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.

i dont see how they can demand you put appliances outside but take no responsibility for them

I'm sure some posters would argue the op is being entitled to not want her appliances to be outside for a fortnight and she should be grateful the housing association is willing to even try to cover them.

OP I hope you get reassurance at the very least. I would be surprised if you get a temporary move, that is usually for large intrusive jobs such as damp works or emergency situations such as the roof blowing off.

There is a lot of rubbish on this thread though, and people can only tell you about their HA, they are not all the same.

@Abracadabraandgone they damaged my then downstairs neighbours washing machine and refused to replace it

Most isn't all though so surely worth an ask?

Yes, absolutely worth a ask.

Now there's issues around this idea of a decant as in reality I'm sure you'd rather be in your home when a bunch of work persons come and go in and and out re your personal possessions and having some agency over the situation

Exactly and i can see insurance companies refusing to pay out re. contents insurance. They will say "well you chose to move out and leave your stuff unattended"

I am the only person in my row of houses to be getting a kitchen. Some are privately owned, my NDN is still HA and the irony is that their kitchen is falling to bits whereas mine is fine, but they can’t get theirs done for another 7 years

When an HA decided to harass a certain tenant they are relentless

How the fuck are they not liable when they are forcing you into having this done? Is there more to this? Are they trying to get you out?

THIS and the fact that her neighbour needs a kitchen and she doesnt makes me think she is being targeted for some reason @SENwoes have you had any conflict with your HA over anything else and won.

I agree!

Request paid storage by them for your appliances, they can’t make demands about them being outside to get damaged, not just by rain and cold but an animal could chew the wires etc.
This is the thing with those who own a house vs those in social housing. You may think we have a better ride but it’s not. If you own you have the privilege of seeking a reputable company to fit your kitchen. HA tenants don’t have a say. It might be their house but it’s your home and you’re entitled to feel safe. Money doesn’t come into it. Home owners dictate everything as they should, HA tenants have to do as they’re told as it’s ‘free’.
Id get on to citizens advice and even the mp if you’re feeling targeted.

@SENwoes DH is now nearly 74 and disabled. In Nov 2017 the HO pinned a tort notice to DHs mobility scooter telling him to get rid of it or they would destroy it. I went through ALL the proper channels before using social media despite their shitty discriminatory attitude. They had to give in. DH ended up with a shed to store it in which he happily pays for. If they had approached us in a reasonable way i wouldnt have had to resort to social media. BUT EVERY Christmas since they have sent us a hassly letter about one thing or another saying that we owe rent (we dont I CAN link to show their version of Horizon for the haters) and ALWAYS at Christmas!

It is a torrid time, although I found no bathroom far more stressful.

see if you can borrow a microwave, washing up in the bath or bathroom sink, you could use disposable plates etc.

sadly I don’t think you will get rehoused, but good luck!

I spoke to my DM this afternoon and double checked about the caravan, it’s a definite no go until March. The water and electric for the whole site is turned off until then.

No I don’t think they have any reason to target me, I have been there over 10 years and always paid my rent on time, never had arrears, never been a problem tenant in any way - I think it’s simply that the kitchen is due to be changed. It would be out of sync with my NDN as I know there was a kitchen fire at some point with previous tenants in my house, so they’d have replaced it then. NDN are unlucky that there were a series of bellends living in their house before them (I know because I had to live next to them) who trashed the place.

Also…possible drip feed but a friend had already offered to feed them so didn’t see it as much of an issue…but I have two cats too. Talking it through with my DM today (AKA crazy cat lady), the cats might be really freaked out by strange people in the house and lots of noise with us not there. Also their only way in and out is through the cat flap which is in the back door in the kitchen, so they’d have to go right through the chaos each time. If we were there I think they’d be ok but if not I’d worry they might decide to run off, particularly one of them who is not quite wired up right and is just terrified of everything 🤣. So all in all staying here and making it work somehow is probably the best. Will definitely be asking more questions about the appliances outside thing though.

If you own you have the privilege of seeking a reputable company to fit your kitchen

That is a really good point. And the fitters really don't need to bother to do a decent job because they're not going to need to worry about reviews or word of mouth publicity for their business.

Basically HA tenants have no agency at all. What happens to them, happens to them. There's no choice in any of it.

It would be best to keep your cats in your bedroom while the workmen are in the house. You can make them comfy, put a litter tray on there etc.
Cats can get spooked by strangers in the house and the last thing you need on top of everything is your cats running out of the house and becoming lost.

My cat was really stressed by our work being done. Making her a little safe area helped.

Also keep an eye out for signs of cystitis. Cats can get it when stressed.

Yes unreasonable: so many people unfortunately have to get on with it. We’ve got pets, kids, some with disabilities that need medication that’s in the fridge etc and you really do have to work round it. It’s only a week or so. The thought is probably worse than the reality of it. The housing really don’t have the funds to put everyone that’s having work done up in hotels.

@saraclara they are also more likely to treat a homeowners property with respect. Ive seen other tenants property literally get thrown around.

@Noglitterallowed how do you know its a week My HA (their contractors) was in and out of my late neighbours kitchen for NINE MONTHS.

I strongly suspect SH tenants are being used to keep companies in work. COL crisis will put that on steroids

Because 'benefits'

Irrelevant judging by so many comments on this thread

Just shut up, be grateful and know your place 😬

Glad you’ve had some good advice and - this too shall pass!

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.

You would still have the issue of the cost of eating out if you stayed in a Travelodge.

Just going on the info from our experience and everyone else’s that has had a new kitchen with HA that’s all. Doesn’t sound like it’s a big kitchen from the info given so can’t imagine it taking that long. The comment still stands that they will not have the funds to put people up in other places