To make a complaint to housing…waiting four months

[MaryJanif]

I live with my son and my parents. My son and I are desperate for our own place and are finding it impossible living with my parents. They’re overall quite toxic and we need to leave (won’t go into it on this thread). We also need to leave as I am married and my husband is an international doctor. He cannot move to or start work in the U.K. until we have appropriate accommodation. So for now we’re separated and it’s very upsetting for both of us. On the 22nd June I applied for an ‘intermediate rental property’. The property is run by a local housing association.
Basically a council flat but for working people and you have to have a minimum income of 35k a year for this particular property.

The advert closed a few days later and I was asked to submit documentation which I did.
On July 1st I was unsure as to why I hadn’t been contacted so chased up.
Was approved for the flat the next week but no setting up of me seeing the flat.

I guess at this point something was wrong.
I then got contacted by a lettings assistant saying there had been a delay and the flat might not be reading until end of august. I was shocked. They offered me another property which I accepted. For some reason she then said she needs to check that’s allowed.
I noticed the next day the properties had gone out for advert so I was confused.
I then got a message saying the builders had promised the work would be done no later than first week of September.

I was a bit annoyed as this was a long wait but I felt helpless.
Before the first week of September I was told the work was not done after all and on two weeks it should be completed but that they would be in touch to keep me updated.
Two weeks went and gone so I chased up to be told they were expecting an update from the builder on Monday (this was two weeks ago) and they would be in touch. I’ve heard nothing.
I’ve managed to stay strong for months now but I don’t know what to do.
I’m so stressed and just feel helpless.
I have no idea when the tenancy will be offered to me, what’s going on.

The property should never have been advertised as ready to let in mid July if it wasn’t. It shouldn’t have been advertised at all when it was months from being habitable.
I have a named worker with the housing association but she is an admin assistant so I don’t think she really knows what’s going on either.
I don’t know what to do. AIBU to complain?
I am really anxious if I complain they will somehow take the property off us but surely we can’t be kept in limbo.
As my husband works abroad in a very poor country and I work just three days a week we have really considered the option of private renting but I have a poor credit rating, couldn’t afford it and even when we did apply we’re never chosen as I currently get universal credit to help with rent payments. The private renting options are horrendous in my local area with huge demand I stand no chance.
i honestly hate complaining but feel I have no choice at this point.

That’s correct. I’m not sure it counts as social housing. If it technically is it’s not what people are thinking. It’s specifically for mid earners/professionals to enable them to buy their first home.

Oh no 😭

Don't declare yourself homeless OP! That's not good advice. Your husband won't be able to join you in a hostel or B&B.

I'm not sure you have grounds to complain - depends on t&cs of the scheme. It sounds stressful but hopeful - I don't think you can do better than by waiting. If there are other options locally you could explore them instead? If not, you're in the best position available

Thanks for the helpful reply. I guess I hoped complaining would increase their communication and I’d be less in the dark. But I can see that’s probably not likely.

@Heysnuggee Oh I know. The wife is a British doctor and was a consultant when she moved to the US. She had to do a residency there and practice as a junior doctor, it took several years to reach consultant level again!

Definitely not the right profession if you want to move around!

i think this is all I want really. I’d love to move in but the main issue is just the not know when. I’ve no idea what’s going on.
im so tempted to complain as I feel at least they’d have to communicate better but feel quite mean as I think their under staffed.

the issue is there’s been no communication, I don’t know what’s happening, I’ve no move in date and I don’t know whether to complain or if it’s unreasonable to complain.

Its unreasonable to complain.

The whole of UK has a huge shortage of every kind of building material (and workers) and builders everywhere are months behind schedule, facing escalating costs for material ordered months ago and still not arrived, endless delays etc. It's not their fault and you will just have to wait, like everyone else having building work done.

Communication? Doesn't everyone know? The above has been reported in the news and media . Check it for yourself.

You are astonishingly fortunate that in the space of just a few months you've been allocated family housing at a discounted rate subsidised by taxpayers.

You have been offered a HA home that is currently being refurbished, I think that is well worth gritting your teeth and hanging on at your parents house for. You know that there is an end is sight and every week that passes brings that closer. Your parents are probably just as desperate for you and your child to move out of their house as you are to move.

Start getting your ducks in a row to make sure childcare and basic furniture is organised as once the work is finished the HA will expect you to move in and start paying rent asap. Since your husband is working I would cut down on the amount you are sending him as you are going to have much greater living expenses to meet soon as you need to be budgeting for utilities, council tax, broadband etc.

You can stay in contact and nudge them asking them for updates without complaining, which is what I would do.

Are your parents aware of your plans, and the uncertainty and that you living there is currently open ended? I know you’re not happy there but you’re safe and stable enough there for now from what you say. Keep your heads down and hopefully you’ll have your own place soon.

So he’s not a Doctor then since he can’t work as one here

There could be a few reasons why you've not been handed the keys just yet.
As a PP said some building materials are hard to come by.
Most HA round our area use contractors and they work on x amount of different properties at one time, flitting from one to the other...Often popping out to buy materials and being hours.
Another reason could be work for them is a bit thin on the ground so they're dragging the working hours out.

Who knows which....but one good thing OP is hopefully the work is done to a decent standard so you won't have to do much yourself.

Bit of everything I think @cravattwat
Depressing

The problem with housing associations is that they will advertise before the property is actually ready. I applied for mine a month before the tenants had even moved out and was accepted. I then had to wait for them to empty the property and do any repairs. I had to ask for an update. Was told 2 weeks but in the end it was 4 weeks due to staff shortages
obviously not as long as yours but their timelines can be a lot slower.

It’s true. I just want to know what on earth is happening.
I was told the builders would be finished first week in September and then told the decorators are in so the building work is actually completed. So there shouldn’t be a hold up really.
but in reality I’ve no idea what is happening.
I guess I just want some communication.

Can I just say social housing is not just for people on benefits. How fucking rude to assume that. People waiting to be housed can be on a waiting list for years.
Count yourself lucky you're not actually homeless.

Off course he is a doctor just because he isnt working as one in the uk, what a ridiculous comment. He just needs to take.some extra exams.to be allowed to practice here. If you went to a hospital abroad would you refuse treatment because you dont consider them doctors if they arent in the uk?

Yes he’s still a Doctor because he has an MBBS degree which means he legally entitled to practice as a doctor in his country (and some others including Ireland).
the world does not revolve around the U.K.
many qualified doctors have no interest in ever living or working in the U.K.

I was in two mins about whether to reply to the original comment but decided to after all.
I am stunned. 😂

The comment you’re referring to literally says ‘it’s not just for people on benefits’ so you’re misunderstanding me.

Are you from the uk op? Have you been away for many years?

I think your expectations (though possibly not unreasonable) are very high. Families and single mothers are living in hostels and bnbs for 3-4 years.

He is a doctor!
We’ve got international nurses at work. Qualified nurses from another country who came to the U.K. and have to do some extra studies before being allowed to practice here. They are already nurses.

I’m a British National.
there’s good availability of intermediate rental properties in my area.
Social rent homes have a huge waiting list but as your income needs to be between 25k and 45k there’s much less competition for these homes.

The not a doctor smell well similar to "there was too many spanish people on my holidays olin Malaga"

Which HOusing association is it OP?

Anything to do with builders takes twice as long as you think it will, plus another few months. This is true in all sectors, and complaining doesn't make much difference.