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 do empathise with your situation. There is no way they'll pay for you to stay somewhere else.

A TL or caravan would be worse IMO as you would have even less room and the kids wouldn’t have their things in their rooms.

@Mummyoflittledragon thanks, yes you hit the nail on the head there with it being daunting, I am not really coping with life very well, had a really stressful time lately and been particularly bad health wise so this on top feels a bit much for my brain to organise right now.

We don’t really ever watch the TV in the living room so that’s not a problem, but there’s very little room in there as it is and by the time the fridge, kitchen table and a lot of kitchen cupboards worth of stuff is in there it’s going to be a bit cramped to say the least. There’s not really any spare space anywhere in the house - it’s essentially a small two up, two down, except there is a box room upstairs which is more of a cupboard than a bedroom which dd2 has. Tiny landing, tiny bathroom. Thanks for the good suggestions re food 😊

Thanks for all the good suggestions, I really do appreciate them, my brain isn’t really functioning very well right now so this is a big help.

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?

Private home owners have the option of not doing the work, or doing it when it is most conveiet.

OP

Contact your HA and your local council and ask what they can do to help. My local council provides meals on wheels to anyone who asks, you have to pay but you don't need a disability or to be over a certain age.

They will also drop of a 'tea' at the same time so you get a hot meal and pudding ad then the 'tea' is a sandwich, fruit and something sweet, a biscuit or cake.

Buy paper plates and your food is sorted if your council do that option, and if they don't suggest they do.

You don't need to wash up in the bath, a basic washing up bowl won't cost much (if you don't already have one) ad can be filled from a kettle.

Phone around any local caravan sites and explain the situation.

The link below is to a place that specialises in holidays for disabled people, they cost about £300 a week but you can apply for funding.

https://revitalise.org.uk/respite-holidays/sandpipers/

I know not to do with your issue but do you mind me asking how you manage day to day, you say you need to rest and sleep a lot and can’t walk far and your two children have additional needs and aren’t in any education and you also have a dog. Are you on your own or do you have a DH at home too?

@sashh thank you, that’s amazingly useful stuff to know. Will explore those options for sure.

@Spottydogtoo I don’t really manage at the moment, that’s why all this is stressing me out so much. I have been in hospital twice recently due to stress related things. I think it’s safe to say none of us have much of a quality of life right now. Re the dog, DD2 walks her usually, I haven’t been well enough to do it for the last few months except on the odd occasion when I have a bit more energy that day (twice since September). I don’t have a DH but do have a BF who lives 5 hours away, he is here most weekends from late Friday night-Sunday lunchtime, and he’s a brilliant help but otherwise it’s just me. I’ve been doing everything I can to try and get more support for us all, but it’s slow going, everything is very limited due to cuts.

When I was a homeowner I was never made to install a new kitchen I didn't want at a time I didn't chose.

It's worth asking re temp rehousing but I think it's extremely unlikely. Even people getting houses adapted for them due to considerable disabilities eg. Wheelchair users don't get temp rehoused.
You'd probably need to provide reports from HCPs involved in your care detailing why you cannot stay whilst wok is carried out.

You've had some good suggestions on here and hopefully some of them will work for you

When I had my kitchen replaced by the HA I’m sure they offered ‘compensation’ of x amount of £ per person per day towards meals. I didn’t claim in it as the dc were in school eating and I just popped a ready meal or things I’d batched cooked in to the microwave, or made salad and sandwiches. But my dc ate anything so was easier for me.

Worth asking your HA.

I think if you speak to the builders they can organise things so it's not 2 weeks fully out of action.

When we got our kitchen replaced it was not 2 full weeks out. For example, removing the old kitchen they two two days and I was able to use stuff on the first night.
Then depending on what other stuff they need to do ?rewiring etc it may be relatively quick eg a week. Installation of new units again will be done over à few days and access possible each night. Finally tiling will be done over several days but depending on what they do you may be able to use the kitchen or part of it each night. Just make sure you talk to them each day and understand what they are doing and explain what would help.

I'm also AuDHD, and this would drive my sensory overload nuts.

Maybe worth ordering some cheap ear defenders if you stay at home?!

You should ask. In my area it is absolutely normal for people to be rehoused while major works are carried out.

Surely it won't all be out of action for the full two weeks though? They won't take the sink out on day one and not put it back until the last day, for example.

How on earth are u managing two DC with autism at home while your bed ridden
Where is the DC education
You need a social worker to sort this mess out ,and I don't mean the kitchen

You won't need it for full two weeks the first one is the messiest and noisiest. Second weeks is things like tiling and paintng, adding doors back on etc it's far less of an inconvenience

Just been through this in the 6 weeks holiday its miserable but we managed (just) we were however able to adjust the dates because the ones they gave me were not convenient could you not put it off until you can borrow your mother's caravan?

Are you not getting at least £900 a month in DLA and PIP?

you can ask, not sure what their policy is. But otherwise just minimise washing up as yes you’ll be doing it in the bathroom. I don’t know anyone who has moved out whilst the kitchen is being done. Yes it’s inconvenient but just make some sandwiches for lunch and take them upstairs along with the kettle. They will likely he done by 4pm for the day. Use paper plates and have microwave meals

I am very sorry but how is taking your kids out of a room they are familiar with and putting them in a room they are not familiar with somehow better? Your argument for the move is no cooking facilities at home but you are willing to accept no cooking facilities at a travel lodge? Your microwave can be moved to your room - you can buy cheaply a camp one ring electric stove hob. The dryer and fridle/freezer can be plugged in in the lounge.
I have no doubt unfort it will all be a pain but I am guessing they do this regularly and you won’t have everything out of action for the full two weeks they no doubt will try and get you access to the main things as quickly as possible.

@trubones This is an absolutely ridiculous statement. My parents live in a LA home and over the last few years have had a new kitchen, new boiler and radiators throughout and full new wiring. Great that all these things are upgraded. BUT each time they’ve had 1 weeks notice of works starting.

For wiring they had to pack as if moving out and have all furniture in the middle of the rooms. No choice over where sockets/radiators were put and they were moved to different walls etc because of new regulations. Flooring isn’t refitted and rooms aren’t redecorated. They received £20 per room towards redecorating afterwards.

And 6months after the radiators were done and they’d put a lot of effort and money into redecorating they got their 1 week notice for the wiring being done. They also have an elderly cat who had to be put into a cattery each time as there were workmen in and out all day, parents were at work and couldn’t guarantee cat wouldn’t get out.

The difference with being a homeowner is that you have a choice to have these things done when it’s convenient for you and you can afford it.

I personally think going to a caravan in middle of winter (and this week is freezing) with teens who don’t get on (probably moaning about no wifi or xboxes) and a dog is going to be much worse than just sitting upstairs for 2wks.