I’ve had no cooker for 10 weeks -social housing issue

[Rokuandice]

does anyone have any knowledge of cooker installation and or council housing repairs please? My South London council has left me unable to cook for more than 2 months now and refusing to assist. AIBU to think they should help?
My last cooker had one of those glass lids that you lift up for when hob was in use. Because it lifted up against the wall, I never really thought about what was behind the lid when cooking. However, the oven broke at the end of August and so it was time to order a replacement. Ordered a similar but without the glass lid (none of the ones for sale had one) with a major UK retailer/installer. I then received an email from them requesting that I check there were no sockets, plastics, combustible anything within ‘the hot zone’. If there were they would not be able to install due to fire safety I presume.
on checking I had a switched plug socket and separate plastic trunking both within the hot zone area. I postponed delivery and requested a repair from the council. Three weeks and many phone calls to them later ( as they’d messed the paperwork up) an electrician came out. He moved the socket but his manager told him that he was not allowed to move the plastic trunking/live wires as the council no longer chase cable into walls. I was told it would be safe as the plastic should be heatproof. A few days later of course the cooker was delivered and the installer took one look at the trunking on the wall and refused to install - it is located 25cm above the large back burner. He said even if I managed to find a cooker with a glass lid again, installation would be refused due to hot zone regulation. I’ve checked and this is standard across all the UK retailers.
the council repairs team have been awful. They’ve closed the repair request due to it being considered ‘decorative’ - they definitely think IBU. Electrics are way beyond my DIY. No local tradesman is getting back to me and besides, my Tenancy agreement says that moving electrical sockets etc is a no no in their property
so far I’ve reached out to the Town Hall/ lead Councillor - I was then told that the council were required to reply to him formally within 10 days - no response 22 days later and I’m just being told to wait.
I put in a formal complaint - no response
i contacted my MP - she’ll get back to me within 20 days (automated response)
my diet has gone haywire. I’m stressed, upset and dreading not being able to cook at Christmas when my child is home from uni…. Thank you to anyone who managed to read all this. I hate having to think about it - so boring I know - but really so stressful for me .. any advice mumsnetters?AIBU that I should be able to cook at home?

This was never a council job, you should have bought a different oven.

Why not buy a plug in induction hob, they aren't particularly expensive in the mean time. £128 oven and X2 hob with payment plan available

one without a hob?

I don't think you have any choice but to persist with the contacts you've been trying.

In the meantime, can you borrow an air fryer? Or a microwave/combi oven?

No help with the ins and outs of the repair but why on earth have you not got yourself a simple plug-in hot plate to tide you over?

Of course it’s a council issue if there is electrical wiring where the cooker is meant to be installed. Wouldn’t matter what cooker OP bought the problem would remain. OP I suspect if the housing is old regs have changed since it was built. Perhaps google to check these or talk to a local electrician as this will give you some ammunition to support your case. Don’t be afraid to make a nuisance of youself by chasing up frequently. Good luck

Thank you for your replies. I didn’t know plug in hobs existed to be honest. I’ve been using a bowl type halogen oven, microwave, toaster etc. I like to cook from scratch/batch cook which hasn’t been possible. Plus I’ve paid for an oven already. There is nowhere else in the kitchen that the cooker could go

OP, write to a national paper - the Daily Mail always like this sort of thing.

Yes I believe it’s exactly this. The guy who came to install (but couldn’t) said every manufacturer has the same thing in their installation guidelines. It’s Catch 22 for me and today I’m all nuisanced out. Thank you though - appreciated

Just out of interest why didn’t you get one with a glass lid again

Honestly, I didn’t know this would happen. I just ordered a more modern cooker that met my spec and matched my other appliances. Very few have glass lids now it seems. The hot zone is a thing for all cookers, glass lid or no, so it wouldn’t make any difference now that legislation has changed

They’d have to use a model. Can’t see myself with arms folded and sad face next to empty cooker space 🙈

If you rent from the council surely they must sort it out for you. Chiselling put a bit of wall to put cables in then plastering over the top is quite easy. I'd feel confident doing it but you shouldn't have to, the council should. You can see how to do it on YouTube

Why though? I own my house and I've got a electric socket too close to the sink (in today's standards, previously it wasn't) who's going to fix my situation ? I don't want to pay and electrician to sort it and then a plasterer to make good oh and the paint to sort out .....

I just really like the glass lidded ones not saying you are wrong to chose something else just for me that would be my deal breaker

That's your issue as you bought the house knowing you'd be responsible for any changes needed. In a council house, the council have a duty of care to keep someone safe (rightly so). In a privately owned home, that's your own responsibility (rightly so).

Why did you postpone delivery and not simply cancel your oven purchase as it was not suitable?
Can you buy a large air fryer instead?

Love a YouTube DIY! ..thing is, I’m in a 1950s build flat, concrete walls. Diamond tip drill bits, hefty hammer drill and brute force to put a picture up.. I’m really weary of electricity anyway. Honestly I decorate, tile etc. I’d do this if I thought I could. I cannot fathom why the council are saying it’s merely decorative when we’re talking combustibles and electricity next to heat and steam

Yes I liked mine fine too tbh. Was a great cooker for 15 years or so!

I would contact Shelter for advice. I'd also start the complaints process. Have you looked into paying someone privately to make the changes?

I'd talk to your neighbours or make a leaflet/letter about your situation, if they also have similar cookers then they'll be facing the same situation eventually.

You need numbers, get as many other people to make complaints or enquiries about the eventuality.

Because I paid for installation too and it was made clear that if they were unable to install due to a hot zone issue, then the buyer would lose the cost of installation.

i didn’t cancel because having a cooker is quite the norm I believe

Um.. the council is her landlord..

I’ve reached out to half a dozen tradesmen but none come back to me - I guess the job is too small. The irony is that I need permission from the council to have a tradesperson touch the electrics. The complaints process has been started and they’ve ignored so I’m waiting until I can send to the ombudsman - I already spoke with them and there’s a process to follow - more waiting whilst they ignore me.

This is a really unacceptable state of affairs for you OP.

When the council closed the repair request on the grounds that it was decorative, how was this communicated to you? Phone, or email?

Do you have anything in writing related to the installer’s refusal to install due to the dangerous positioning of the wiring? This could/should be shared with the Council to demonstrate that this is a safety issue. Can you maybe ask the retailer for an email now, if you have nothing at the moment.

Clearly the council is completely wrong to consider this decorative. How frustrating that your councillor is unresponsive.