Council refurb...am I expecting too much ?aibu?

[bringitbackks]

I leave in a two bed house which I rent from my local council.
Lived here 10 years and love it.
I decorated 6 months ago then received a letter saying I was getting a new kitchen plus rewire done.
So a month ago works started and it was going to take 10 working days.
So I pack everything away and box it up and protective flooring gets lay.
The first day nobody arrived ...the second day nobody arrived (after having a day by day itinerary ) nobody told me why or informed me they weren't coming.
They left me with holes in the walls with wires on show ,the kitchen hasn't been painted (painters were meant to be here two weeks ago)
The kitchen cupboard shelves have all collapsed as the brackets have snapped (I was told they were a dodgy batch )
Two weeks I have rang the site manager to be told "work will be finished tomorrow " and nobody turns up
Nobody now replies to my messages and the site manager doesn't answer the phone to
Me.
So like I say my kitchen isn't painted or floor put down,holes everywhere (even tho the plasterer has been three weeks ago -he missed these holes )
And now my shelves in the cupboards have collapsed.
Aibu to think this is disgrace?
The protective floor is covered in pieces of wall from the wire and also cement /plaster and god knows what else.
I can't get at any of my stuff as it's all boxed up
I honestly want to cry
If they would tell me when they are coming back to finish the work I wouldn't mind as much also no decorating vouchers that were promised

Our kitchen was put in in the 50s...its like a museum. Not safe but we can't afford a new one. We are in the process of ripping it our ourselves and putting a second hand one in that we bought on ebay. We've had to sand this one down and re-spray it so it's taken a while. Then learnt that we needed to re-wire the whole kitchen as we were doing it. It has taken us 8 weeks to find an electrician to do this for us and cost almost 1k. Half way through and 3 months in. We're doing most of it ourselves but have needed someone for the wiring and to move the boiler. At the moment it's so hard to find trades people to do anthing so I imagine the council are facing the same delays with their staff.

Agreed, is is "FREE."
you get these problems even when you pay top dollar, we did and had to chase the trades towards the end re snagging etc paid them damn good money.

I've seen coucil property get new roofs, doors, windows, wiring and we that are/were paying massive mortgages pay for everything but still get dodgy builders.

So be grateful. Having said that I see where you are coming from and need to get back to work.

NB: Not haivng a go at you just pointing out what owner/occupiers can face as well

Complain to the council, that will get them going, trust me.

Good luck

Once more for the people at the back....

ITS NOT FREE

Why should she be grateful @JamesBondOO7? She's renting a property and her landlords - who should be more competent that you at choosing contractors - are hopeless.

Unless they've increased your rent to claw back the cost then it is free.

Council and HA rents include renwals of these sorts of things.

Where do you think the council gets the money from to upgrade kitchens and bathrooms every ten years?

From the rent they collect.

@Johnnysgirl good lord how can you not understand!!?? I the rent covers an amount for repair and replacement as necessary

if a private tenant needs a new kitchen because the old one is no longer functioning a landlord can’t charge them for it!! Good grief.

What do you think the rent covers exactly?

Previous to this the kitchen was last changed in 1989 also the bathroom the same time
We have been told kitchens 30 years and bathrooms 50 year life span

Every month I pay my rent plus a extra £25 "service charge " not sure what that's for im assuming to go towards things like this mauve.
Then I pay my water rates on top

Our rent goes up every April plus like I say a £25 service charge @Johnnysgirl

No, an amount for maintenance and refurbishment is included in the rent she already pays so she is paying regardless of whether they do the work or not. Jeez.

Take pictures and note timeline. Send it all to your councillors and also housing office. I’m an ex council tenant so feel your pain. Council puts out tenders and goes for the cheapest or whichever big local firm has good contacts with councillors and then work gets done by their worst team or subcontracted down. Everyone knows they can get away with below standard work as the person who lives with the rubbish job can’t withhold payment and the council inspection mechanism is only going to happen long after the cheque has been cashed.

Apologies.

You need to get in contact, today, with your housing officer at the council. Insist they deal with this and email them the photos. They are responsible for replacing your kitchen and they have chosen to use this provider, but they are ultimately responsible for it being completed to a satisfactory standard. Ask them to visit you, today if possible, to see for themselves. Kick up a fuss, but remember to always stay polite as it will get you much further. Ask to speak to the Housing Officers manager if they are not available or don't resolve the issue. Good luck

Nope. Service charges are not for your new kitchen and bathroom. You should get an annual statement to detail what the service charge is. Its typically for the provision, cleaning and repair of communal spaces (eg a shared carpark, play area, grass cutting to communal green space, if you are in a flat and have communal corridors to be cleaned etc).

YANBU. You should have a Resident Liaison Officer, complain to them. Posting on social media might speed them up too, which company is it? These contractors are paid good (public) money to complete these works to keep council housing stock in good order. Unacceptable.

Why are you wasting your time on MN with this? Surely the landlord would be your first port of call 🤷🏻‍♀️

You should have an allocated housing officer, get their phone number and email and harass them as that is disgraceful work. I used to work for a housing association and used to dread the upgrade programme of works as kitchens / bathrooms used to take 6 - 8 weeks instead of the promised 2 weeks and I would be dealing with the numerous complaints. You want your housing officer to speak to the head of works and get answers.

Credit to you for your apology @Johnnysgirl

So be grateful

For shoddy work that the OP has to live with? Those sockets are a disgrace. If the electricians can't even put sockets in properly, what else have they bodged?

Hmm get your point but then I pay a mortgage and nobody comes and fits me a kitchen for the privilege 🤔

@Macaroni1924 yes but that is "your" property
This property isn't mine,this is the landlords property and they should be providing work that's actually acceptable

As someone else said, you can't leave these people alone because although they might be trustworthy, they will leave front/back doors open for their own convenience and people do get things stolen. My neighbour was luckily at home when a man just walked in, first tried to pretend he was another worker, then ran off! The actual workers were oblivious! Whenever I have work done I spend all my time closing doors behind them as even though I ask them not to leave them open, they just forget and/or don't care.

OP someone should be coming to check all the works so definitely raise the issue of the plugs etc. There is no option but to keep calling and emailing etc. I've been there and feel your pain! In one instance I had to get a solicitor involved.

Problem is these workers have tough targets and don't get paid much so they don't take pride in their work. They don't have to worry about "reputation" like a private business would.

Do you honestly not understand the difference between renting and owning a property?

If you want to not pay for a kitchen, sell your house and rent, with all the uncertainties that come with that.