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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Will I ever win against Housing association complaint?

79 replies

H12345 · 13/02/2023 06:51

We are unbelievably lucky to have a HA property that we look after and so it’s a beautiful home.

Our HA removed about 60 tiles from our kitchen in August and said they would rebook a job to replace them but we didn’t hear anything. Started chasing after a few weeks and was told a couple of times October / November time that the reason it’s taken so long is they need to get matching tiles or come up with another solution so we were happy to wait till January where we raised a complaint as still not booked.

our complaint sat with the HA for a month with no update even though we chased weekly and no one letting us know what the process is to escalate the complaint further.

we finally got a response February where complaint was raised to stage 2 and £20 compensation offer for inconvenience.

now the complaint is at stage 2 the work was booked in within a week but they will only put up cheap, none matching tiles and basically been told it’s tough if we were told we would get anything else. We postponed the work as wanted to speak to someone first and all the workers still turned up it was literally like we were being massively pushed into making a rushed, uninformed decision.

we have every conversation since August in writing. AIBU to want to HA to honour what they’ve promised and we waited months for?

I find this whole situation so stressful and can’t believe how poorly HA treat their residents so is it really worth the fight?

OP posts:
Dogcafedreamer · 13/02/2023 08:01

Upwiththelark76 · 13/02/2023 07:59

I’m with the OP. Just because it’s a HA doesn’t mean they don’t have rights and should be treated fairly .

i would push for the lot to be done on what ever they are offering so at least they match .

time to stop treating people in social housing as second class citizens . Rent is paid . Therefore a service is expected. Clearly the HA has failed to provide a timely service .

👏 👏

PleaseJustText · 13/02/2023 08:07

Sticker tiles are a good idea OP. I don't think you'll get far with your complaint. They're providing a habitable home but it doesn't have to be to your taste. I appreciate mismatched tiles are not to anybody's taste but it's not something that affects your quality of living or safety like damp, a shower that doesn't work, dodgy electrics etc.

crowsfeet57 · 13/02/2023 08:19

The frustrating thing is they haven’t even looked for matching tiles. There as been no reason why we waited 6 months just literally been told “we only fit standard”

Of course they haven't looked for matching tiles. They will check with their supplier and if they don't have them, they'll just get whatever will fit (physically not aesthetically.) They're not going to scour the country looking for them. Just let them do the repair and then paint them with tile paint.

FangsForTheMemory · 13/02/2023 08:20

The HO will do nothing if the complaint is ongoing. Housing associations know this and exploit it.

Greenfairydust · 13/02/2023 08:34

I am sorry but you sound a bit spoilt...

Housing associations provide affordable housing and need to maintain their homes but there are not here to provide you with a stylish environment and there is no requirement for them to offer you expensive tiles in the shade of your choice...

You either go with that they offer you or you buy your own.

If it was an issue with something like mould, leaks, the electrics and so on that would be different but cosmetic work?

So many people would love to have such a home and I think you should count your blessings.

MatronicO6 · 13/02/2023 08:49

I think you can continue the complaint but still think you will end up with the same solution they are offering. We lived in a former HA flat for a bit and were surrounded by HA tenants. We had issue with leaks from the a HA property above us and the council did very little when tenants complained initially. The tiles in the bathroom had been falling off and water was leaking down to us. Was only when we complained as private residents whose property was being affected did they hasten to fix. From what I remember they were told matching tiles was impossible and they wouldn't replace the whole set.

I think they are only obliged to keep the flat to safe standards. I don't think they have the onus to ensure it is aesthetically pleasing. If you are planning to stay for a long time and it's important to you, I would try do it yourself or get some tile paint and get creative!

Glitteratitar · 13/02/2023 09:12

Have you tried looking for the tiles yourself? If they don’t exist then they don’t exist. They can’t magic them up out of thin air.

If you find similar ones, will they be able to install them for you.

Hankunamatata · 13/02/2023 09:17

Ask for all the tiles to be removed and new ones put in?

titchy · 13/02/2023 09:24

Surely if you're renting you accept what the landlord wants. I can't imagine anyone complaining that the tiles the landlord used to replace broken ones didn't match - as long as they were fit for purpose that's ok surely. Confused

Cuppasoupmonster · 13/02/2023 09:30

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 13/02/2023 06:57

You have a cheap property provided for you and you are complaining about tiles? Just accept the non matching ones or as the pp said, do it yourself.

This, just do it yourselves if you see it as ‘your home’.

Everanewbie · 13/02/2023 09:32

Reply type 1. How dare anyone treat you like this?!? You have a right to a stylish home and you should have your home furnished how you want it.

Reply type 2. You scrounging low life, you should think yourself lucky to have a home. Safe to live in is all you're owed, and you're only owed that thanks to other peoples hard work.

My response is somewhere in the middle. If they can't match what was already there, if the cost is reasonable maybe the whole wall should be done. But a lot of people are struggling to get social housing who really need it. I can understand the lack of sympathy for a few out of place tiles.

Notreadytomakenice · 13/02/2023 09:33

But clearly cheaper than the private market or you’d rent privately? 🤔

GrumpyPanda · 13/02/2023 09:37

Those saying just do it yourself, tiling is skilled work. I'd take advantage of the tiler booked by them but offer to secure my own tiles. Doesn't need to be the same - maybe something that makes an interesting contrast? Completely different colour?

