To ask to be temporarily rehoused whilst new kitchen installed?

[SENwoes]

I will preface this by saying I KNOW I’m very lucky to have a HA house, and I KNOW I’m very lucky to be getting a brand new kitchen for free.

So as above, I have work commencing on 22nd January to rip out the old kitchen and replace it. I don’t have a choice in this, according to the documents, I am unable to say no it’s fine, I’ll keep the old one. I’ve been told the works will take 2 weeks, as it also involves taking up the tiled floor and replacing it with lino.

It’s just dawning on me what a nightmare this will be. I have to completely empty the kitchen obviously, but there’s not really anywhere to put the stuff, it’s a very small house (just living room leading to kitchen/diner downstairs). The big appliances will go outside in the back yard apparently, but everything else will have to be boxed up and kept somewhere. I’ll have no cooking or washing up facilities, and no way of washing or drying clothes.

That’s all pretty standard I know, but my main concern is that I have a disability (CFS) and also both DC are diagnosed with ASD and currently in the house all the time as neither in education. We will essentially be trapped in our bedrooms for 2 weeks as we won’t be able to move in the front room as realistically that’s the only place everything from the kitchen can go. I need to rest…a lot, and the works will be noisy, which will also affect both DC as they struggle badly with loud noises and not being in a calm environment. They’ll also struggle with a team of workmen being in their space for 2 weeks, They both have completely different food aversions and neither of their limited range of foods is conducive to being able to batch cook and set the microwave up somewhere. Realistically it will mean a lot of eating out, but that’s not really affordable for 2 weeks.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and WIBU to ask the HA if there’s anything that could be done to move us while the works are going on? The only family member I could stay with is my DM but she’s a long way away and having works done on her own house which means she doesn’t have a functioning bathroom, so that’s not ideal really.

Just to add, threads like these really make me laugh. I was considered scum growing up for coming from a council house, I was definitely seen as less than by many peers at school and certainly by their parents and also by some teachers.

I wasn’t allowed to go to some of my friends houses and if a group of friends went to call for someone, everyone from private housing was invited to wait inside for the friend to be ready and I had to wait outside, I would laugh to myself and roll my eyes. Horrible people.

I had one friend’s mum who took me out for tea and let me sleep over, I had a lovely time and upon leaving she said ‘I can’t believe how well behaved and polite you are, you’ve been an absolute pleasure to have. I was so worried when Natalie said where you lived.’ Spoiled a really lovely weekend for me as I just thought ‘am I always going to have to deal with this shit?!’

You’re not ‘lucky’ op for having the circumstances that mean you are entitled to a council/HA property. The property you’re in needs modernising, I have a friend who is in private rented and she’s just had a new Howdens kitchen fitted which is beautiful, not one person has insulted her about it. Quite the opposite, everyone has said how beautiful it is, not told her how entitled or lucky she is. Isn’t OP’s situation just the same, her landlord is carrying out necessary maintenance on their property.

After the stigma I’ve faced my whole life, never did I think I’d see the day where people were jealous of or be desperately after the housing situation I grew up in but there you go.

Pretty much every random town I'm putting in for a week from 22nd has apartments for under £300 for a week on hotels . Com

Withdrawn my original post from a few minutes ago. I read OP's original post more thoroughly. Seen she has SN children. As this pp said though @SENwoes you may need to try what this poster suggests. ^

"OP I know you said you aren’t thinking straight at the
moment but going to stay in a caravan in the middle of a winter cold snap with two teenagers who don’t get on is a terrible idea."

The heating in the caravans we've stayed in at parkdean is brilliant!

Well this will blow your mind then
My housing Association did indeed move us into a different house whilst they did similar work on my house
They said normally they would have moved us into a B&B but it was as November 2020
So no not necessarily ludicrous .

• Genuine question: do you truly believe private home owners all get to move into a travel lodge or equivalent / nicer for a few weeks? And that on that basis you are somehow being hard done to?*

What a ridiculous post. Private home owners would have the choice to do this or not.

People saying it won't take 2 weeks and probably quicker.. .. mine took 6 weeks.. because they did all the street together.. First they come and rip out the kitchen.. then move onto the next one.. then the electrician comes.. then the plasterer.. then the flooring people and so on.. some days we never saw any workman but still left with a shell.
As for home owners moaning you have to pay for yours and renters don't.. well you choose to buy so get over yourselves.. we pay rent and my family have been paying rent on this house for over 70 years.. probably more than some pay for their houses .. so it's NOT free.. we don't have a choice when the work is done.. weeks in winter.. then they can turn your heating off during in the day for up to 5 hours .. yes it's to be put back on before they leave...
And some authorities do save houses for vulnerable tenants to move into.
All my furniture ( sofa/ tables etc had to go into storage .. they come with a removable van and take it) because along with the kitchen the house was re wired.
A new fire was fitted.
I also had a wet room put in.
I couldn't say.. oh come in June when the weather is better.
Myself and my daughter huddled in bed together watching telly when the electricity was working.. . warming beans/ soup in microwave.
Believe me it's not easy and it's an anxious and depressing time.
There is some really horrible people on here that need to get over themselves.

As an architect many years ago I worked on HA property that dealt with maintenance and upgrading.
Your situation is quite normal and means that everything is safe and up to standard.
Without doing the works the HA could be liable if anything untoward happens.

