Aibu to think this housing officer has it in for me?

[pippaharriden43]

I moved into my house 6 months ago.
The house was filthy and I mean filthy..urine and waste stains on bathroom floor etc.
I'm a full time carer for my mum with dementia and two kids so it was a struggle but finally got it looking lovely.
Spent over £2500 on flooring /furniture and decorating etc.
My housing officer came for a inspection and said "wow for someone who doesn't work you've done quite good"
A week later a card is pushed through door "please remove rubbish urgently from garden"
I live in a corner house and we had bad wind a few things (crisp packets had blown in).
Kept on top of that and made sure I checked daily for anything that had blown in.
A week later another card "please trim Bush,it looks untidy "
So I trim the Bush ...
Friday another card ..."please remove weeds from garden otherwise I will open a breach of tenancy which will lead to eviction"
I sat and cried my eyes out..I've put so much work into this place ..I'm not super woman.
It's honestly a few weeds (the garden was awful when I got the keys)
I've been around taking pics of the other gardens (with more weeds than mine)
I feel she has it in for me.

That's very odd.

I’m sorry to hear this. Is there someone you can speak to? Her line manager maybe? Can you request another Housing Officer? I don’t know how it all works so please excuse my ignorance.

Keep all the cards that is being posted through and take photos after you have done the “requests” as per each card. Then that way you have evidence that you are fulfilling the requests.

I hope this gets sorted for you soon

Oh, what a shame she is making you feel so under pressure. My first local authority property was an absolute shit hole and took me years to make it look decent. Honestly, she might be doing it to annoy you but in my experience people don't stay for long in these roles. I'm on my 5th housing officer in 6 years in my current property. Do take pictures and keep the letters if it makes you feel better but she'll probably be gone in a year. All the best x x

Jesus, overbearing dickheads.

I'd write them a strongly worded letter demanding that they stop harassing you, you are doing well to maintain the property and actually, it was barely habitable when you moved in yourself to due to x, y and z reasons. And if they're so observant why didn't they rectify any of it for you to move into?

I've taken before and after pics on my phone.
I dread what she will ask me to do next week.

She might be posting cards in all of the houses but others just ignore them. I would keep a record and if it carries on, email (so it's in writing) and explain how much work you've already done, the state it was in when you moved in, how keen you are to continue making your home look nice and your position as a carer. This is unlikely to be personal OP but I can see how it must feel that way. Give yourself a break and a pat on the back door what you've achieved already

Also I've got before and after pics on my phone of the urine stained flooring etc.
The ironic thing is there is a huge tree from neighbouring (council multi storey land ) which is huge and rests against my roof...yet they don't cut that down.

I would call the organisation and ask for an appointment with HOs line mananger. It could be that there are customer service staff who do the garden letters and the same one has been posted out to all properties with any weeds regardless of volume etc.

Is the HA office local to you?

*just the back not the back door, not sure where that came from 😂

The card pushed through was a hand written card especially for me.
I've removed the few weeds and swept the garden so hopefully that will be that.

Your ha sounds nuts op.

You absolutely need to have a meeting or put a complaint in. That’s beyond ridiculous. Unless you are actively damaging the property it’s none of her business.

She clearly has lots of time on her hands.
Imagine if she evicted me over weeds.
Is that possible?

No. The council must seek a section 21 from court to evict you.
I very much doubt a judge will agree to make a mother and her 2 children homeless because of a few weeds.

I would make a complaint against her.

That is so rotten, OP, some of these HO are right little Hitlers.
If they're anything like my area the line manager will side with the HO regardless.

Hope you can enjoy your new home despite the nasty fucker - for you.

PS, if you do write to the housing authority mention the Human Rights act -
which says something like you are entitled to peaceful enjoyment of your home.

Fucking hell! I live in a housing association house and I don't even hear from them from one year to the next as long as I pay my rent! If they saw my garden they'd be horrified but it was terrible when we moved in and we are working on landscaping it (putting in retaining walls because it's on a slope), I'd be furious at this level of intrusion into my private enjoyment of my home - raise a complaint and tell them to leave you alone!!

I wonder does she want the property back for someone else having seen what a good job you've done of it

This does not surprise me at all Keep every card that shes sent you OP.

The "for someone who doesnt work" comment says to me that its her political beliefs driving this and making her behave in this way.

There is no way she would get an eviction granted in court over some weeds. It's bloody hard getting it agreed for people owing rent and having raves all night! You sound like a great tenant

This sounds horrible. I thought the idea of social housing was people felt more secure. Would it be worth speaking to the cab?

hand written? Are you sure they're from her?

Surely any official notice of work required ought to be coming on official council letter-headed paper via the post? Not a scribbled note shoved through your door!

Agee with the others, I work for the council and did a few years in housing. It's very hard to get an eviction even when there's tons of arrears, anti social behaviour and other problems. You don't need to worry about weeds etc.

I would keep them all and if it does seem excessive take them all into the housing office and ask for her manager.

That being said they have targets to get estates looking nice and it's easier to put pressure on people like you who want to make it nice than the people causing the real problems. It could be nothing personal you're just the easier target to improve overall standards.

I work for a housing association and we definitely do not harass our tenants in this way. I'm responsible for yearly inspections and a few weeds or an overgrown bush wouldn't even come into my radar to be honest - I'd never get my work done! I would complain.

Arw you sure they are from her and not a neighbour?