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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU in thinking if you have a Council house and the Council are modernising it you shouldn't really moan about it?!

455 replies

Mydietstartstomorrow · 09/07/2019 14:00

So I'm in B&M in the queue listening to a customer moan on and on about how the Council have only given her 3 weeks notice that she is getting a new kitchen and bathroom fitted and this is totally unacceptable and how it's going to disrupt her life! Checkout lady then moans that she contacted her Housing Association to find out she's not entitled to a new bathroom for some time yet. AIBU to think some people feel so entitled? What about the people (me) who own their own home and cant currently ever imagine having the money to have a new kitchen and bathroom fitted?! Oh, and the loft was being insulated also!

OP posts:
dottiedodah · 09/07/2019 14:52

N one is saying that CH tenants dont pay rent ,but so do lots of private tenants .The difference is they are getting a new kitchen ,W/O having their rent put up to pay for it!.We are homeowners, and have just managed to buy a new kitchen after 20 years!.I am sure many other people would put up with some disruption if it were being fitted for free!

Twotome · 09/07/2019 14:53

And I hope none of the posters agreeing with OP send their DC to state school or use the NHS and have the cheek to moan about anything they’re not happy with. You know, because it’s ‘free’.

that25cUKHeatwaveof2019 · 09/07/2019 14:55

I hope none of the posters agreeing with OP send their DC to state school
the comparison would be more accurate about sending your kids in a private school for free or with a huge scholarship and moaning to parents who pay full whack.

Ribenaberriesgowoo82 · 09/07/2019 14:55

@LadyRannaldini, some councils do decant to other properties depending on the extent of the works being done. For example, sheltered accommodation block being modernised, all tenants moved out. Individual properties where there are vast works required such as following a fire or flooding etc would have the tenants moved out ideally also. Modernisation of one room, not so much.

Twotome · 09/07/2019 14:56

Nope, I’d say the comparison was spot on actually.

RubberTreePlant · 09/07/2019 14:57

yes, rent, you don't get an extra invoice for the kitchen and bathroom do you? hmm

What a bizarre comment. Of course tenants shouldn't pay invoices for repairs or refurbishments. They're tenants. Tenants rent. Owners own Confused

that25cUKHeatwaveof2019 · 09/07/2019 14:58

Twotome
spot on only if they pay the same tax rate then Wink

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 09/07/2019 14:59

no one is saying you don't pay rent, but you don't get a bill for your new bathroom or kitchen do you?

No, because it's not my house. It's also not my choice, they come and do what they want, when they want, my rent also goes up every year, just like everyone elses.

InsertFunnyUsername · 09/07/2019 14:59

But the person was just having a moan about the inconvenience of workmen, free or not i dont know anyone who likes having workmen in.

If everyone is saying people cant have a little grumble because its free then that's ridiculous. And like a PP said, schools and NHS are off limits too.

ems137 · 09/07/2019 14:59

It's not a "free" kitchen, or even "theirs" is it? It's the landlords kitchen in the landlords house. Just like a private rental.

JamieVardysHavingAParty · 09/07/2019 14:59

I've spent a few years renting privately and my flats had lovely kitchens. Because private landlords refurbish their properties between tenancies. Because their tenants won't put up with having that kind of upheaval foisted on them.

Because it's shit!

Ribenaberriesgowoo82 · 09/07/2019 15:00

@magenta82 how long would you say it has been going on for? Do you have any other ventilation in the room? Is the mould contained to just the bathroom or has it spilt over into other areas of your home? Keep a record of all the times you have contacted the Repairs department (or equivalent) should it become necessary in the future and you want to put in for Disrepair claim.

Passthecherrycoke · 09/07/2019 15:02

“N one is saying that CH tenants dont pay rent ,but so do lots of private tenants .The difference is they are getting a new kitchen ,W/O having their rent put up to pay for it!.”

That’s exactly what rent pays for through, the repair, maintenance and investment of the property.

Having building work is disruptive, at least homeowners get to plan it and pick the dates themselves it happens

ethelfleda · 09/07/2019 15:04

I think you’re being slightly unreasonable, OP. I get where your train of thought lead you.... but

I dislike comments bashing these people when everyone seems to forget about all the corporation tax dodging companies that cost the economy millions of pounds... And
I would definitely not feel jealous of council house tenants. I’m glad that even though I would have to pay for my own kitchen and bathroom, I can choose it and not disrupt my life too much when having it fitted. Much better position to be in.

