to think that my landlord is having a larf

[cuteboots]

So its taken about 2 years for them to confirm the house has really bad rising damp and they have agreed to do the work to hopefully rectify it. It means I have to move into another house whilst they do this. They want me to move out in 3 days and need the keys back on the 28th. They dont decorate any of the houses prior to me moving in and quite frankly it needs a good coat of paint! Grrrrrrrr

Are you with a Social Housing Landlord?

yes Im with a housing association

damp proofing all the way through is only a couple of days work and a couple of days to dry out so is it that bad for a few days

Which bit do you think they are having a laugh about?

I agree on the delay being bad, and it's quite short notice to move out, but at least they are now doing it.

Don't think you have any grounds for complaint on the painting issue, IIRC that's all done by the tenant.

YANBU. HA's can be a pain in the arse at the best of times.

With you waiting for so long they could at least give you somewhere nice to stop.

If you have to hand keys over on 28th that is more than 3 days' notice surely

If you are having a damp proof course prepare for quite a mess. Make sure all furniture is well covered. I've just had one done and they rip the plaster off the wall so it gets really dusty. You then have to wait weeks, possibly months before you can decorate over the new plaster. Our stupid landlord papered over it immediately and the moisture in the new plaster came through and caused mould to grow on the new wallpaper. We've had to strip it off to try and allow it to dry thoroughly. Absolute nightmare!

maisymoocow- yep they are having to rip plaster off in all the rooms downstairs and are telling me it may take 4 months or longer to sort due to the extent of the damp! Im having to move all my furniture out and into the other house they have finally agreed to pay for this!! As the walls are wallpapered they will also have to strip this off and at at least paint it before I move back... 3 days when you work full time as well seems a bit of a nightmare Im sure I will do it but GRRRRR

cuteboots I used to work for a Housing Association and when major works needed doing, like yours, the HA would offer a decorating grant to the tenants to contribute towards the redecorating caused by the damp and the repairs.

If I were you, I send them a letter saying you will be moving out on the date stated and confirm your moving back in date, but say it's a terrible shame that you've been given such short notice, especially as you've been waiting years for them to address this problem. Then go on to explain the actual costs involved in making good the walls following the works and ask for a contribution because a) it's taken so long, b) they haven't given you much notice and you're being very amenable and c) (if true) you have a limited income and that redecorating is a very big cost for you at this time.

you can also check your complaints/compensation procedure for repairs and if they've cancelled appointments, caused unecessary delays or their delay in work has caused the place to be uninhabitable, you could make a claim there.

Bornsicky- I will look into this and thanks for the advice

The HA should definitely contribute to the redecoration, mine did and will do again once the issue has been resolved. Just like a private landlord really...if they do structural work then they have to redecorate for the tenant.

I think they will redecorate once theyve done the work and they are saying they will give me decorating vouchers so I can paint the house Im moving into. Being honest it didnt look to bad apart from the living room.

So your landlord is doing the extensive work that needs to be done on your home, is putting you up elsewhere, and giving you free vouchers so you can decorate it how you want it, and you are complaining about ........ What exactly?

Sorry, but I think YABVU. It's wrong that youve had to wait so long, but that's a small price to pay for a secure tennancy on a home that you can decorate how you want and keep for as long as you want.

Not for the first time, I find myself agreeing completely with OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos.

I don't think you're being unreasonable about the length of time it's taken them to sort the problem out. Three years is ridiculous. But, now they are doing the work it seems reasonable. You don't have to stay there while the work is done, and you're getting help towards the cost of decorating.

To put it in perspective: a friend of mine had her council house upgraded, and had to live in it with her children for the whole duration - which took over two months. At one point the builders removed all the windows, then instead of replacing them boarded up the holes and said they'd come back the following week to fit new ones. Another time, the removed the toilet, but didn't install the new one until the following morning. Also, for some reason no one can figure out, they placed the installation point for the cooker in her dining room

YABU it's laff not larf

OOPSI- Thanks for pointing that out