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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:
NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 09/07/2019 15:52

We pay rent to pay for things like matenice, upgrades etc etc

Same as private renters pay (my last flat was privately rented)

that25cUKHeatwaveof2019 · 09/07/2019 15:52

and end up competing with each other in a race to the bottom.

I was thinking we would have this false economy set up. Such a shame!

twattymctwatterson · 09/07/2019 15:53

People who live in council houses should be absolutely grateful for whatever they get op amiright?

It's their house, that they pay for. When the council did my kitchen 5 years ago they wrecked every carpet in my house and gave me £50 towards the cost of redecorating. They left skirtings hanging off walls and ragged bits of wood on the corners of cupboards.

That was to replace a very basic kitchen that was £25 years old. I've never had anything so substandard when I privately rented. I pay full rent and take care of my property but apparently I'm not allowed to moan about inconvenience because I'm council estate scum

Passthecherrycoke · 09/07/2019 15:54

@weleasewoderick22 you could give them a call, I’m sure they would be happy to clarify- then if it is the bathroom you can make a compliant and get a big refund!

Re people putting in their own kitchens bathrooms etc this is really quite common. Lots of people love living where they do, and don’t want to buy even if they can (although I agree- the sensible thing would be to buy the the house from the council/ HA if they qualify!)

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 09/07/2019 15:58

Mines falling to bits but is no where near bad enough to replace apparently.

Not everyone can just drop everything to be in when they come round either. Ime they take far longer to complete the work than if you lived in your own home and bought a new kitchen

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 09/07/2019 16:00

Thats funny, I payed for my bathroom to be redone . Doesn’t mean I could afford to buy 🙄

Lovemusic33 · 09/07/2019 16:02

YABU, for all you know she may pay all her rent each month which may be a lot more than what you pay on your mortgage?

I live in a HA property and often they don’t give you much notice, I recently had to take time off work to have windows fitted (which were not needed) and then they were rained off several times so had to take more time off. At least if you own your property you get to chose when the work will be done. Yes she might be getting a nice new kitchen for nothing but chances are it’s of poor quality and will fall apart before she’s due another.

weleasewoderick22 · 09/07/2019 16:03

Passthecherrycoke

Re people putting in their own kitchens bathrooms etc this is really quite common. Lots of people love living where they do, and don’t want to buy even if they can (although I agree- the sensible thing would be to buy the the house from the council/ HA if

I don't want to start a bun fight, but this attitude doesn't sit well with me. There is a social housing crisis in this country, and at the end of the day, we don't own these houses and have no right to buy. Paying for your own kitchen and bathroom costs £££ and when, or if, they leave it all gets ripped out. What a waste!

I'm tired of seeing single people who's families have grown up still living in 3 bedroom houses. It's the housing equivalent of bed blocking.

I

Passthecherrycoke · 09/07/2019 16:05

Well you do have RIght To Buy if you qualify. Whether or not you agree with RTB is a different thing. In terms of their own kitchens and bathrooms, that’s their problem really isn’t ? Presume they don’t intend to move out any time soon.

Forget RTB the biggest travesty is not applying the bedroom tax to pensioners. They’re the ones primarily over occupying. As you say.

krustykittens · 09/07/2019 16:08

YABU unreasonable OP, for all the reasons already mentioned. Someone may have already said this but sometimes builders treat council tenants in a really high handed manner because they have the same opinion of council tenants as you do. It's nice being dictated to in your own home.

krustykittens · 09/07/2019 16:09

NOT nice, sorry!

weleasewoderick22 · 09/07/2019 16:09

That's a massive general misunderstanding. We don't have the right to buy! My HA is a registered charity that prohibits it.

Alsohuman · 09/07/2019 16:10

Horrible attitude, OP.

Lovemusic33 · 09/07/2019 16:11

Not many people do qualify for RTB.

hazell42 · 09/07/2019 16:12

Rtb was scrapped in Wales

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 09/07/2019 16:13

When I move out I don’t care what they do with the bathroom . I bet I’ll have had at least 15 years use of it by then anyway

HorridHenrysNits · 09/07/2019 16:13

But, like, what about you not being able to afford a new kitchen and bathroom, really? What exactly do you have to do with anything and how would anyone benefit from her randomly deciding that people who own an asset she doesn't ought to be factored into her thinking? YABU and possibly the council house troll, bearing in mind the post and run.

weleasewoderick22 · 09/07/2019 16:14

That's true lovemusic33. Where I live now it's all shared ownership which, from what I'm told, is more expensive than a mortgage. Many are leasehold too, so they are restrictions on certain things.

Social housing is run for profit.

Original poster
Mydietstartstomorrow · 09/07/2019 16:15

Wow, where was I vile, judgey and said Council tenants are scum!!??
I used to live in a grotty council flat and would have been ecstatic at the idea of a new kitchen and/or bathroom, even at short notice with a toddler. Yes it's a disruption but hopefully worth it afterwards. And I'm not talking about shoddy work, of course anyone is entitled to complain about poor workmanship whether they are private or public thats a given. OK it's not necessarily a top brand kitchen but if yours is currently shite then why moan about a new one? Maybe this area the Council are spending a bit more but the homes I have visited (for my job) have had fab looking kitchens done.
What are the Council supposed to do, contact each of their thousands of tenants individually to calendar in when exactly it is convenient with each and every one of them to ensure minimal disruption as possible, thats just impossible.
And if it's not wanted, yes they can refuse it (I know some people have done).
And listening in on others conversations, I was right behind her waiting for their conversation to finish, it was loud, I could hardly not hear. All praise to those that never overhear chat and just mind their own business. Mumsnet would be a very quiet place if this were to happen!
And jealous, yes, fuck I'm jealous of a new kitchen and bathroom and don't mind admitting it!

OP posts:
Ribenaberriesgowoo82 · 09/07/2019 16:16

You only have to have lived in social housing for a total of 3 years to qualify for RTB. Unless you are living in a property suitable for people with disabilities or the elderly then you may be declined. I would say that actually quite a lot of people in social housing qualify for RTB.

Original poster
Mydietstartstomorrow · 09/07/2019 16:18

I also managed to save up my deposit for my house whilst paying low rents in said Council accommodation, pay a much higher whack on the mortgage so can't afford to do it up, because I believe that once you are in the position to get your own place and free up social housing for someone that needs, it you should. But that's a whole different goady thread!

OP posts:
weleasewoderick22 · 09/07/2019 16:20

Where are you getting this information from Ribena?

I can only speak about my area, but the exchange boards are full of people who try to swap to local council, as opposed to a HA, so that they can buy. As someone upthread said, there's RTB in Wales and that's true over much of the country.

JazzyGG · 09/07/2019 16:20

I think 3 weeks notice is pretty good. When I booked my plumber to do my bathroom he had a 6 month wait and we were told Nov. He then rang in Aug saying he'd had a big job cancelled and would be there tomorrow! Same with most trades people you take them when you can get them.

weleasewoderick22 · 09/07/2019 16:22

** NO right to buy.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 09/07/2019 16:22

My brother's had a new kitchen, new bathroom and new garden fencing in their council house. It's all really lovely. Each time he and his wife were allowed to pick and choose from several style options and the work was agreed well in advance.

They're getting a new roof in the next couple of years too I think. No current leak, just a capital project to replace old roofs in their area.

They pay £470 a month for a 4 bed semi and garage. I live about 6 miles away and the 2 bed semi next door is rented for £1100/month.