Housing Association not redecorated exteriors for 20+ years

[Bleue]

The outside of our block and other surrounding blocks haven’t been repaired/redecorated for over 20 years. They are looking increasingly awful with cracks all over concrete, chunks of paint flaking off, cracks in brickwork. The tenancy agreement under the HAs obligations says that they will keep the exteriors in good condition and redecorate every 5 years normally. There are new developments being built opposite ours so there’s money for that but there doesn’t seem to be any budget for repair/maintenance to our blocks. Ive made two requests for dates of the last few repair programmes and been told they can’t retrieve old records. The cracks in the concrete let in rain water and the stairwell is damp. There’s no windows for ventilation and no radiator to dry it out.

Is there any way I can hold them to account and get them to sort this out? If we breached our obligations in their tenancy agreement for 20 years we would have long since been evicted. Thanks.

My AIBU is that it’s not acceptable to not redecorate/repair exteriors for over 20 years and expect them to do it.

The first step is to make a formal complaint to the HA. Their policy/process should be on their website. It's helpful to be clear about the outcome you want (e.g. you want the interior to be dry and the exterior to be presentable).

Keep careful records so that you are clear on dates and who has said what etc.

Some advice on what your options are here: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/repairs-in-rented-housing/repairs-what-are-your-options-if-you-are-a-social-housing-tenant/

Is it possible that they are doing this so the dwellings will become unfit to live in, then can be torn down and developed on?
This happened a few years ago in west and North London to council properties, there was a documentary on it.

That's a possibility if you're somewhere with high land values. More likely to be poor management than deliberate under investment though, ime (i.e. cock up rather than conspiracy).

Involving your local councillor could help apply some pressure and get a fuller picture of how it's been managed.

Ruby. That’s certainly the case over the last year as they’d applied for funding to redevelop this part of the estate (which has been turned down) but it doesn’t make sense why nothing has been done for the other 19 years. For whatever reason they seem content to let a whole part of the estate fall into disrepair.

Ouchie. The management in general is atrocious. So many incompetent people in charge so I do think there’s an element of poor management and not setting a budget for rolling programmes of repairs as they are supposed to do. staff retention is a problem too as no one any good seems to stay beyond a year. It’s a mess.

Thanks for the advice

I am trying to press them to provide dates as to when they last did anything but they can’t (probably because there aren’t any) and then I think I’ll make a formal complaint as you suggest Ouchie