HUZZAH212 · 09/07/2019 15:04

Also adding - When my council house was modernised they discovered my waste pipe had been leaking for quite some time. I'd had many call outs over it as I'd suspected that was the problem but was repeatedly fobbed off. They then had to remove raw sewage from under my flooring 🤢 Is it very entitled to not want to live on top of a pile of literal shit, and a pretty serious biological health hazard... But I do pay £50pmth under the average rental rate in my area so yes lucky old me.

CheesecakeAddict · 09/07/2019 15:06

We got a new bathroom and kitchen. It's such a shoddy job that that toilet seat isn't even in line with the toilet and hangs off one side. The pipes are so cheap and badly fixed together that anytime I do the washing up, the kitchen floods. But that's ok because despite paying more for my studio flat than what some people pay on a mortgage for a whole house, it's "free" and we should just suck it up.

vampirethriller · 09/07/2019 15:07

The oven in my kitchen broke last year. It took 4 days for the council to answer the phone and they said someone would call back.
Two weeks later someone called and said a man would come out in a week to disconnect it.
He came, then it was another week for someone to take it away, then four days for someone to bring the new one.
And another week for someone else to connect it.
And I pay £4 a week for it forever, way over the cost of an oven if I bought it myself, which I can't because I'm not allowed to have non council oven or washing machine.

Magenta82 · 09/07/2019 15:07

@Ribenaberriesgowoo82 The bathroom is internal so there is no other ventilation unless you count the door. The mould is confided to the bathroom luckily.

Its been going on for over two years now, in that time they have replaced the floor bath and toilet that were leaking and causing floor damage and contributing to the mould but ignored the fan despite our chasing.

Mind you they have form, it took them 8 years to block in the boiler flue, we are taking bets on how long it will take them to come back and paint it!

EleanorReally · 09/07/2019 15:10

yabu,
they no doubt didnt choose when the kitchen was being replaced just told

CheesecakeAddict · 09/07/2019 15:11

Oh and they still didn't put light fixtures in. So I have to pee and shower with the door open as there are no windows in the bathroom and the bathroom is decorated black 🤔. There is the kitchen window opposite the toilet in full view. I am not allowed to put any blinds or curtains up and the council won't. So neighbours who park directly outside my kitchen, often get the pleasure of seeing me have a wee/stark naked getting out of the shower.

mumwon · 09/07/2019 15:12

just a point: when you pay for having a kitchen/bathroom/central heating installed you are told when they can do it & its not infrequent that you get delays &its round their convenience - (we had a date in jan - think open doors for over a week. Its never easy for anybody - but the cost of the cheapest kitchen & ditto installation is eye watering - & if you have problems ie delivery of bits or damaged doors or things leak or hasn't been installed properly You don't have a housing officer or someone at the council to(no matter how unsympathetic) you have to fight them your self - it is a mine field for anybody whether you own your home or you rent it - & actually installation can cost as much as the blessed kitchen which is why big concerns like councils or HA tender it out to the cheapest

EleanorReally · 09/07/2019 15:14

are they not allowed to moan, ever, must they be grateful for small mercies
i was chuffed when my neighbours spent a fortune on their new kitchen, in their housing association house, only to find All the neighbours were being given new kitchens Grin

hazell42 · 09/07/2019 15:14

Private landlords do refurbish bathrooms and kitchens regularly. Every 10 years at minimum as a rule.
Councils every 25 years.
The price of Refurbishment is added in when calculating the rent.
Maybe the reason that private rents are higher is because they refurbish more often
No one is getting anything free.
You may not be able to afford a new kitchen today, boohoo, but then you will be able to sell your property in 10 or 15 years an see a nice return. we wont.
So relax
No one is gettin something better than you, and you can still look down your nose at us
FYI I pay rent

TheGreyCatsThrone · 09/07/2019 15:16

YABU I'm HA when I had my kitchen replaced I had a microwave in my living for 2 weeks, no say in layout, no say in design and no say of who and when it was done. I took 6 days AL to have it done as I had to be there (Single parent living alone with DC someone who lived in the house aged over 18 has to be there).

When I had my bathroom done I had no hot water and no heating in December for a week.

EleanorReally · 09/07/2019 15:17

my work colleagues were just as disgruntled as the op at my new kitchen.

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