AIBU to refuse temporary accommodation for external work to our home?

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Recently we were informed of exterior work to be done to our home (LA property). Nothing inside the house at all. No access needed to complete any of the external work other than access to the garden which is via a side gate not through the property.

We were instructed that for the duration of the work (no specific timeframe just ‘might be a few weeks’ ) that we would be placed in alternative accommodation that was miles away from where we are now and would cause significant issues for us with school as we have two children one with severe SEN. We also didn’t want to leave the house as it would be overwhelming for him to be away from familiarity for no real reason as it’s external work??

So we refused and set out in writing why. We were told no we have to vacate on a certain day. The only reason given when we pushed was ‘it will be noisy’. I said I’m fine to put up with some noise especially as it will only be between 8 am and-6pm. Again they said we need to vacate on the day and provide keys so they have access ??? They dont need access to inside.

The day has come and gone and we have stayed. My housing officer called on day 2 and said we need to allow access to the house while the work is ongoing. I said no as theres no need the work is external. They have said we need to allow access if needed to the team working. I told them again no the said they may need access to facilities! I said in that case they need to get portaloos if that’s the issue.

I then had an email giving another date to vacate for the work and a different address for temporary accommodation? Again I’ve said no. Can they actually force this or is it unreasonable as it’s not interior work ???

It hasn’t even been that noisy at all??

It will probably be down to H&S, if people are working at height there is a risk of dropped objects, and if you are needing access/egress during the time they are working there is a risk. Which they are trying to eliminate. You are basically a member of the public on a building site and it will be a challenge to implement control measures to keep you and your children safe, away from tools etc.

under the CDM regs it is the responsibility of the principal contractor to provide welfare facilities for the workers. This isn’t just a toilet, but cooking, washing facilities and somewhere to rest /get changed, so your house is not suitable in any shape way or form.

Note

They have no automatic right to use your facilities
It is entirely at your discretion
They have a responsibility to provide adequate welfare facilities for their workmen

check out info with The Housing Ombudsmen

I dont think your insurance company would either (contents insurance) there is no way they would pay out if something was nicked or damaged!! They would say you chose to leave your home and give access to strangers. Six years ago we had a complete roof renewal done. The hot summer of 2020 during Covid. All the FLATS on this estate did. Yes it was messy and noisy but its flats so more of us. We couldnt have moved out and we wernt asked to. There would have been nowhere to put us all. (half the estate) DH is disabled and uses a mobility scooter which has a shed with a charging point outside the flat The work took 13 weeks.

Access appears to be solely for the purposes of workforce using the toilet.
So they can save on renting a couple of portaloos

Is the council by any chance in debt or struggling for money.
Are council tax bills going up.

The cost of a portaloo for a few weeks must be so expensive if the cheaper alternative is moving a family out of their home and putting them up in a pub and paying for all their meals for the same amount of time.

When the contractors did our roof they accessed the loft through the roof

You don’t have to accept temporary accommodation. But I have to admit it’s really rare for a HA to decant unless absolutely necessary. For example I’m in a HA property week 3 of no kitchen and they won’t decant us.
Ask the HA to put in writing exactly the need for decant. Also check their decants policy

'So unknown people have access to your property in your absence? That's ridiculous. As to using the facilities!!!!'

It isn't her property. The op will be getting free updates/renovations that require the rented property to be vacated.

There'll be a risk assessment that states residents to be vacated.

Just take the alternative accommodation.

But she does not have to give permission for her facilities to be used
That is entirely her choice

So what would have been your plan for my estate when the roofs of all the flats were done. Utter stupidity

BINGO I ask again what would have been your plan when the roofs of ALL the flats on my estate were being done at the SAME TIME Put your money where your mouth is and tell me what YOUR plan would have been.

Well the only I would do this would be if there was a court order and even then I would insist on a packing firm packing 100% of my belongings up and putting them in storage for the duration and then bringing them back. Plus a professional house clean. All paid for of course. OP, I’d email my MP if I was you. Or maybe contact citizens advice bureau.

They may be creating lots of dust you shouldn't be breathing or using chemical damp proofing that is hazardous, scaffolding that children might climb on, or they may be worried someone may get hurt, falling roof tiles or whatever, just easier to not have the public walking in and out of what is a building site. They may not have insurance for people being on site during the works.

There is likely a multitude of reasons they would like you and your family not there while this is going that have no involvement with using your loo, wanting to rifle through your personal effects or just trying to be bloody awkward.

External masonry work can involve materials that need water to mix, such as mortar. There are health and safety risks with the removal of external masonry due to materials falling from height, erection of scaffolding to work at height and so on. If they're doing work on your roof, it may be exposed to the elements at times.

As for access, it's probably not about destroying your bathroom - if they're working on the roof they'll probably need internal access as well as external.

With funding as it is, it's not in their interest to pay for temporary accommodation if it isn't needed while they're also paying for several weeks work on your property. I understand that it's mighty inconvenient but don't assume it's being done just to throw a spanner at your life

I mean you’d have thought a portaloo was cheaper than weeks of accommodation? A portaloo is £400 a month and that includes emptying and cleaning every week.

No one would be using my bathroom when I wasn’t there and having access to my house! I would have to empty the entire house or lock it all up for that and a deep clean. Hell no.

Portaloos are pretty cheap to hire so it won't be to save money for that. Housing a family will cost far far more. They probably do want access for water and power.

What outcome do you want OP? If they can't complete the works because you won't allow access and won't move out will you accept that your hone improvements can't happen?

What from a tenant perspective or from a local authority perspective?

Because it’s not one of the options. They’re not asking to be allowed in to use the loo, the problem is OP is being asked to vacate during the work, for reasons we don’t really know.

OP, it sounds as if the work has started with you still there (‘it hasn’t been that noisy’), will that continue to be the case or will the work stop if you refuse to go into the offered accommodation?

Where would you have put half an estate bearing in mind there is a housing shortage?

It is their house. That's what a tenancy agreement is for.

OP stay put. They can take you to court if they want you to vacate.

For electricity they can use and do use an external generator
For water they access an external stopcock and pay the water company separately

It's their home!?

Absolutely shocking they think they can use your facilities! An absolute invasion of your privacy, especially as they assume you'll be out of the way for weeks. I don't even know how I could begin to prepare my flat for something like that.

When my council does works, they set up a little cabin which has a tiny kitchen and room to sit down, as well as a toilet for the workers.

And yes asking a family to move for weeks should not be done lightly, especially if there's anyone with SEN. My neighbours stayed in their flat during really extensive exterior works. I'm surprised you've been told to go.

When the contractors did our flats involving half the estate they had their own office and portaloo in the larger car park.

Facilities will be possibly using taps for a water supply for the site and sockets for electrical equipment, not having a shower after work.