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.

@Riverstep It isnt free. And i take it your white goods were stored in the garden you know as you are saying its the same.

You get to choose the company who does the work. HA tenants have NO agency in this. Thought you didnt look down on people

And i think a timely reminder is needed that the Grenfell residents were also told their works were free and to put up and shut up

@Riverstep if you took a moment of your time to read the OP's posts via the 'see all' button you'd see that none of the options you offer to mitigate the disruption are possible for the OP.

She does not want a new kitchen, need a new kitchen and has no choice as to when this work occurs nor much time to plan for it. Most people who own their own homes will be able to plan and time such a disruptive works to suit them.

It isn't 'everyone else' that has to pay for new kitchens - its home owners (usually, mines being done on a Disabled Facilities Grant despite me being a home owner) - landlords SHOULD provide a functional kitchen, its part of what the tenants rent pays for!

@Riverstep Private Eye dont seem to agree. They have done a piece on Mears and their dangerous shoddy workmanship.

Like i said its only breaking the law re electrics etc if its the tenant breaking it.

https://x.com/PeoplesAudit/status/1748319724042113215?s=20

I wouldn’t agree to white goods going in the garden, our workmen managed to work round an American style fridge freezer and the washing machine. So I’d expect them to work round it if I was the op. Besides, how is she supposed to move those herself anyway? Not realistic.
I’m not sure what you mean by the comment thought you didn’t look down on people? How am I looking down on the op? I think anyone who has secured social housing is fortunate yes, some families are stuck in private rentals paying over the odds so I don’t think there is anything wrong with pointing out that there is room for the op to be appreciative? It is completely unreasonable to expect to be rehoused whilst work is undertaken.

That’s interesting, I wonder if it varies according to area? One of my friends delayed her new kitchen work ( social housing ) due to being on night shifts when they planned to undertake the work. They rearranged the dates. There really is no good time for kitchens being fitted though , it’s always disruptive.

@Riverstep excellent suggestion. Long walks when you’re disabled, in a storm in January, will sort the problem out. Genius. They are ripping the whole floor out so no they can’t work around any white goods.

Yeah, I didn’t read the whole thread as it is 33 pages. Obviously the long walks arent going to happen for someone who is disabled, but you can try and find something else to pass the time whilst the workmen are there. They can work round white goods by moving them when doing the floor.

I tell you what's a good idea... read the OPs post, even the first one would be a start...

Go for walks...... really?

@Riverstep yes...she will be able to fill the time by keeping her autistic children calm while their routine is completely taken over 🙄
Seriously.....if a thread is 33 pages long don't comment if you can't be arsed to read.

@Riverstep no they can’t. They made that clear when they came to measure up.

@Riverstep well then filter and read the OPs posts, otherwise you make yourself look a twat!

The kitchen is not free, not much in life is free, OP pays with it through her rent.

@Riverstep they are REFUSING to work round the white goods This is just one example of HA tenants having no agency

I did actually say in my post that I ( personally ) went for long walks when having my kitchen done. I don’t believe I actually said to op get yourself on a long walk. Only the op knows what she personally can do to pass the time whilst the workmen are in. It’ll be a long two weeks otherwise.

@Riverstep why would OP have posted if it was easy to occupy her DCs during work...

It's a good job you've come in 33 pages later and sorted it sooooo easily!

Which I completely disagree with. I would refuse to agree to them being put outside. They should be working round them.

So your input is not required then?

You've been no help, with your you've got a "free" kitchen and I went for long walks!

You've nothing at all useful to add and o think OP is justifiably rolling her eyes at your input.

Yes more than likely she is🤣. The op did ask AIBU to be temporarily rehoused. I voted yes. The work will happen irrespective of the 34 pages of opinions here. Hopefully once it is done op will be pleased with the result.

@SENwoes which HA is it or would you rather not say?

@JenniferBooth abri

oh havent heard of them before

I used to have dealings with them as a support worker. Their disability awareness is (as the OP is finding out), woefully lacking.

@WhatTheHeckyPeck so is the huge HA beginning with S They were the ones who threatened to destroy DHs mobility scooter. The HO who did this got promoted to housing manager. Its not that unlike the PO scandal.

I find it scary that they actually think they own the tenants as well as their properties

Things definitely changed when they took over from the HA that owned the house when I moved in. All of a sudden no decorating was allowed in colours other than white or magnolia, house inspections happening (my neighbour got told off for a box of odd socks on a window sill!), and rents went up. Repairs wise they’re not brilliant either, they removed my chimney because it was damaged and just lobbed the bricks off the roof, breaking my plastic garden shed, and they also repointed the house in the wrong stuff meaning that I’m constantly battling mould now as the house can’t breathe.

So they have shown disrespect for your property and broken something before. Quelle surprise!