Housing Associations

[granny grump]

My daughter & her husband are contesting a bill sent by their housing association Initially they just quoted an amount of almost £1500 for repairs etc.I know the property well and there is no way that there was this amount of repairs required. They lived in the house for more than 20 years raising 5 children. My daughter is extremely houseproud and her husband is an exceptionally talented DIYer. The house was always well maintained

For almost 2 months we have been trying to get an itemised bill of how this figure has been arrived at but with no success. We have asked for a copy of their internal complaints procedure only to be told that it is 'On their website' I can't find it so have emailed them again.

We do intend to take this as far as possible. They downsized from the property as the children have all left home. My son-in-law is ex services and unable to work due to a disability he sustained while serving and the bedroom tax was making life very difficult financially.

Does anyone have anyone have any experience of housing associations and how it is best to deal with them? Is there an ombudsman that we can contact?

I am doing my best to help as they are both extremely worried

[ubasses]

My route when I am not getting anywhere is to write direct to the CEO. I just googled the Housing Association for my area adding CEO. Took a little digging but his name came up in a news item when he was appointed.
Once you have that, get your letter off, amazing what happens when the man at the top has to get the relevant department to reply, and asks for updates.

[granny grump]

Thank you ubasses

[Peter Pedant]

and the reason you could say you are writing to the CEO is that you asked for the complaints procedure and were told it was on the website when it wasnt

you have to persist with their internal complaints procedure before doing the ombudsman bit

[granny grump]

Thank you Peter Yes thats why I want the internal complaints procedure Sometimes it is enough just to ask for it - but not in this case I also need it to be sure that I get the right ombudsman Thank you for your time

[bednobs]

which HA is it? Perhaps it's there but you just can't find it?

[Smowball]

What type of repairs have they done as most housing associations that I know don't charge for repairs

[Mamyalynne]

Sounds to me that the repairs have been done after they left/downsized - so an itemised list is essential.

Give 'Shelter' a call , they are very helpful and may be able to point you in the right direction.

[Peter Pedant]

// which HA is it? Perhaps it's there but you just can't find it?//

https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2015/1043248/fs_50561958.pdf

here is a case I pleaded earlier when CMFT unwisely told me the information I sought was somewhere on their internet site
and let me find it myself ....

give em hell granny grrrrr !

[trt]

## What type of repairs have they done as most housing associations that I know don't charge for repairs ##

Same here snowball, and was it from your old premises granny that you downsized from, or other?

[Smowball]

These days as far as I'm aware all H.A's have to take photos before every singl job they do- be it planned or repair etc. It's to prove they actually did the work so I'd be asking for photos of all the work they claim they've done.

[scorpiojo]

trt, It's GG' daughter & son-in-law who have downsized from the property.

[granny grump]

Thank you the HA is 'Places for People' bedknobs They have taken pictures of the jobs that 'needed' doing - nothing after they were done - Good point thank you Smowball

Very minor repairs an removing window locks which aren't standard but necessary in the area that they lived in removing extra shelves from the pantry and hall cupboard. It is a 4 bedroom house surely additional shelves are a good idea. Since they moved out the house has been trashed an parties have been going on there

In the forces you used to have a march in/march out so that all the issues could be pointed out. Apparently the housing association used to do this but now they d.on't have the man-power

They have given an itemised list which we have disputed but no costs attached. I wouldn't pay for anything without a cost breakdown

They lived in the house for nearly 21 years from newbuild so the kitchen and bathrooms have been well used by a growing family of 6

Thank you for that example Peter very interesting

Thank you all for your input - I will certainly track down the CEO an contact shelter

[granny grump]

Apologies my 'D' is sticking

[scorpiojo]

http://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/customers/tell_us_what_you_think.aspx

[granny grump]

Jo you are a star thank you

[scorpiojo]

You're welcome, GG. :)

[hc4361]

They probably won't deal with you, GG, for data protection reasons as you were not the tenant.
If your daughter or her husband can't do it themselves you must do it in their name.

[EDDIE51]

Housing associations require that the house is returned to it's original state when it is vacated. They can charge for the cost of removing items and returning the house to the same state it was in originally. I know someone who had a combined living / dining room, they had converted it into 2 separate rooms. After they moved out the housing association charged them the cost of removing the wall and making it back to one room again.
This could be what has happened here.

[granny grump]

There were items that my daughter and son agree with But a heck of a lot that just seem to be fabricated jobs. All the communications are sent by my daughter and son-in-law & if the housing association had met with them before they moved out this could have been sorted out.
Thank you all again for you help and your time