I have never been this mad ever!!!!
Please ladies, I have never been as mad as I am right now and I am now wondering if its my hormones or if I should really make the complaints have threatened. Advice please!!!
Basically, I like in a council flat. I moved here from a hostel so if I hadnt accepted it then they would not have offered me another property. Not long after moving in I found loads of problems - damp being one of them. They sorted the damp but the other problems were basically a bodge-job.
Just before Christmas my neighbour upstairs reported damp on our major outside wall and the council inspected it and said whole wall needed re-pointing. Now 2 months later, it still isnt done and today I have discovered that my entire living room wall is full of mould and the wallpaper is lifting.
I phoned the council and they wont send an inspector out until 20th! 9 bloody days in a mouldy flat, pregnant with a child. Is is just me or is this unacceptable?
I cant stop crying, I feel like I am going to have a baby living in a totally rank, mouldy flat and cant do a bloody thing about it. I have drafted a letter to the local paper to copy to the council but am I just digging a deeper whole for myself. The Council basically told me its not a priority problem. As far as Im concerned its a bloody health issue.
Sorry for the rant ladies, but it has got me really really mad/depressed and I dont know if I have a leg to stand on!
Basically, I like in a council flat. I moved here from a hostel so if I hadnt accepted it then they would not have offered me another property. Not long after moving in I found loads of problems - damp being one of them. They sorted the damp but the other problems were basically a bodge-job.
Just before Christmas my neighbour upstairs reported damp on our major outside wall and the council inspected it and said whole wall needed re-pointing. Now 2 months later, it still isnt done and today I have discovered that my entire living room wall is full of mould and the wallpaper is lifting.
I phoned the council and they wont send an inspector out until 20th! 9 bloody days in a mouldy flat, pregnant with a child. Is is just me or is this unacceptable?
I cant stop crying, I feel like I am going to have a baby living in a totally rank, mouldy flat and cant do a bloody thing about it. I have drafted a letter to the local paper to copy to the council but am I just digging a deeper whole for myself. The Council basically told me its not a priority problem. As far as Im concerned its a bloody health issue.
Sorry for the rant ladies, but it has got me really really mad/depressed and I dont know if I have a leg to stand on!
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Replies
I can understand from the council's side that the pointing hasnt been done due to the weather that we have had, but they have known about this problem for some time and should have put a start date down for it.
I know ive not been much help but not sure what to say
xxx hang in there
Tammi
having dealt with councils a lot the very quckest way to get things moving is to see your local councillor or MP and get them to write a complaint on your behalf... this will automatically trigger an investigation on high which gets those lower down moving faster as they don't like the pressure...
Promise this works best... getting your GP to write as well will help but honestly find when your councillors next surgery is, go along, look your most pregnant and fragile and good luck.
xxx
My advice speak to Housing in person and CAB to gain more advice. the spores aren't harmful but in your condition your more suseptable to illness and if you get ill they are too blame!
It makes me so angry! its such a pain for you, specially as you really just need to be preparing for the baby and not fighting for housing.
The surveyors can be tricky though. Make sure you tell him/her that the water is ingressing and NOT condensation because they will try to pin the blame on you drying washing inside and not opening your windows enough. You need to stand your ground.
I hope it gets sorted for you soon x
Then I was just typing this and the councillor I left a message for rang me back! He thinks it is disgusting that its a problem the council have known about for over 2 months and not dealt with it and is going to take it further!
Pixie-woo, I used to work for a housing dept too but there are some things that are totally unacceptable. The inspector that is llikely to visit me is probably the same one who diagnosed the problem over 2 months ago so I dont feel I will have a fight on my hands at all.
Thanks for letting me rant ladies!
[Modified by: oldermum69 on February 11, 2008 03:23 PM]
[Modified by: oldermum69 on February 11, 2008 03:25 PM]
I'm in exactly the same position as you....We have had the council out on many occasion and they do sweet FA. Our 4 year old sons bedroom got flooded last year and it was the councils fault...They left us 4 days before they even came out to inspect his room. We all had to sleep in the living room. All his toys, carpet and furniture were ruined. We had to replace everything ourselves and it took them over 2 months to come and fix the problem. In our bedroom my new moses basket got covered in mould. We had a cot-death in our family a few months ago which is making me feel worse. Our neighbours are in the same position, she expecting 3 weeks before me and we have gone to the papers. We had an inspector round who look all proffesional and took lots of photos but surprise surprise nothing has been done. My step-mum works for the council and even she can't seem to get any answers.
Sorry to rant on as I know this was your topic but wanted you to know I am feeling what you are feeling and its perfectly normal hun.
Katie and bambino.x x x
It just makes me sooooo mad that Councils can treat people like this. No other legitimate landlord would be able to be able to treat tenants so badly so why do local councils get away with it.
My OH is coming round tonight and is going to film the state of the wall onto the camcorder then am going to put it onto disk because I cannot go the next 9 days knowing that amount of filth is growing up my wall!
Katie, how did you get on with the papers and did you consult a Councillor?
Good luck hunny, really hope you get this sorted soon. When are you due? Do try not to get too stressed out by it all as that obviously wont be good for either of you. But play on the stress when you speak to GP and MP!! If they insist on putting you through hell then turn it to your advantage! Take care xx
if i was you i would ring citizens advice beureau and ask there advice, damp cant be very good for you so i think you need to get it sorted, good luck.
xxx
Have taken her phone number from 1471 so going to ring her tomorrow and tell her exactly what fuss I am making and send her, the mp and the council a copy of the letter I have written to the papers which doesnt hold back, in fact drops at least one member of staff in the shite!!!!
I know it sounds like hard work and believe me I KNOW i got a flat when i was very young and was left in a compete vunrable state in an inhabbitable property! I took them to corut and wone because i had documented everything! take photos date them! send a copy to the council getting a recipt to say theu have been handed in!
let us know how your getting on! xxx