Forced out of our home with nowhere to go

koolpc said:
OP has had a terrible experience. Hope you get sorted soon
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We've been back in for a week now. Scaffolding should be completely gone by the end of today. A couple of the ceilings were damaged by the weight on the joists pushing the nails through. The ceilings have been patched up and will be repainted tomorrow and then we get the Christmas tree up :D

Other neighbours in the street are now worried about having to move out when their roofs are inspected.
 
scorza said:
Jeez - that looks terrible. I'd have rejected that, checked myself into a hotel and told the council in no uncertain terms they'd be paying the bill (after checking this was OK with my solicitor of course). The council are trying it on with you I think.
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We did reject it and they refused to pay any hotel bills and kept arguing it was suitable. After emails to local Councillor, MP and Housing Director the mattresses were replaced and electricity meter topped up. So in some ways this was an acknowledgement the place wasn't suitable.

We are a few hundred £s out of pocket but the main thing is we are back home. And it's made the kids appreciate how hard it is for families who are homeless or have to live in those conditions.
 
Mujja said:
We did reject it and they refused to pay any hotel bills and kept arguing it was suitable. After emails to local Councillor, MP and Housing Director the mattresses were replaced and electricity meter topped up. So in some ways this was an acknowledgement the place wasn't suitable.

We are a few hundred £s out of pocket but the main thing is we are back home. And it's made the kids appreciate how hard it is for families who are homeless or have to live in those conditions.
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Wow - what utter *******s. I hope you're still trying to get them to refund your costs.
 
scorza said:
Wow - what utter *******s. I hope you're still trying to get them to refund your costs.
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The property management team just say NO. Requested the details of the buildings insurance policy which seems to have been ignored. Met a solicitor who said it would be too costly in legal fees (£10,000+) for the small amount of compensation were would want, which is only hotel expenses. Wouldn't ask for anything else as this was a structural fault and not due to poor maintenance.
 
Mujja said:
We did reject it and they refused to pay any hotel bills and kept arguing it was suitable. After emails to local Councillor, MP and Housing Director the mattresses were replaced and electricity meter topped up. So in some ways this was an acknowledgement the place wasn't suitable.

We are a few hundred £s out of pocket but the main thing is we are back home. And it's made the kids appreciate how hard it is for families who are homeless or have to live in those conditions.
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It is quite humbling. A stark reminder of how lucky we are when you see things like this. And when I say lucky, before the usual suspects pipe up - I still consider myself lucky despite having worked since the age of 16 and never having to turn to the state for assistance because we don't control where in the world we are born, into what family we are born, how we are raised, what our local school are like, the other kids and influences at those schools etc, all of which impacts our prospects of later life.

Really pleased you are back in for Crimbo Mujja :)
 
Mujja said:
I hope not, do you have a link.
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I'll hunt one out later for you, can't find it at the minute but the story is similar to yours. Forced out of place due to structural faults in the council owned building. Put in crap accommodation.

The comments were the best bit, similar to here tbh. Some right muppets who clearly can't read amongst them.
 
JOSH86 said:
Some of the people on this thread though...wow.
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GD. It's the gold standard in idiots at times. I would respond to some of the statements in the thread but I'll just hit this wall with my head. :p

Glad to see you're back home OP. :)
 
Dis86 said:
I'll hunt one out later for you, can't find it at the minute but the story is similar to yours. Forced out of place due to structural faults in the council owned building. Put in crap accommodation.

The comments were the best bit, similar to here tbh. Some right muppets who clearly can't read amongst them.
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As most daily mail articles are full of pictures and no one has been around here taking lots photos of us then it must be someone else :)
 
Looks like you may have to just forget about getting any satisfaction from the council.

However i suggest seeing if the local papers would like to run the story and see if you can cause some grief to who ever is in charge.

It certainly sounds as if they do not have the correct level of insurance for the buildings they maintain.... i would have thought it would all be covered for situations like that. I mean its not as if you YOU could have insured against it, because you do not own the roof! Crazy situation to find yourself in this time of year..... al least now it is sorted.

Have a good xmass! :D
 
I suggest people actually read the OP before assuming (incorrectly) the poster has 6 kids and is sponging off the state, any more moronic posts insinuating that won't be well received. I shall now go back through the thread and infract at least one person for a distinct inability to read....
 
AtreuS said:
Looks like you may have to just forget about getting any satisfaction from the council.
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We don't blame the council or anyone. Everyone, including the builders have been very friendly and polite. Only the housing office were a little hostile but then we saw the people they have to deal with while we were waiting to be seen, two different couples were arguing and shouting at the staff.

We didn't get angry with anyone and still aren't. These things happen and we weren't exactly out on the streets. In a final email we thanked everyone and hoped our situation highlighted where the landlord/council needs to improve.
 
Mujja said:
We don't blame the council or anyone. Everyone, including the builders have been very friendly and polite. Only the housing office were a little hostile but then we saw the people they have to deal with while we were waiting to be seen, two different couples were arguing and shouting at the staff.

We didn't get angry with anyone and still aren't. These things happen and we weren't exactly out on the streets. In a final email we thanked everyone and hoped our situation highlighted where the landlord/council needs to improve.
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Perhaps look at using the small claims court, its there so you don't have to pay out £1000's in legal fees.

Glad you're all sorted now though, ignore the idiots on here who couldn't comprehend your situation.
 
If it was me i'd stay at the crappy flat for now. Just order a bunch of cheapo mattresses and sleeping bags from Argos for now, then donate them to charity when you leave, or leave them as replacements for the stained ones for the flat.

Oops, should have read the whole thread. Glad it worked out in the end :). Pretty scary that things can go so wrong overnight if something happens to your property. I feel bad for the people who have been flooded in Cumbria even more after reading your story.
 
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First time visiting this thread and quite horrified by your ordeal and the presumption by the usual suspects.

Personally as bad as that ordeal is, you've taken the positives such as your kids learning how humbling it is being homeless or living off the system in desperation. It's not as fancy as how the tabloids likes to make it out.

You are quids down but your experience, especially for your kids is priceless. Perhaps this will strive them to make a difference in the future (or at least never reach that low in life).

Glad you and your family are back at home in time for the Holidays.
 
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