JizzlordTheCat · 13/02/2023 11:16

If you were privately renting, you’d be paying more and still wouldn’t have a guarantee of matching tiles after works.

@Dogcafedreamer Very poor taste of you to compare the issues raised by residents of the Grenfell Tower with the OP’s wish for an aesthetically pleasing tiled area.

Dogcafedreamer · 13/02/2023 12:47

JizzlordTheCat · 13/02/2023 11:16

If you were privately renting, you’d be paying more and still wouldn’t have a guarantee of matching tiles after works.

@Dogcafedreamer Very poor taste of you to compare the issues raised by residents of the Grenfell Tower with the OP’s wish for an aesthetically pleasing tiled area.

No it's not poor taste, but what is poor taste is the people like you who think they should be treated as lower people.

You don't think Grendel residents weren't treated poorly? What started off as aesthetics ended up deadly! It started off small, but it escalated.

So how much do think people should just accept before they say no?

Like I said it is only aesthetic, but we shouldn't be treating people this way, like second class citizens.

SgtBilko · 13/02/2023 12:54

They should be replacing like with like.

RiktheButler · 13/02/2023 12:58

Op, I suggest you - and many of the pp - check on what a "repair service" is. It is exactly that- a repair. Repair teams use basic replacements because trying to match when you have thousands of properties is ridiculous, and as for suggestions that they retire the whole wall - that's fantasy land!

Your complaint will fail because they are literally carrying out what they are required to do

itsjustnotok · 13/02/2023 13:02

@SouthCountryGirl its not about accepting less because you’re in HA housing. I privately rent and have to make do with whatever the landlord decides he’s prepared to pay for. If it’s doesn’t match it doesn’t match. I don’t have the luxury of being able to do it myself either because I need his permission to make any changes. Sadly it’s the life of a renter.

JizzlordTheCat · 13/02/2023 13:08

No it's not poor taste, but what is poor taste is the people like you who think they should be treated as lower people.

Can you tell me where I said someone should be treated as “lower”? That’s a pretty serious allegation.

I pointed out that they would likely encounter the same in a private let- where like-for-like can’t be provided, a private landlord is very unlikely to retire an entire area to the tenant’s preference.

The OP doesn’t like the fact that the tiles will look different. She’s probably in a better position as she’ll likely have more flexibility to buy tiles and have the work done herself. In a private rental, she wouldn’t have that.

And comparing Grenfell residents reporting safety issues up to the OP whinging about mismatching tiles in in poor taste.

Dogcafedreamer · 13/02/2023 13:13

JizzlordTheCat · 13/02/2023 13:08

No it's not poor taste, but what is poor taste is the people like you who think they should be treated as lower people.

Can you tell me where I said someone should be treated as “lower”? That’s a pretty serious allegation.

I pointed out that they would likely encounter the same in a private let- where like-for-like can’t be provided, a private landlord is very unlikely to retire an entire area to the tenant’s preference.

The OP doesn’t like the fact that the tiles will look different. She’s probably in a better position as she’ll likely have more flexibility to buy tiles and have the work done herself. In a private rental, she wouldn’t have that.

And comparing Grenfell residents reporting safety issues up to the OP whinging about mismatching tiles in in poor taste.

Your whole manner was "stop moaning" much the same as the Grenfell Residents were treated.

It's a common theme on threads like this.

Disgusting

Everanewbie · 13/02/2023 13:16

Dogcafedreamer · 13/02/2023 13:13

Your whole manner was "stop moaning" much the same as the Grenfell Residents were treated.

It's a common theme on threads like this.

Disgusting

Show quote history

I don't think moaning about matching tiles is comparable to raising concerns over flammable cladding in a high rise. Its a cracking soundbite but a pretty lame effort at a cross court winner in this debate.

Dogcafedreamer · 13/02/2023 13:18

@Everanewbie the residents weren't moaning about flammable cladding though, if you've so little insight into what they were complaining about, I wouldn't comment if I was you!

72 people die and you don't even know the course of events do you?

Everanewbie · 13/02/2023 13:21

Dogcafedreamer · 13/02/2023 13:18

@Everanewbie the residents weren't moaning about flammable cladding though, if you've so little insight into what they were complaining about, I wouldn't comment if I was you!

72 people die and you don't even know the course of events do you?

At a risk of sounding like Will in the Inbetweeners, Grenfell was terribly sad and lessons need to be learned, quickly, but its not relevant. We're talking tiles here.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 13/02/2023 13:24

As someone who privately rents and has to beg and plead my landlord, usually resulting in a very passive aggressive reminder he could put our rent up to an amount we cannot afford, yes, you are being massively unreasonable.

If you want matching tiles do it yourself. You complained, they reacted and did it quicker due to your complaint.

JizzlordTheCat · 13/02/2023 13:30

Dogcafedreamer · 13/02/2023 13:13

Your whole manner was "stop moaning" much the same as the Grenfell Residents were treated.

It's a common theme on threads like this.

Disgusting

Show quote history

You seem to struggle with comprehension.

There is no comparison here between the OP’s issue and what happened in Grenfell where residents raised a number of safety issues. You seem to think there is a comparison, which is tasteless in the extreme.

Just to make it very clear to you: nobody will die if their tiles do not match.

Nobody said OP was “less than” anyone else. Again, you are the one who inferred such, presumably due to a chip on your shoulder that extends way beyond this thread.