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.

Oh jeez. Entitled much.

You’ll just have to do like other folk do and just MAKE DO. Set up a makeshift kitchen some place else in your house and just get on with it. Set up a kettle, microwave & slow cooker and you’ll be grand. Lots of variety available with those things. Then the odd chippy tea or pizza.

It amazes me what people expect when they’re already receiving so much from the state. You’d really be in a pickle if you were a home owner, how would you manage without someone else to sort your problems?!

@Ohgollymolly SHE DOES NOT WANT THE FUCKING KITCHEN how would you like it if someone came to your home forced you into having something you dont want then everybody else called you an ungrateful cunt

@Ohgollymolly oh ffs.
The poor woman and her children have disabilities.
Do you not get that?
Getting "so much from the state" - how can you say shit like that?
Perhaps you would prefer people with disabilities to be packed off to asylums like the good old days 🙄
Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

I work in local authority housing and we always ‘decant’ people into alternative accommodation for any major works such as kitchen/bathroom/rewire. We have a stock of properties for this purpose. Have you asked them if it’s an option?

@Ohgollymolly I'm sorry - are her disabilities and those of her children not good enough for you?
What's an acceptable disability then?

@Ohgollymolly

Yes, ‘disabilities’.

Care to expand?

i'm housing association and just spent 25grand on a new kitchen myself as old one was falling apart and wasn't due a new one for several years it was a lot of hassle to do kitchen prob about 3 weeks of not being in use. i've got 5 kids and one being a new baby we did order a lot of takeaway i also have autistic kids and myself disabled we stores stuff in garden just covered it out microwave n kettle ect in living room went to the laundrette to do washing and drying it just is what it is. just be greatful you're getting a new kitchen for free

That’s not me being an entitled grabby social tenant, it’s me expecting my well off landlord to ensure their tenants have a safe, decent and presentable home to live in. God forbid!
And that's absolutely reasonable.

However:

• It is t true that the HA goes for cheap stuff at all. My BIL has worked for a plumbing merchant for many years and he says that social tenants get better quality installations than new private buyers.

• The suggested schedule is totally reasonable for a full overall. Not sure if it's lack ok knowledge or indeed, a sense of entitlement, but that's what it would be for a private customer too.

• Getting a new kitchen is perfectly reasonable. Expecting to be rehoused for the disturbance is totally unreasonable. Because it's perfectly possible as highlighted in many post to make due for that period without starving nor freezing. Because it's a very self-centered demand considering how stretched local authorities are and many people live in much worse conditions without any help.

So yes, an element of OP's expectations is justified, the rest just isn't.

I’m sorry but I just read her comments again, at no point does she say she’d doesn’t want it, does she? She says she’s lucky to be getting it but can’t say no, which is very different to be saying she does not want it, why are you screaming at posters?

Still waiting.

Cant say no is the same bloody thing Its just semantics @SENwoes can you clarify?

Hi can you go to any friends houses.. Get the bus every day somewhere new. They give you 2 weeks but usually quicker. We cooked in a ninja and washed up in a bowel in the bath tub.. It goes quicker than you realise. Then you'll have a wonderful new kitten to be proud of..

Are you actually kidding??? WTAF.

Housing Association is NOT local authority.

HTH

And what exactly is the OP "receiving from the state" pray tell?

Right? Imagine a tenant asking the landlord if something's a possibility.

The sheer audacity.

I would definitely ask for the supervisor to visit, they may have some ideas you haven't thought of.
@Nnsphynx22 more fool you for spending that tbh.
@Ohgollymolly if OP was a home owner she probably wouldn't choose to have it done in the middle of winter, having to store white goods outside and have workies in and out all day.

As a private landlord we had to put our tenants up in like for like accommodation while the bathroom was getting repairs. So had to put them in a airb&b for a few days while the work was being done. This was compulsory.

Yes, you are being unreasonable.
where are these “apparently” even coming from?
they usually reconnect washing and cooking facilities every night. Very rarely they’ll tell you they can’t.
people in housing associations with significantly more complex situations than you manage just fine. If your kids can’t cope with the kitchen being done I doubt they’d manage with a temporary house for 2 weeks

YABU. What do you think everyone else does?

Housing Association is NOT local authority
Good point.

As a private landlord we had to put our tenants up in like for like accommodation while the bathroom was getting repairs. So had to put them in a airb&b for a few days while the work was being done. This was compulsory
Only if they had no access to water, or couldn't wash, or use the toilet. That's different to a kitchen.

So what the fuck DO they do for tenants on things like dialysis
Wouldn't that fall under exceptional circumstances?

You could ask. At best they'd put you in a shelter or shared house. I'd personally rather stay in my own home