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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse the repairs until summer?

34 replies

Chilleez · 09/01/2025 07:40

The housing association have said the roof needs replacing. Routine, timed replacement, there's not been any issues it's just due.

They want to do it at the end of this month and said the work will take 2 weeks.

My house is 3 storeys and the 3rd floor gets really cold already.
I'm on disability benefits and can't afford to have the heating on all the time.

It's going to be absolutely freezing up there with no roof for a while in Jan/February

My daughter and son are on the top floor and my daughter is autistic and doesn't do well with change/disruption so I know it already going to be a nightmare.

I also have to clear out the entire loft. Alot of which I could put in the shed in summer but not winter.

Wibu to ask them if they can schedule the work for summer?

OP posts:
Letstheriveranswer · 09/01/2025 07:43

Sounds reasonable to me.

The roofing contractors are probably more available now, because everyone would prefer summer, so that might be why they want to do it now.

I would outline all that you've said, perhaps they could book it for late spring if summer isn't available.

Panickingnowhelp · 09/01/2025 07:44

You wouldn't be unreasonable to ask but be prepared for a no as they probably have a plan and schedule for these works and shifting people around would be chaos.

In your reasoning Id focus on the heat issue, the full loft is inconvenient but not an excuse and they'd probably think your daughter would have to go through it in the summer if they moved it so that's not really an excuse anyway.
Have you had notice of these works or have they sprung it on you?

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 09/01/2025 08:09

@Chilleez the roof wouldnt be off for the whole two weeks. just empty the loft and leave it on the top landing or in the corners of the top bedrooms. i wouldnt bother taking it down three floors to put in the shed anyway. that is too much work. the end result will be a warmer water tight house!

DogInATent · 09/01/2025 08:17

Just get it done.

And get them to check the loft insulation condition and depth at the same time. They'll be allowing two weeks for scheduling and scaffolding, but it's remarkable how quick they can take off the slates/tiles, battens, and felt, and then get it all back on again. Just a couple of days of actual work.

You've got a couple of weeks to sort out the loft, bring everything down and have a good declutter. You'll be stepping around boxes in the house for a short while. But you'll cope.

stanleypops66 · 09/01/2025 08:21

Not ideal timing, but if they're on a schedule (not a one off repair) then I'd say that most people don't want to be put out in winter.

Showerflowers · 09/01/2025 08:59

I wish I'd made my housing association wait till the weather was better. But it seems with mine they only replace roofs during the winter months!. Maybe they get it cheaper?. But anyway we cleared the loft. They put the scaffolding up and got to work. It took six days and for two of them we had just plastic on the roof. On the second day it rained, terribly. Two front bedrooms were leaked into. No electric for days, had to move in with family while they sorted it and dried out the loft. Ended up needing two ceilings replastered. And now black mould keeps popping up in the upstairs.

If you can get it moved I definitely would.

I also have ASD dc at home. It's very very noisy. Mine worked 8:30 till 4:30 weekdays so it wasn't too bad as dc was at school.

theeyeofdoe · 09/01/2025 09:02

I would wait. We had roofing work done one winter and they weren't allowed to go on the scaffolding when it was icy or snowed. Our 2 week job took 6 weeks!

dcsp · 09/01/2025 09:05

Not unreasonable to ask them to reschedule. Also not unreasonable to make the point about heating cost, and ask if they'll be paying any allowance to cover the additional heating cost.

But be prepared for a "no" to both.

StillAtTheRestaurant · 09/01/2025 09:06

Why do you think the HA would replan their whole repairs schedule around what would be easiest for you?

spinningisthebest · 09/01/2025 09:11

I would jump at it- if the roof needs replacing and the weather continues as rainy and windy as it is now you could get leaks and problems. Ask them to make sure the house will be secure and as others have said get them to check insulation. I've had roofs replaced on two different accommodations and it's been fine.

Snowpatrolling · 09/01/2025 09:11

I lived in a top floor flat and had roof done in a month where it snowed heavily, can’t remember when it was, it was fine tho. Didn’t feel any cold and no leaks.

Original poster
Chilleez · 09/01/2025 09:32

StillAtTheRestaurant · 09/01/2025 09:06

Why do you think the HA would replan their whole repairs schedule around what would be easiest for you?

Because we are a multi disability household and they have made accommodations before based on that.

OP posts:
Cattery · 09/01/2025 09:39

Just let them do it and get it over with. Are you the poster that didn’t want them renewing the kitchen??

Showerflowers · 09/01/2025 09:39

StillAtTheRestaurant · 09/01/2025 09:06

Why do you think the HA would replan their whole repairs schedule around what would be easiest for you?

Why wouldn't they?. Mine were very helpful and even allowed me to pick two days for our windows and doors being replaced so we could arrange for our ASD dc to stay with their grandparents. When you have disabled people in the household everything is a lot more complicated.

Original poster
Chilleez · 09/01/2025 09:41

Cattery · 09/01/2025 09:39

Just let them do it and get it over with. Are you the poster that didn’t want them renewing the kitchen??

No 🥴

OP posts:
Cattery · 09/01/2025 09:51

@Chilleez Ah ok. Sorry. Yeh just let them crack on. They’ll do it as quickly as they can then it’s done x

CatsorDogsrule · 09/01/2025 09:56

Chilleez · 09/01/2025 09:32

Because we are a multi disability household and they have made accommodations before based on that.

Show quote history

That's positive so you might have a good chance of negotiating with them. But be prepared in case they say no, as these are extensive works that might be difficult for them to reschedule. Hope it works out for you.

zingally · 09/01/2025 10:33

Of course the council want to do it now. It's cheaper probably, because everyone wants it done in the summer. And it's in the councils interests to keep costs down, and to maintain the quality of the home.

Curtainqueen · 09/01/2025 10:44

I doubt very much that the 2 week estimate means there will be no roof at all for the whole 2 weeks. You could be overthinking this.

Curtainqueen · 09/01/2025 10:45

zingally · 09/01/2025 10:33

Of course the council want to do it now. It's cheaper probably, because everyone wants it done in the summer. And it's in the councils interests to keep costs down, and to maintain the quality of the home.

It's not the council.

Aligirlbear · 09/01/2025 10:58

You can ask but it doesn't mean they will agree. They will have an agreed schedule with the builders and suspect it would be difficult / impossible to get them to come back to do one job in the summer. The builders will have their schedule worked out for the next year already.

zingally · 09/01/2025 11:19

Curtainqueen · 09/01/2025 10:45

It's not the council.

Show quote history

Housing association vs council house. In this case, basically the same thing. The house is owned by someone who isn't the OP.

No one likes a pedant. ;)

BigSilly · 09/01/2025 11:20

Well everyone will prefer their roof done in summer, someone has to pull the short straw

Original poster
Chilleez · 09/01/2025 18:47

I've had an information booklet posted through and it says that they will turn the boiler and oven off every morning at 8am and reconnect it in the evening when they leave.

I can't be left with no heating in January and no way to cook!?

I'm going to ring them tomorrow.

OP posts:
DogInATent · 09/01/2025 18:54

Chilleez · 09/01/2025 18:47

I've had an information booklet posted through and it says that they will turn the boiler and oven off every morning at 8am and reconnect it in the evening when they leave.

I can't be left with no heating in January and no way to cook!?

I'm going to ring them tomorrow.

For a roof replacement?

That makes no sense. Have they sent you the right leaflet?