I suppose we can’t always have it both ways. If something terrible happened, burst pipes flood etc the HA would have to drop everything just for your property because you refused maintenance.
Id put up with the hassle and enjoy the new kitchen

Just had a new kitchen fitted including the floor. It took one man five days. We brought the sc, the steamer and the air fryer into the front room.

Oh op, it's a nightmare.

When I had mine done I spoke to the guys doing it, and they, very kindly reattached my washing machine every couple of days for me overnight so I could get my washing done.

I plugged my fridge freezer in the living room and had a microwave on a table, I got a hotplate too for about £30.

It wasn't ideal, but it was doable, and they gave me a 2 week time table for getting it done, but it was 6 days total in the end (8 days including the weekend) so quicker than expected.

Low standards and doing what you can to get through the 2 weeks, then you'll have a lovely new kitchen, this time next year this time will just be a blip on your memory, even if it seems really daunting now.

Lose the snarky attitude and stop putting words in my mouth that nobody reasonable would have taken from my would-be helpful post.

It is not unknown for neighbours of whatever kind to help each others out from time to time.

If yours don't I'm not surprised.

Please be very careful of putting a gas hob in the bedroom, because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. I love the getting the fixings up to date and safe. The electrics in my DD HA flat are lethal, switches sockets, hanging out of walls! The LA house was no better, when they rewired, they installed a socket above the flames on the gas hob, they did in fact have to move it!

So you are privileged enough to own a house and chose to upgrade it. Bully for you.

And did she choose to do it?

We had a new kitchen and a lot of work done and half of our house out of action for months, I had a new born and a toddler. We managed washing up in the back, made room in cramped lounge and on top of all the crates and boxes we made a make shift kitchen with kettle, toaster, camping stove and slow cooker. Suck it up buttercup, you're getting a brand new kitchen!

Microwave and paper plates OP, it will be miserable, but you'll get through it. The ASD complicates things, of course (it always does) but it's do-able.

We renovated the whole of our ground floor this time last year and it was grim washing up in the bath, so I'd get in some paper plates and just treat the top floor like bedsits for a while and live up there whilst they do the deed.

It will probably be less traumatic than moving out for a couple of weeks anyway.

Good luck with it all and ignore all the folk on this thread with a bee in their bonnet. You'll be grand with a sparlkling new kitchen at the end of the grimness. I still can't get over mine! The disgusting black mould I saw when they ripped the cabinets off was enough to convince me we'd done the right thing. It's so good having a clean space to cook in!

Getting a new kitchen is a nightmare regardless of your situation. You don't want a new kitchen but you're getting one and i'm afraid just have to put up with the inconvenience. 2 weeks is pretty quick from start to finish, I was washing up in the bathroom for about 4 weeks and without an oven for 6 weeks. Speak with the workmen and see if they can leave the sink til the very last minute (that's why I had an extra 2 weeks with a sink). There is no way around this as a travel lodge move would mean issues with cooking. Go out for the day with the kids so they aren't as unsettled. Then enjoy your new (free) kitchen.

Have you any idea,what a brand new housing Association kitchen is like ??
I can guarantee it isn't a all what you are envisioning
My brand new housing Association kitchen consisted of new cupboards and sink and work top all, low quality and four years later falling to bits
New lino,which again is poor quality and doesn't clean well.

We had to pay £8,000 for ours and work for every penny of it, plus deal with the mess etc, so no, you shouldn't get a spare home while the work is done for you.

That was your choice.

Hi op, first make the HA aware of your family's health problems, recently discharged from hospital etc. They may be able to cut down the two week schedule in some way.
The suggestion of meals on wheels is a good one. Now is the time to put things like that into action.
Fridge plugged in in living room, microwave, kettle, toaster upstairs.
Disposable plates, cups and spoons.
Cereal for breakfast, sandwiches or ready pasta meals for lunch, takeaway in the evening.
DCs in charge of running up and down the stairs for stuff and letting the dog out.
Washing up station in bathroom.
Can BF come down and get you organised and help empty kitchen?
Hope it pans out ok.

I swear some people think housing Association, s kitchens are fully fitted expensive kitchens

PP should really have a look at OPs other post. She’s got two teenage girls with SEN - both school refusers, trying her hardest to give them some sort of life, had a horrendous time with their father, begged for SS support and that’s before considering her own poor health.

OP, could you see this as an opportunity; motivation to start decluttering, a better kitchen to get in a better position to do a HA house swap to move to a different area with better SEN provision? Maybe DD would be more inclined to support you with the house upheaval if they’re going to be benefiting from it in the long run of a fresh start?

I'd kick up a fuss about the new kitchen if you don't want it. Other than that they are massively inconveniencing you and should find you somewhere to stay for the duration. Why are they taking up tiles and replacing with lino? Seems pointless. Whole thing seems pointless and if they want the kitchen emptied and contents boxed they should do it.

@TruJay

After the stigma I’ve faced my whole life, never did I think I’d see the day where people were jealous of or be desperately after the housing situation I grew up in but there you go.

I think the cost of living crisis and lack of affordable housing & increase in mortgage costs has made (some) people envious of those who have fixed rent costs & they don't have to pay for any upkeep. I don't recall people being like this before Covid & cost of living crisis. I guess people in council/HA housing can't be evicted unless they do something awful & costs are still affordable.

Exactly. A choice OP doesn't have, in all aspects. I bet OP would love to be in that position too