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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at council waiting times

416 replies

Dancingfairy · 02/08/2017 19:54

My council has a 3 week wait for all repairs. The light in my bathroom has gone, it's not a standar bulb so someone from the council has to come to sort it. I have to wait 3 weeks! So I cannot use my bathroom after a certain time, I usually bath my children before bed but won't be able to for 3 weeks. Aibu to think it should be sorted sooner?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Beebee7 · 02/08/2017 22:40

Sorry OP, but 3 weeks is fuck-all time to wait. I know some people who live in a local authority house (not housing association,) who are still waiting for non emergency repairs after 6 months! Also, most landlords won't change a lightbulb! FFS. Get over it and be grateful. Do it yourself.

I am not normally unsympathetic, but this 'problem' of yours is pathetic. Put the landing light on, or get a couple of bloody candles or pushlights from homebase, (if you can't bear to do it yourself, or aren't allowed!) You don't have to touch the light fitting to get a couple of push lights!

And I am not 'jealous.' And neither is anyone else. Get a grip!

CheshireChat · 02/08/2017 22:41

Try a night light or light up toy, they're designed to be entertaining for little ones.

I don't think 3 weeks is too bad as it's not an emergency, but it can obviously be annoying. I think the idea would annoy me in itself.

OP I found the 3-4 month period with my newborn really tough, are you managing ok in general or is this the straw that broke the camel's back?

CosmicPineapple · 02/08/2017 22:44

Oswin have you missed the many many posts with helpful suggestions?

Original poster
Dancingfairy · 02/08/2017 22:48

Ugh wow now people are gonna suggest I am having some kinda problems with my baby because I'm annoyed at waiting 3 weeks, no I don't have pnd if that's what your suggesting. Like I said I was just having a moan didn't realise it would get peoples backs up so much. I don't know the light fitting and I can't take a picture because it's dark.

OP posts:
Lostbeyondwords · 02/08/2017 22:49

Not saying it's impossible to happen Oswin but if you'd gone two years straight without hot water you're probably missing something. Like a disrepair claim or MP complaint.

ChasingHighs · 02/08/2017 22:49

There are loads of offensive posts on this thread to get fucking sweary at.

Take your pick. Try the very first reply and keep going.

CosmicPineapple · 02/08/2017 22:49

Will you just buy some cheap push lights or torches OP?

I understand a bit of a moan is cathartic Smile

Oswin · 02/08/2017 22:51

Cosmic have you missed many posts explaining how we are not allowed to touch the bathroom lights.
I except ops is the same because otherwise they would tell her to do it herself.

Fruitcocktail6 · 02/08/2017 22:53

Get a lamp

CosmicPineapple · 02/08/2017 22:53

Where did i say anything about touching the light? I said get a torch. I never once said OP should change the bulb herself Confused

Judydreamsofhorses · 02/08/2017 22:55

I had no bathroom window in my flat and whenever the bulb went I couldn't change it myself because the ceiling was so high - old Victorian tenement - so I really sympathise, OP. To get by until I could get a tall person (I owned the flat) I had battery lamps and just used to leave the door open with the hall light on. This wasn't ideal because of condensation, so again, I sympathise. When my DP and I moved in together, a bathroom with a window was on my non-negotiable list during the house-hunt!

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 02/08/2017 22:56

Don't like the free service? Stop leeching and pay for it yourself then.

ChasingHighs · 02/08/2017 22:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

CosmicPineapple · 02/08/2017 22:58

What a vile comment What. I have reported it.

coddiwomple · 02/08/2017 22:58

CheshireChat do not try to be kind or helpful, the OP will bite your head off, this is so not what the thread is about Grin

I think celeb BB has started, but obviously not entertaining enough for some people

Want2bSupermum · 02/08/2017 22:58

doo Its not a breach they could evict you on. My family run a HA. We don't have stupid bathroom light fixtures that are hard to change the bulb. However there is absolutely no way that you would be causing those problems by opening the vast majority of bathroom light fixtures to replace a bulb.

In the RL I just bought a house yesterday and the sellers took all their light bulbs and didn't give us a front door key. I went and purchased some bulbs and replaced the lock. We have emptied our bank accounts to buy this house. We don't really have a spare $200 to spend on two new locks for the front door. Yes the sellers were obligated to give us all keys but for the sake of my sanity I'm ok with not following the contract.

Beebee7 · 02/08/2017 22:59

Some very over sensitive people on here. I know some people can be rude towards social housing folk and it's so unnecessary as some people do actually pay their rent themselves (or some of it anyway.) And there is nothing wrong with renting social housing.

But this is not happening on here. People are NOT being horrid about people in social housing. The OP is being ridiculous and is coming across as bratty and entitled - and so are a few others on this thread. (and the irony of the nasty comments they are making is breathtaking!)

As for the comment by @oswin, saying she is a social housing tenant and has had no heating for 2 years. Really???????? Wink

And even if the OP cannot touch the light herself (which I also find hard to believe!) she can still improvise FFS. As some people have said, get some bloody push lights!

Oswin · 02/08/2017 22:59

Lost I am contacting a solicitor that deals with the council.
For a year I had someone's dirty water leaking into my flat. Onto the hot water control and blew it up.
They have sent at least ten gas engineers out. It's a non gas block.
They have missed at least 15 appointments.
My council changed contracters last month so I'm hoping these ones will be different. Not getting my hopes up seeing as they keep sending me cards telling me I must let them in to do a gas safety check.
No one listens. No one cares. I've had to stay with my parents I'm disabled and it drove me to near suicide.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 02/08/2017 23:00

It's not vile, it's fact. I don't think people in council houses (or on benefits, for that matter) are leeches.

I do, however, think those who are in council places yet moan about it are.

Beebee7 · 02/08/2017 23:01

Sorry, I meant to say 'REALLY????' at Oswin saying she has had no HOT WATER for 2 years.... (not no heating.)

habenero20 · 02/08/2017 23:01

Social housing is charged at affordable levels.

the difference between the affordable levels and market rent is the subsidy.

Private housing is disproportionately inflated in certain areas

compared to what? Market rate is market rate. Private rent is certainly much higher than wages and the housing market is out of whack. but that doesn't mean private rents are inflated.

That doesn't mean social housing is subsidised. It means private housing rents are too high.

both are true. One is definitely subsidised. rents are too high for wages, not the market price.

If you want to talk about subsidies - look at landlords getting massive amounts of housing benefit to pay their extortionate rents.

yup. housing benefit inflates rents and ends in the hands of private landlords.

chirpyburbycheapsheep · 02/08/2017 23:02

To be fair OP I think Cheshire was trying to sympathise

WhatToDo you haven't been a member of Kensington Council in the past have you?

Oswin · 02/08/2017 23:02

Look at that comment for what. This is the shit we have to put up with.

Look at the first page.
FFS.

Huffletuff · 02/08/2017 23:02

Well it's not free, but... It is just a light.

I'm disabled and occ therapy have requested that I need a bathroom conversion to a wet room because I can't use my bath. I also need a stairlift, raised toilet and other adaptations, widened doors for wheelchair etc.

I'll be expected to wait 6 months to 18 months before I can have a bathroom I can wash in, rather than using wet wipes. I can't get downstairs so I live in my bedroom. I just think oh well, that's the way it is and get on with it.

So yes, I think it is entitled when there are disabled people waiting for things to let them be able to carry out basic needs, people who have no hot water or maybee no water at all, no heating in the winter etc.

It's a light.

CosmicPineapple · 02/08/2017 23:03

Everybody moans about something What and for all I think the OP was coming across as a sulky child she is not a leech!!!