Do you know of any grants for fitted kitchens?

[RainbowSlidders]

Before I get called a cheeky fucker I am not, our entire ground floor has been destroyed by flooding. We do have insurance but only contents as we rent from HA, my insurance have been good and everything they cover is in the process of being sorted, they’re even drying out the property through a flood restoration company as the HA have refused to do so. The loss adjuster as said the kitchen needs removing and replacing but we aren’t covered as it comes under building insurance which my HA should hold. The HA are refusing to do anything but the bare minimum and have said it is severely water damaged but it’s only 7 years old and not due for another 18 years!!!!
I am going through the formal complaints process and will be contacting the Housing Ombudsman after I have received their formal response. They have acknowledged it flooded with rain water from a fault drain put in by the developer (3 man holes in our garden) but are insisting my insurance company are liable for all damage including the kitchen.

A fitted kitchen is fixed into the building? Therefore covered by buildings insurance, not contents.
Anything that falls out of a house if you turned it upside down and shook it is contents. Everything else is building insurance.

@Blueuggboots I understand that and wrote it in my op, we don’t have building insurance as we do not own the house we rent from a housing association, it is the housing associations responsibility but they think my contents insurance should cover the cost.

Can you move? It’s entirely unreasonable for you to be caught up in an argument between Housing association and insurers.

I would be grateful on advice on how to get them to replace it as it is their responsibility.

Do you have legal cover on your home insurance? You may need to go legal on them.

It is their responsibility as landlords to put this right.

@CatherinedeBourgh yes we do have legal cover, I was trying to see if anyone knew of away to resolve it without suing my landlord. We have a life tenancy and have paid the rent in full and on time since we moved in 7 years ago even though we have had no downstairs since August 2023 😢.

Wait for the outcome of your complaint. They're probably biding their time and will replace it once they've run out of options to delay.

@PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich its been 10 months I’m not holding my breath that they will do the right thing at all.

That's ridiculous, what are they playing at?You could've taken it to the ombudsman months ago, get that process started asap.

I agree, get onto your legal cover and get on their case. This is on them. You have rights, enforce them.

Write to your MP?

Housing association are liable.

Is it non functional/ functionally damaged or just aesthetically damaged and doesn't look nice? Once dried out, can it still be used safely for the purpose intended?

I don't think the HA should or will replace it if it's just aesthetics. If there's actual damage and it's not usable, then of course they should.

I agree with a pp that you should contact your MP.

I’d create an instagram refurbishment account, then approach companies to see if they’d be interested in the exposure. Not what you want to hear but you might get further.

You need to start pushing every avenue hard asap. Go to the ombudsman, your MP, put it on social media and call them and ask to speak to someone in more authority

This is the responsibility of the buildings insurance, and there's plenty of evidence to that extent:

https://www.zurich.ie/home-insurance/faqs/fitted-kitchen-buildings-insurance/

Come on, did you actually read the OP's post? It clearly says OP knows that it's not covered by contents insurance but the HA are refusing to use their building insurance to cover it

Definitely your landlords responsibility. Keep pushing the complaint, local councillors, MP, tweet the HA with pictures, etc.

In what ways is it no longer usable? Can you post some pics?

I DID read the OP yes. The HA are completely at fault and need to cough up if the kitchen is damaged beyond being useable.

Why does the OP need to show photos?? She’s said her downstairs was badly flooded - it doesn’t take much intelligence to know that this would have resulted in the wood of her kitchen cupboard to swell, causes bulges, warped doors and possibly a lifting of any veneers as it dried out.

If repair of replacement is covered under the HA’s building insurance, then the OP is correct to follow up on this.

Absolutely landlord responsibility. Get onto your MP and also environmental health

@mrsm43s the bottom units were submerged in 2 1/2 foot of water for days, every time I bailed it out it started raining again and filled back up. The bottom units have completely rotted and collapsing in places so no not fit for purpose. The wall units are undamaged and I have been very honest about that, all my appliances are water damaged and unusable. I have the washing machine, drier, and fridge freezer upstairs (replacement dishwasher still packaging upstairs.)

@BMW6 the kitchen was sat in 2 1/2 foot of water and rotted.

I have today emailed all 6 members of the board of directors at the housing association, let’s see where that gets me.

@Grotbagg the environmental health is a good call.