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

Yes it’s annoying when you just get a window!

I put a note on the door now - ‘collecting child from school? Back in 5’ and hope they wait…!

This is incredibly annoying and I think of it every time someone complains about waiting for a doctor - I can only assume they’ve never needed any repairs of any kind to their home as the entire day can be spent waiting for this stuff.

We usually ask someone to stay in on the day around the times we just can’t be there.

He calls and asks.
He does not turn up without notice and refuse to do the job unless you can accommodate him.

To protect themselves. I wouldn't go into a strangers house on my own who could then accuse me of something going missing.

Call them up and ask how to lodge a stage one complaint. Say they are being unreasonable to book appointments when you have specified you have to take your children to school as they are too small to go alone and you have no one else. State you have offered alternatives but the HA don’t want to consider them. Also state that you have a legal obligation to get your children to school and would they put in writing that they require you to break this requirement to be at home.

Also mention that you are writing this complaint with a view to going to the housing ombudsman as you feel their actions and then language of “further action” is harsh given the legal obligation for you to take your children to school. I find saying that you intend to escalate the complaint no matter what their (HA ) response is and you are simply waiting for a letter of deadlock and following the process tends to get things moving.

This is normal. Part of being an adult is waiting in for tradies and deliveries.

I own my flat in an old building that needs work done to bring it in line with current fire safety regulations. I've lost count of the number of times over the last 18 months that we've been given a couple of days notice that inspectors/engineers/fitters/surveyors will be calling on X day and have had to alter plans to fit them in. This Monday I waited in from 9.00am to 11.40 for a rezoning inspection that took less than 1 minute.

My partner has a job which involves going to people's houses in an arranged time slot. Say between 8am and 1pm or 1pm and 5pm. Multiple times a week he has people who have booked one of those slots saying oh I have to leave at 10am or I won't be home until 3pm. Sorry, but if you book a time slot (I'm aware the OP did not book this herself but it's just an example) you're made aware that an adult has to be at the property for that entire time. There are other customers to be seen and the engineer also has other places to be. Yes, they will try to accommodate it where possible but it isn't always convenient. Similarly, he often asks customers if they will be home earlier if he has availability. If they say no, then he just goes later on as arranged. I do think the housing association could be a bit more flexible here but unfortunately if they don't have availability then you'll just have to make other arrangements for your kids.

It really isn't, I paid for a new back door last month and the lock has a snag on it. The company rang me up to arrange someone to come and fix the issue, they originally said 9am Saturday and I asked for 10am Saturday so I didn't have to rush getting ready on a weekend morning which they accommodated no problem.

Stop being so disingenuous, HA tennants shouldn't have to bow and scrape just because our housing market is so FUBAR that a working mother has no choice but to use them, and they should accommodate for logistical issues like hers which are incredibly reasonable with a SEN child that can't access wrap around school clubs.

Some councils are 24hrs for a repair

They can go down legal route for forced entry if its a gas safety check for example.

I used to book repairs during half term of school hols. When I was first in an HA property, it was the only way until I got to know people. It’s a faff but it worked for me, in the end.

The difference is that we have the option to book something convenient. It's fine that you've accepted that, but it wouldn't work for me so I would book elsewhere.
A tenant isn't getting that option.

Because of work and my time is just as valuable to me as the tradie time is to them.

Can you ask for a morning slot and put a note on your door telling the contractor you'll be back at 9.15?

I don't understand the PPs who think you're being obstructive. You're literally giving the repairs two small windows in the day where you won't be there and they should be able to accommodate that. It's a common problem after all.

To those saying "keep your kid off school". I can only imagine the uproar another MN thread where "I kept my child off school to accommodate a tradesman and now the school have sent me a letter on the importance of attendance AIBU".

When a child has SEN it makes it harder to do things like put them in a taxi/get another parent to pick them up etc. Its very hard for parents of NTs to understand this.

The letter that another PP posted earlier was perfect, I'd go with that.

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
or just get a grip, sort yourself out like we all have to on occasion and the work gets done

When we had a radiator issue that took longer than expected he came back the next day to finish it. I much prefer that to having a vague 6 hour slot.

Terrible advice wtf private rent is twice HA rent three times as much in some cases. Certainly my mother's HA house if it was private on right move the rent would be 3x as much. Why would she move house and pay more rent just because of one days repair.
My only advice is take the children to school late that day. Chances are they will come early and the kids will only miss one hour of school

I had to take a days leave when my combo-boiler was replaced some years ago. Admittedly, it was a long job and I did ask if I could let them in, go do my shift leaving them to it but they HA said for security I had to be on the premises.

if the latest slot starts at half one then why can’t you let them in at half one and nip out when they’re there to go and collect your children? Do you have to be there for the whole time?

And that's fine if it's something that can be isolated.

My friend had something similar with her council property. They wanted to come and do a boiler and gas check, but she was out both times they came. They wrote to her saying if she wasn’t there to let them in the next time, they would get an emergency locksmith to gain entry to the property, and she would be fully liable for the charges.

Because they might come later and they will not let you leave them alone in your home because of accusations of theft etc

Thinking about it, I would put a note on the door on the day saying you'll be back in 10, or whatever. It's likely a communication issue between the HA and the tradesperson. The HA probably hasn't bothered to tell them your request because 'they don't do that' so they're turning up and you're not there. They won't hang around in the off chance you come back just in case but might if there was a note on the door.