To ask for help. Pic included

[mrsshelby44]

My gas metre is in the bin shed in the flats where I live. My gas is on emergency and is due to run out. I can't get to my metre because of the state of the bins. I've called my housing yesterday and told someone would call me back but no one has. I have called back today and am still waiting for a call back to find out when someone can clear the rubbish so I can access my metre.

The bin collection was yesterday but they haven't collected the rubbish probably due the state of the shed.

This is an on going issue but no resolution has been offered. I asked to have my metre moved but told they don't do that.

My carbon monoxide alarm has gone off in the past the fire brigade and national grid needed access to turn my gas off. I worry if that happens again they won't be able to get to it easily.

What else can I do? Can someone please help me construct a letter/tweet to get things moving.

I also have a 4 year old child living here with me

Pics

Argh pictures aren't loading!

Good grief that's shocking!

Are these private or council flats? If council then write to your councillor (much more clout than individual departments).

Just move honestly that's a joke poor you!

It's not that easy to just move! OP i'll PM you

Just move

Because everyone has the spare cash to do that don't they?!

Have you called your Council environmental health dept? That's disgusting (quite apart from access to your meter)

That’s horrendous!

I'm housing association.

I wish I could move!!

Not called environmental health I'll give that a go. It's so frustrating there's a rat infestation there too because there a lot of underground building work on nearby.

Do you know who is dumping the bags in there? It looks like you might have a chute that drops into the bin? Is that checked/emptied?

I would perhaps call environmental health to do a check/assessment and then shove that in the direction of your HA.

Just move

I would be tempted to say you will not be paying your rent until the issue is resolved. That's a massive H&S risk. Imagine if that load caught fire?!

If EH are no help, can you get to CAB for some further advice/signposting?

Get in touch with environmental health and if you get no joy, your local (or national) paper.

Also try your local MP.

There are a lot of houses here so idea whose doing it. I can't have my windows open because of the smell. My flat is sat directly on top of the bin shed. I can hear the rats rummaging around at night it's like a nightmare.

Environmental Health definitely. Maybe HSE (if there is a contact) and state it's a fire hazard and risk to your life with not being able to access the gas mains (I don't know a thing about this, but that sounds dangerous).

See a solicitor. you may be able to withhold rent and use the money to get the problem sorted, but that would only be a short term solution.

If you cant find one then Google for your nearest Law Centre, they give legal advice to people that cant afford a lawyer.
www.lawcentres.org.uk

She needs to top up her gas.
Long term rubbish clearance or moving house isn't the mmediate issue.

Can you ring your gas supplier and ask them to remotely top up with a phone payment

See if gas supplier will intervene because their meter is obstructed, health and safety

Are you on twitter? Does the HA has an account? Post on there.

You local councillor should be able to help.

Its disgraceful but not uncommon in shared housing. I had a house in London with flats next door. The bin store, with locked door, was next to our front door. When they brought their rubbish down, if they didn't have the key, they just left it outside. So I used to buzz the intercoms until someone opened the door and throw it inside. It didn't help but made me feel better.

That is absolutely appalling. Are you the only one with a payment key?

You probably will have to get in there and move them yourself. Can anyone help?

Have you put the complaint in writing? Have a quick look for your local councillor and e-mail them asking for urgent help. There are definitely some laws being broken there!!

Just spoken to my housing officer: it's resident issue as resident are putting bing bags on the floor so there's nothing we can do.

I'm speechless. I said said I have a 4 year old with no hot water or gas to heat or cook. Still there's nothing they can do. She said she raised the issue with our cleaning contractors 24 hour ago for some to clear some of the rubbish but they haven't got back to her.

I think I'm going to tweet them and my local paper. What would I say?

You poor thing, what a nightmare! Environmental Health, as others have suggested, along with non-stop phoning the HA.

Who do you pay your gas bill to OP?