks’

OP posts:
Mangochutney33 · 03/06/2026 15:45

Dixie81 · 03/06/2026 13:36

Don’t do it. I made that mistake and came home to find the place destroyed. Some sort of tar tracked through all my carpets, oily handprints everywhere, cigarette burns to my sofa and windowsills (with the butts still lying there), multiple breakages, along with missing jewellery, DVD’s and personal documents. The damages cost me thousands and the whole place had to be stripped and redecorated. They even stole all the food out of my freezer!

My neighbours had it even worse. They found beer tins everywhere, the workmen had clearly been using their bed and there was graffiti of male genitalia spray painted on their walls. It was horrific.

Insurance won’t cover the damage if you allow them in. I tried to sue but got nowhere because I couldn’t prove my house wasn’t a dump beforehand. These days I take full walk-through videos and photos before letting any social housing contractor in.

This is why!

Apart from the rest of it (I'm with you OP), there's no way I'd be handing over my keys to others. They could lose them. Or worse, they could get a spare set cut or multiple spare sets. Having had a good nosey around my home they or their mates could return some other time to rob the place.

HA properties don't always have easily changeable locks, it's not just a case of picking up a new £10 Yale lock from the hardware store and doing it yourself.

All you people saying OP should just suck it up wouldn't be saying that if she was in a private rental or a home owner, it's just discrimination. Nobody in their right mind hands over their keys and allows someone they don't know access to their home and all their possessions, especially for unspecified reasons.

It's not about toilets (although I'm sure they'd be using them given the chance and I wouldn't be happy about that either), that's just bullshit the housing officer has come up with on the spot, under the assumption that all HA tenants are thick as shit and will believe toilet access was a reason to move out. That attitude alone would piss me off.

I've had roof repairs including scaffolding and nobody came inside for that. The roofing contractors were appalling though and did steal various items whilst inside bodging skylight windows (couldn't prove anything) even though I was there at the time (but not constantly standing at their shoulder watching - my mistake).

They did almost no work unless the LL was checking on them. Showed up at 10am, pissed about doing as little work as possible until 12, came back from lunch at 2.30pm-ish, did a bit more work and were gone by 4pm, every day. Then of course the job "overran" and there were days they'd gone off to start the new job elsewhere before coming back to piss about here some more.

No way would I have wanted these people given free access to my home and possessions along with my keys. They were an untrustworthy shower of shite.

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/06/2026 15:27

chirrupybird · 03/06/2026 14:59

LA houses not market rate rent.

Yes
mand her rent pays for maintenance

Elleherd · 03/06/2026 15:27

chirrupybird · 03/06/2026 14:59

LA houses not market rate rent.

It's irrelevant that SH landlords make lower profit margins than commercial landlords.
The tenants rent still covers the maintenance (over time, often many times over) as well as the business expenses of being major employers and landlords.

Zanatdy · 03/06/2026 15:02

If its to use your toilet, this is unreasonable. As you say, they can use portaloos.

chirrupybird · 03/06/2026 14:59

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/06/2026 14:20

Her rent pays for maintenance like all tenants

LA houses not market rate rent.

JulietteHasAGun · 03/06/2026 14:42

OP pays her rent. If you were a private tenant you wouldn’t be paying for roof repairs, etc. you’d expect the landlord to pay.

as a homeowner when I had my house reroofed I didn’t vacate.

JenniferBooth · 03/06/2026 14:37

HuglessDouglass · 03/06/2026 14:30

I do get what you are saying Passaggressfedup.
Whoever pays the piper calls the tune an' all that.

But, I do not believe that people who can not afford to buy a house do not deserve a home. Everyone deserves a place to call home for the time they are living in it. That's not to say that they get to call the shots, but they do deserve the dignity of a sensible discussion.

EXACTLY You said it yourself Whoever pays the piper names the tune. So the contractors will only care about what the HA says because they are the ones paying them They wont be bothered about tenants or tenants property See @Dixie81 post. Not all contractors are like that though thankfully

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/06/2026 14:34

HuglessDouglass · 03/06/2026 14:30

I do get what you are saying Passaggressfedup.
Whoever pays the piper calls the tune an' all that.

But, I do not believe that people who can not afford to buy a house do not deserve a home. Everyone deserves a place to call home for the time they are living in it. That's not to say that they get to call the shots, but they do deserve the dignity of a sensible discussion.

They do however get to call the shots in terms of access in OPs situation
She does not have to give permission for access
She also does not have to pay for these repairs being carried out ( as some on here seem to think she should )

Agree
A sensible discussion well in advance would have been more appropriate so everyone could accommodate OPs and the builders needs and rights

BitOutOfPractice · 03/06/2026 14:34

HuglessDouglass · 03/06/2026 14:05

Living through that sounds grim BitOutOfPractice. I hope the new cladding looks great and you don't have any more problems with your building.

Thank you. That's so kind. It was a very scary and worrying time as we (the leaseholders) were also liable for the £7.2m bill. The building works themselves were very disruptive - it seems like a distant nightmare, no thank goodness.

So many people are still affected by the post-Grenfell cladding scandal, though. It rumbles on.

HuglessDouglass · 03/06/2026 14:30

I do get what you are saying Passaggressfedup.
Whoever pays the piper calls the tune an' all that.

But, I do not believe that people who can not afford to buy a house do not deserve a home. Everyone deserves a place to call home for the time they are living in it. That's not to say that they get to call the shots, but they do deserve the dignity of a sensible discussion.

Passaggressfedup · 03/06/2026 14:22

It's their home!? Then how about they arrange and pay for the repairs themselves?

Oh no, of course, want their cake and eat it. A nice, well looked after home, not needing to pay for any repairs, but control everything about how and when repairs to be done. Unreasonable!

Hangingcrystal · 03/06/2026 14:20

Thats the reason they wanted you out, so they would have the use of your home.

Cheeky fxxkers.
Tell them to get a court order and you will go to the media to report they are moving SEN children so that your house and facilities can be used.

Absolute cheek of them.
Ask for their names too.

JenniferBooth · 03/06/2026 14:20

This book was published late last year @Dixie81
https://hqnetwork.co.uk/news/book-review-middle-ground-a-frontline-journey-in-social-housing/

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/06/2026 14:20

chirrupybird · 03/06/2026 14:14

Generator will be nice and noisy and smelly! All more work and more cost but the op isn't paying.

Her rent pays for maintenance like all tenants

chirrupybird · 03/06/2026 14:14

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/06/2026 13:27

External generator
External stopcock
No need to access a property for those

Generator will be nice and noisy and smelly! All more work and more cost but the op isn't paying.

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/06/2026 14:13

JenniferBooth · 03/06/2026 14:11

Totally agree. I was more aiming it at the posters who think OP should just suck it up. The fact that they ignored @Dixie81 post says a lot about them

I know who you were asking 😁
but we both know there’s no other answer to this