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

I have had this issue I just put a post it on the door saying I'll be back in 10 mins

However you resolve this issue op use it as a wake up call for the future. There is every chance other situations may arise that won't be within school hours. You may need to to attend the Dr's or a hospital appointment for example. You need to develop some kind of network, talk to the mums at school help each other out wirh favours like school pick up and drop off if necessary.

This thread really is mental. Housing associations are landlords, and subject to the same laws as everyone else. No court is going to uphold a fine, or fees for forced entry, or eviction, when the OP has offered them a key and said they could just wait 10 mins for her to get back from the school run. She plainly isn't denying entry. And why on earth would they force entry when they've been offered a key? Either she has to be there or she doesn't, which is it?

Even if OP wasn’t the one paying for it, someone else does.

So the argument that she shouldn’t be getting reasonable service because she does not pay is rubbish.

She's already tried that, twice. On both occasions they came during the school run. It's also been made clear that they won't enter the house unless she's there, even though she's told them that there's a key safe.

You will have a dedicated "landlord" you need to call and ask to speak to them and state clearly you are not refusing access that maintenance are being unreasonable ignoring the times you are available it will be sorted I've had this with my HA they said they would be there before 12 I left for work at one thry claimed I refused access I said no you were late they showed up unannounced I wasn't there that was strike 2 they said they would get a court order to force the door I said OR you could make appointments and stick to them? It's cheaper 🙄

This is where you’re wrong!

Plenty of courts have court mandated an appointment, with bailiffs and the tenant is responsible for all the costs.

Legally also a trade will not enter a premise without a responsible adult , in most cases they are contractually not allowed to enter without a responsible adult present for the duration of the repair.

Do you usually get a text to say the workman's eta is... I usually call the number to say I'm 10 minutes away. They're often fine to wait.

*Compliance work is time lined , if not done within a certain period then it goes out of compliance!

So in all cases , the work cannot wait serval months as then HA is them not complaint with the regulator!

There is a strict policy and procedures in place to meet the timelines, this includes when legal action will start and court action applies.

As the OP has missed/refused access twice, she will be breaching her tenancy agreement, in most cases the first appointment to court application is 3 months , 4 month for a court date.*

So if compliance work is timelined, how is it sensible to wait 4 months for a court date rather than wait until 9.10 instead of turning up at 9am on the day they arranged?

And what is the court going to say when the OP explains that they could have waited 10 mins for her for this incredibly important work, or use the key that she left for them?

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable. I’m a home owner and we are often having trades over for work or to quote. They may be a bit vague on their eta but they call before coming and would delay if I I had to do school pickup.

I agree that you have to find a way round it. Breakfast / after school club, or keep the kids off . if you go for the morning slot maybe you can take the kids late via the office that day. You won’t be fined for one day.

So who looks after the children during those times? Ask them , or expect them if they are the other parent, to stay on and let the contractors in if they arrive when you are taking the kids to school.

She’s already said it’s her mum who comes straight from her own job to look after the children after school.

Your Mum works from 9-5 then takes your kids 6-midnight?!? Where’s their Dad, if he has contact can’t he do a school run? Could your Mum take a days annual leave seeing as it’s an emergency situation? Or tell her work she’s got the dentist and do the school run?

I rent from a housing association but have a professional job that means that whilst I do sometimes work from home I also have lots of appointments and also court hearings. I got into debate with them a while ago about this same thing as I wasn’t available when they wanted to come. If you don’t allow access for things such as gas servicing they can ultimately evict you

This seems like the most realistic option and whilst it may be unauthorised, it’s a necessity for you.

I got a phone call just before I moved in as something needed to be done with the boiler. I requested this the first and second time - I phoned both times as I was told 8-5 and couldn't be given a time slot. They didn't understand my issue - I was having to get up early and get the bus from my old flat and wait.

The third time they said they'll get the tradesman to call. He did and said he's one hour away

I had the same battle with my old HA - no one understood my issue with being given a time slot of 8-5. They claimed their booking system didn't allow a specific time

Where are you getting 10 mins from? - as this isn’t the case with the OP.

Its irrelevant really , the OP has been given a timeline, all the court is bothered about is that multiple appointments have been missed and the legal compliance work could not be completed due to no access.

Of course courts can require you be in certain places at certain times. Even the court appearance itself with be at a dictated time . Not sure you can tell a court you can't attend because of the school run.

The cost of all repairs is included in the monthly rent. Nothing is free

And as a house owner. It's part of life!
When I was teaching full time and living by myself, repairs could only happen out of hours (often at extra cost to me) or during the school holidays. Plus I was paying for them.

My house is council and repairs are booked around school runs, it's not a problem. If council worker shows up early they wait or ring I've never had a issue.

I’ve had similar problems. I’m a single parent, so I have no other option than to work around school times - they say they can’t do that and the slots are anytime between 8am - 5pm. It’s lucky I can’t work (I’m disabled) as the slots are so unsuitable and working people would have to take the entire day off work incase they turn up. But what are you supposed to do when you can’t take your children out of school because you have building works done. they’re ridiculous and should work around you

@Cattery yes - and if you pay for a mortgage, you have monthly costs and then repairs on top. And you still have to waste a day of annual leave to wait in for the repairman - it's just part of adult life unfortunately.

I've lost count of the number of days DH and I have wasted waiting in for people who either don't show up or who cancel midway through the day 🤷‍♀️

Exactly, they are being dicks and make-works.

People picking their children up from school is a legitimate part of life and they should be able to work around it. It's not like the OP has said "Sorry, I have a hair appointment" or "Sorry, I'm having my nails done."

It's not beyond the wit of man to organise a convenient appointment, and the Housing Association is completely at fault for any additional administration costs it occurs as a result.