Re contractors for extension (for disabled DS) on "our" "new" council-house-to-be.. five weeks into contract and they've not started work yet. We were offered this house In JANUARY!

[ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads]

Is this right? Is this "ok"??

Don't know if anyone remembers our housing dilemmas from previous threads, but, briefly, we're in a house very unsuitable for 7 year old DS's disability/various problems.. life (housing wise) is tough.. DS1 (15) who has cystic fibrosis, now sleeps on DD's bedroon floor as can't share with DS2 now because of his behavioural issues.

After years of waiting, in early January the housing assoc. made us a preliminary offer of a house more suited to our needs and offered to build a suitable ground floor extension on for DS2. We were thrilled/ecstatic, esp. as told it would only take 2 - 3 months before it was built and we could move in.

There was delay after delay, mainly (apparently!) caused by DS's problems being far more profound then they said they realised (I had written them enough desperate letters for them to know exactly what his problems were) and the occ.therapist assessment subsequently being lengthy and involved with a lot of very non-standard specifications. More time taken for all of that to be agreed. Made to feel guilty for having such a disabled child. (I'm not being touchy over this.. we really have had it pointed out to us on numerous occasions how much work and money this is costing/causing.)

As the months crept by and situation with us got worse, I registered a complaint. No real explantion but one lovely director (who got the ball rolling for us) came round and apologised and offered for the HA to pay our moving costs. Which was nice.

Finally after begging and pleading with them, we were told contract start date was 17th Sept. A twelve week contract for 6-8 weeks work so they were "hoping for early completion."

Since then, the weeks have crept by and the contractors have not shown up at the property once. I know this.. there are big chunky nets up (attempting to hide fact that this house has been long-term empty) and I know the exact position of them. We drive past the house (it's 5 mins away) several times a day. No one has ever been there. Nothing has changed. Nothing has moved.

Until 2 weeks ago, I rang the HA a few times between weeks 1 and 3 of the contract to say nobody has arrived yet. I am always polite; I know it does not do to be rude to people however stressed and desperate you feel. (And we are; both on anti depressants because of this/DS's behaviour exaccerbated by the housing issues.)..I haven't phoned since 2 weeks ago because the HA's planning guy (our proper contact for this stage) was very abrupt to me and said "I can't make them start work Mrs Shiny! It's out of my hands!" So I stopped ringing.

We were told we'd be in by Christmas. Can't see that happening. The offical finish date is 17th Dec and they haven't started yet!

We are so deseperate for this house. I could list the reasons why but it's a sorry tale and I am fed up with sounding like I am inviting people to my own pity party!

Why aren't they there, building?? I just don't understand. And we have absolutely no power over this situation at all; we are just the prospective tenants.

I know this is a bit boring, but please, if anyone has any feedback to offer, please do so. If we were private clients employing this builders, this wouldn't be happening, would it? Or would it?

Have no idea but I am really sorry you are going through this.

I think builders are famously dreadful at turning up when they said they would but that's not going to be any help to you and it's doubly frustrating when you don't even get to hear from the horse's mouth what's going on.

Just for you.

Thank you Margo.

This is boring isn't it. I have drivelled about it too often I suppose. But there is no outlet for this.. we are voiceless and impotent. So I have to vent to MN. The last few threads have just slipped off active convos with only one kind response tho..

I hate being in this position.

OMG, i thought yoyu had moved in ages ago! i didnt realise you were still waiting.

can you check they havent run out of money for building? i know the best time to apply for stuff in this area is after april as they havent blown all their budget yet.

Is there anyway you can find out who the contractors are and ask the HA if its possible for you to ring them direct to see when they estimate they can start work. DH suggests you speak to your local councillor or go to the local press.

It was supposed to have have come out of the last financial year's budget Misdee. But obviously it didn't.

It can't be anything to do with funding now surely. The contract has been awarded and is five weeks in!

Shiny, you don't have to explain why you need to get this off your chest. You are in a horrible situation and you have no power to change it - that is the definition of frustration. I would be incandescent.

