Housing association saying I’m unreasonable I don’t think I am !!!

[HAunreasonable]

The HA need to do planned repair/upgrade work. The appt slots are 830-1230 or 130-530.
I asked them to book mine around school runs but twice they’ve turned up when I’m out ? Now saying that if they are ‘refused entry’ a third time it will lead to further action???

Surely they have to be fair about this and come at a time that works for everyone

It's a poor way of doing things. Proper appointments scheduled as best as can accommodate people would be the way to go. We've got too used to mismanagement of services in general.
I do appreciate that you cannot accommodate every single person but equally you can't be able to accommodate nobody.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you.

But it's something that everyone has to deal with, whether they're HA, council, private-rent or own their homes. DH and I are both self-employed and have lost multiple days' work to wait in for people over the years. It sucks but there's not much choice for most of us.

I don't think it's a good idea going forward to keep the kids off school everytime a workman is coming round. The op needs contingency plans for such events.

Ok. Just suggestions for the OP to take or leave.

My HA used to be the council and is now on its third merger with another HA. They say it will improve everything but in reality that doesn’t happen. In the days before it was a HA there used to be an office and yard in the same town that dealt with repairs. Now the repairs are carried out by teams from miles away in a completely different county. I had someone come out for a repair in December and even though I told them exactly what the problem was they didn’t have a part so couldn’t do the repair. It’s been rescheduled for February 14th! I think the problem is the distance between repairs because it must make the scheduling really difficult. Having said that it does sound like you’re making excuses OP. You’ve flipped away every suggestion.

How is it entitled ?

@OP you dont stand a chance on here. A lot of Mners seem jealous of social housing yet at the same time dont want to live in it.

The tenant is always in the wrong.

Exibit A https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5202467-housing-association-to-fit-new-flat-fire-door-and-new-locks?page=1

Exibit B. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5247469-to-think-housing-associations-need-to-do-more-stringent-checks-on-who-they-employ-to-go-into-tenants-homes?reply=141573544

Notice how hard thread 2 is to get off the ground. Its about a contractor (gas safety engineer) who returned and attacked a tenant with a machete. He had a previous conviction involving heroin.

Is there a need to make this a TAAT?

TAAT stands for thread about another thread Thats not a thread. Thats a post.

Yes. A post intending to make it a thread about threads you have started.

Why don’t you fight your agenda somewhere else?

Do you have a class whatsapp for parents? I'm not close with any of DC's friends' parents, but I would totally offer to do a pick up or a drop off, if they told me the day, and other mums have offered to do that in the past.

On ITV News just before Christmas a Peabody tenant who had decanted from her home so work could be done wondered why it was taking so long. So she set up a camera ......and it caught the contractor going through her knicker drawer.

So tech can safeguard everyone but HAs seem reluctant to let tenants use it (see also ring doorbells) One has to wonder why.

Nobut

Nobut

Nobut

🙄

Ludicrous but the SH haters would tell you to suck it up They would soon moan if you were their precious darlings teachers assistant and took time off work 27 times though!!!

As the late, great Terry Pratchett said, 'Don't get into an arse kicking contest with a porcupine.' HAs are not, on the whole, given to being helpful. The breakfast club suggestion is a good idea.

make a complaint.

I have explained that I have to do the school run, despite this the contractors have turned up twice at a time when they know I am unable to be there.

They will then be forced to address why this happened

Most services, if they are providing a covered service repair (think gas, water, electric) will give you a time slot 8-12, 12-5 or something. If you need the services repaired, you just have to find a way round it.

She’d have to maintain her property, which is what this is about. Not everyone is albe to own their own home.

OP I'd just book an afternoon appointment and take the DC home early from school. I had to do this before Christmas when one DC got a last minute cancellation for an appointment and logistically it could only work if I took all the DC out of school early .

Eh?

My HA have a specific special request to “avoid school run times” and their contractors always call when they are on their way, I suppose I’m one of the lucky ones. I appreciate they can only give you a rough estimate but can the person call you en route? I’m a working single parent too and these things from my HA really make all the difference!

Could your kids be dropped with a friend near school who can walk them in that day? Beg breakfast club to try him for just one day? Do you have other neighbours to ask? I wouldn't do it often, but would be happy to sit in a neighbour's house for 45 min if they really need it.

Equally you cant tell a court hearing that you cant attend because a contractor from your HA wants to visit you (see PPs post)

Fwiw, yes I do think they should make efforts to manage to avoid school run slots.

"Tricho · Today 19:51

Nobut

Nobut

Nobut

🙄"

(Edited to add post quoted that didn't attach)

Indeed.

Most of it from the HA. OP can't be in for the entire time slot, and is attempting to find a resolution -

Can I leave a key? No
Can I arrange the appointment when I know I'm going to be in? No
Can someone else let you in? No
Can I leave to collect my kids if the workman is there? No.

What should I do then?
Essentially, be available when we tell you to be available, and that's that, there's no cooperation from our side at all. Do as you're told.

And no, it's not the same for homeowner's because they're the one who decides the work needs doing and negotiates a suitable time with the tradesperson, yes they tell you the time, but if you can't make it then you can arrange another one, even if you have to wait a while. You don't get threatened with next steps for it.

I posted this on another thread but it's very appropriate for here as well (I have left the part about one personal experience out)

I think people are under the belief that because it's council/ha they 'have' to treat you fairly and that any complaints are the tenant being awkward by default because they wouldn't have policies like this to deliberately make life awkward. That's not always the case.

I just want to be treated fairly, only in renting, and especially when you're SH is it acceptable to treat a paying customer that way, people will do all sorts of mental gymnastics to justify it, simply because they believe the bullshit about SH tenants getting everything paid for and feel we should have to pay for that some other way.

I work full time and don't claim any benefits. My rent is paid out of my earnings. If any other service treated someone paying for that service like that there'd be uproar, but because I'm an SH tenant I deserve it according to some, because they can't see past their prejudice.