Council Cowboys

[kevb0444]

Hi i just helped my GF move in to a council owned property and before she moved in the council said they'd need to look at the kitchen and possibly replace the kitchen units. Anyways....when we moved in we saw that they had replaced the units (which was nice of them) but noticed that they had retiled part of the kitchen but had retiled straight on to the old wallpaper. This is now going to be a problem as they had also not treated an area wall which had mold on it causing the old wallpaper to peel off and could make the tiles unstable. We also noticed the new plumbing they had put in is now leaking!!! My GF wanted to redecerate the kitchen and now they have just made her job 10 times harder. We can't get a responce from the council as its the week end. What a joke.

[WendyS]

Apart from complaining to the Housing Department of your local council, why not complain to Trading Standards as well? They may not be council employees who have done the work but an external firm of contractors to whom the council have sub-contracted the job If this is the case and they are doing dodgy work, they need to be reported.

[raysparx]

where do you live kev? I do a lot of work for the Council in North Wales, and our work and the councils work here is a very high standard,so they aren't all like it, your first port of call is the housing officer for your area,

if you get no sense there go to the head of housing directly, or get onto your local councilor,they will sort it pronto,the council do not like complaints from councilors believe me on this one, good luck mate, hope you get it sorted, Ray

[kevb0444]

Thanks for your answers. Ray we live in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. The council also gave my GF a decerating budget of �250 and a list of what they expected to be done. The budget didn't include any funds toward putting in carpets as there wasn't any in the flat. Well she can't complain to much as the rent is cheap and all, but it wasn't really in any state to rent but if she didn't exept it they would have bumped her back to the bottom of the housing list. Oh well. Off to the housing office on Monday.....she'll be queuing 'till Thursday LOL!!!

[raysparx]

Keep at them kev,but as I say if you get no joy from the housing officer get onto the local councillor, they will pay attention then, None of them will give money towards carpets, unless you happen to be entirely on benefits,then the dss sort cookers, fridges, carpets etc, good luck, Ray

[Watchman]

I think what a lot of people forget is that ALL housing is regulated by the Housing coparation [http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/] and they have to compy with very strict rules. The fact that the work carried out would not be of a decent standard would give grounds to complain, check out the web site and just mention the fact that you are in contact with them, good idea to let them know anyway and ask there advice. They can give VERY heavy fines.
John