Can you contact lovely director again and ask him at least to communicate on your behalf? He'd probably be too embarrassed to say no and you are obviously not a demanding nutcase family that he should be wary of helping for fear of having them on his case every five minutes.

Or maybe talk to planning guy again. Being abrupt with you is not really on when all he really needs to do is communicate (hats off to you for keeping your cool and being polite). Can you request a meeting on site with him? It might concentrate minds a bit.

babyblue2 - good idea. I don't even think you'd need to ask HA permission - just call them in innocence. No reason why they wouldn't talk to you.

I think the HA would take a very dim view of any hostile action like us going to the press at this stage. We went to the press initially when they were ignoring us completely (before the offer) and not even responding to my calls.

Our social worker has been ringing them. I think this why the planner is so arsey with me when I call. But social services know how we're struggling. There is a Child In Need meeting about DS on Wednesday to see how we can all address the issues his behaviour is causing. That's how bad it's got.

I think that if we contacted the contractors outselves we'd probably be accused of harrassing them by the HA although it has obviously crossed my mind. I have asked who they are before and not been given an answer.

Our local MP knows about all this and has been "sympathatic" on paper but points out that it is 'not a parliamentary issue.

I don't sit and suffer silently easily but we have really been rendered powerless here.

Appreciate you don't want to cause trouble.

But your MP is dodging the issue here (I used to work for one who spent his entire time on housing issues and my job was to write hundreds of letters to the council or the relevant HA - he had more knowledge about housing need than most housing officers and by the end so did I). Most MPs worth their salt do hundreds of hours of this sort of stuff - it's second nature.

Can you contact him again asking him to write to the head of the HA asking for a progress report on your case?

Margo we are not allowed on "site" now because the contractors have been guaranteed "twelves weeks of exclusive access". The nice director is a lady. Until two weeks ago when I "gave up" and just hoped we'd see the work start, I was leaving messages on her voice mail to ask her to get the planner to phone me. She knows the situation we're in and is very nice and sympathetic and does nag the planning guy to communicate with us. But it's out of her hands now.

gosh, there are all sorts of obstacles here. I think I would be inclined to insist on a meeting with planning guy (could even be outside the building). Or can your social worker call the building contractors and let it be known she's calling on her own account and not at your behest?

In the mean time, I'm sure you've tried just about everything and are just really, really sick of it. I'm so sorry - it's miserable.

What an appalling situation, Shiny. I'm afraid I can offer you nothing but positive thoughts.

How bloody frustrating. I have just spied my son's magic wand on the floor ... so here goes!!

For what it's worth, I'm sure you'll get your house. But this side of Christmas would have been nice.

Bastards.

Thank you guys. You're lovely

I think I'll phone Nice Director Lady tomorrow.

grr at contractors!! when we had our extention done on our old house, it was supposed to be a 12 weeks job, they started it at the begining of december and finished it in june.. why can't they just do the work stated and get on with it!! I hate council/ha builders

Oh God Sparkly, that doesn't sound encouraging!

How's gorgeous DS?

admittly, we did have lot of snow that year and they couldn't build.

Callum is ok, had to have the feeding tube put back in today as he hasn't gain any weight since leaving SCBU, but he is feeding well, and is very alert There is a new pic of him with my niece on my profile

It's fab Sparkly. I'm so glad Callum is home.

Oh wise Mumsnetters. Please tell me. Should I phone the Nice Director? All she will be able to do is go and ask the Stroppy Planner who will then become more stroppy.

I drove past just now. Day 2 of week five of contract. Nothing happening.

Yes I definitely think you should. You should be lovely to her as I'm sure you have been already but say you need to know whether there is a chance you'll be in for christmas as you have to make plans and things are getting tricky with your dcs. It's a perfectly reasonable request.

Honestly, if I had to compare you to the people I used to deal with when I worked in this area, you would be top of my list of people to help. I'm sure the planning officer has many, many annoying clients but you are not one of them.

All they need to do is give you an idea when the builders are going in.