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Original poster

Can I refuse a new kitchen from housing association?

161 replies

papperlao · 18/08/2022 09:48

Basically I am having a new kitchen fitted starting next Friday plus a full hose re wire.
The thought of all the mess /stress and decoration to be done after is giving me anxiety.
The kitchen I've chose is lovely but it's all the mess..no kitchen for a week so will have kettle etc in bedroom
Can I say I don't want it?

OP posts:
Pebblebeach15 · 18/08/2022 09:51

My friend moved into a council house recently that did not have central heating or double glazing as the last resident refused to have them done , so I am assuming yes our can .

Danikm151 · 18/08/2022 09:52

If you refuse it now you may not get the chance again. Also in your tenancy it may say something about having to have repairs to keep the house in safe order. The rewire will include that.

AgathaMystery · 18/08/2022 09:52

A week of mess Vs a whole new kitchen…. That you have chosen…. For free?! Are you kidding?!

the house is their asset and they need to protect it so I think it’s unreasonable to now say no. It will all be ordered specially for you.

DownNative · 18/08/2022 09:52

Short term pain for long term gain. Surely, you'll be happier with a new kitchen?!

Toddlerteaplease · 18/08/2022 09:53

Don't be daft. My kitchen cost me 7k. Don't turn down a free one. The upheaval isn't much fun.But it's worth it when it's done.

HappyCup · 18/08/2022 09:54

There must be a reason for the new kitchen. So you’d be robbing from your long term happiness for short term avoidance.

Stress and anxiety are really difficult things to deal with and only you know how bad it is at the moment. But if you can find some coping strategies to help them I’d seriously consider pushing through. Can you work on a ‘day by day’ mantra? Eg instead of thinking ahead to all the work at once, see what needs doing just one day at a time.

PatienceHeatherstone · 18/08/2022 09:54

I know it will feel chaotic and stressful while it’s happening, but it will feel so worth it afterwards.

Toddlerteaplease · 18/08/2022 09:54

If someone was offering me that much work for free? I'd grab it with both hands. You are very lucky.

WaffleAndGelato · 18/08/2022 09:57

I get the impression you don't really want to refuse the refit, but your anxiety is starting to take hold and override everything. Your new kitchen will be a lovely calming space when it's done. Take each day of the week at a time, go out as much as possible. You can do this. Have you a friend or family member's house you could go to stay with for the week?

Kittyhoward · 18/08/2022 09:58

I wish people would stop saying its free. Its not the OP's kitchen it's an asset that belongs to the HA, adding value to their property.

Crabwoman · 18/08/2022 09:58

I'm sure you can, but you probably need to think long term here.

How often does your HA offer a new kitchen? 10,15,20 years? Will your old kitchen last another decade or so?

You might not get this offer again, and will have to live with an older kitchen which may start ageing, start breaking and surely the upkeep of that will be stressful as well?

BishyBarnyBee · 18/08/2022 09:59

Surely you can't pull out with a week to go?

And probably not anyway, as it's their property and they will want to make sure all the houses are maintained to the same standard. It would be very expensive for them to do every house individually at a time to suit each occupant.

I get the dread of the mess but you're being a bit unreasonable, you're living in subsidised, secure accommodation which many people would only dream of. I think you just have to suck it up.

You'll be fine, it is a bit of a nightmare having building work but it'll be over soon and totally worth it.

ClocksGoingBackwards · 18/08/2022 09:59

If the place needs rewiring it will create mess even if you don’t have a new kitchen and that’s not something you can refuse. So if you have to have mess anyway, you may as well get a new kitchen out of it.

Rainallnight · 18/08/2022 09:59

They need to maintain their asset.

And a week of hassle is worth it for a free kitchen.

Are you getting any help with your anxiety?

MrsOosh77 · 18/08/2022 09:59

The rewire will cause far more disruption than the Kitchen and due to electrical safety regs will have to be done so that you can be a tenant ( as far as I’m aware) all landlords must have a 5 yearly electrical inspection condition report and it’s likely that without the rewire, the inspection is predicted to fail hence the council paying for a full rewire. If you’re going through the upheaval of the electrical works you might as well bite the bullet and have a lovely shiny new kitchen while you’re at it.

If you’ve secured council accommodation, chances are that you will make it your home for years to come so it’ll be good to have the peace of mind that your electrics are safe. Enjoy your new kitchen!

OperaStation · 18/08/2022 09:59

I think you would be mad to turn it down. I had to pay £10k for mine.

titchy · 18/08/2022 10:00

You won't be able to refuse the rewire, so there will be disruption regardless. So, disruption with a nice shiny new kitchen at the end, or disruption and nothing to show for it. Make your bedroom a calming space. Kettle, microwave meals, tv. Comfy bed.

Original poster
papperlao · 18/08/2022 10:00

I would love a new kitchen it's just the job of it all.
I live alone so it's a case of lifting all the carpets
Packing up my stuff so they can access electrics then moving the heavy appliances.
I'm worried I'm not going to be able to do it.
My plan is to give them a key
Go to my dads then just tell them to push it through letterbox when they are done.
Then it's the decorating after
I guess I can just take that slow can't I
There's no rush
They do the painting of kitchen and flooring so it's just the other rooms
Most of my rooms are white walls so I can touch that up I think.
They will be ripping wallpaper off tho

OP posts:
Bakedbanana · 18/08/2022 10:00

Don't let your anxiety make this decision for you

hangsangwitch · 18/08/2022 10:01

1 weeks disruption for a free kitchen and a safely rewired house and you are moaning? Get a grip. We built an extension (thats cost us 1000's of our own money) and I had no kitchen for nearly 3 months - cooking on a camping stove in the spare room and washing up in the bath. Get some perspective.

averageavocado · 18/08/2022 10:01

WaffleAndGelato · 18/08/2022 09:57

I get the impression you don't really want to refuse the refit, but your anxiety is starting to take hold and override everything. Your new kitchen will be a lovely calming space when it's done. Take each day of the week at a time, go out as much as possible. You can do this. Have you a friend or family member's house you could go to stay with for the week?

this - be kind to yourself, are you able to go away for the week?

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 18/08/2022 10:02

I don't know if it varies from council to council, but my friends refused and were told they wouldn't be offered again until at least 10 years had passed. They didn't care as they have a lifetime tenancy & have put in a kitchen of their choice.

you have chosen it yourself, it's lovely. For a bit of mess & a few days inconvenience you'd be MAD to say no. Utterly bonkers!!!

use it as a good opportunity to spring clean & sort out the kitchen - you'll have a smashing new kitchen in a week!!

mine needs doing, I can't find a fitter and it's all going to cost me about £15k (small kitchen!!) and I'll STILL have the same mess and inconvenience as you'll have.

don't be daft!!

Tired2tired · 18/08/2022 10:02

Idk if you can refuse or not.
But on the anxiousness about the disruption, It will be worth it, I have asd and anxiety and I was ready to send builders away when I got my kitchen redone, so so so much stress, people in the house, no kitchen, but it's a long term gain, get some micromeals and meals you just o add water too, some paper plates and it will be over quickly.

Original poster
papperlao · 18/08/2022 10:03

They start next Friday ,then it's Tuesday -Friday
Then they are coming back the following week Thursday and Friday to paint -flooring
So 7 days altogether

OP posts:
worriedatthistime · 18/08/2022 10:03

Sometimes you can but then you may have to wait for the next cycle of kitchens to be done again which can be years and then lots of repairs etc may need to be done
Can you stay anywhere else for. Week ?