Hi
Need a little help please. One of my daughters is in a house owned by Riverside Housing Association. She has 4 kiddies , 2 are 4and 2 yrs old.Her problem is that her back fence is an absolute disgrace. Its awooden one with slats but there is spaces between where the kids from other houses on the estate can climb up. It is full of jagged edges where bits of wood have been broken off , the result of climbing.
She has lived there for 6 years and not once has she had her repairs done when she requested them. I think their motto is "Make do and mend"
I am sure I have heard or read somewhere of a law for the entitlement to safety regarding children in their own back gardens, but I cant find it anywhere.
Her two little ones are always trying to climb ,as kids do and when the Inspector came out last year to see the fence he told her to keep a better eye on the kids and that he would put it on his work sheet to be "Patched up".
Workmen came and made a botched job but it is vertually falling down now and she called them up again about a week ago and the same inspector came on tuesday , took a look at the fence and said it would be again patched up.
He said that because she is in rent arrears,( which she is paying off weekly) she is not really entitled to have repairs done. When she tried to argue and tell him her children are hurting themselves on it , falling and getting splinters everytime they go near the fence he again said watch them more closely then. How can anyone be expected to watch 2 lively kids 24/7. Isnt it a right for them to be safe in their own garden without the risk of damage just because the landlords are not bothered to do repairs. The rest of the house is in a bad way also cracks in the ceiling , radiators coming off the walls, lights not working properly , she has just had her downstairs W.C. repaired after reporting it over three weeks ago the sink was nearly off the wall and all they have done is put silicone round it.
Riverside are a joke , her estate is full of junkies and down and outs but unfortunatley she cant get off it. The druggies sell their wares openly on the corner of the streets but even the police dont seem to be bothered.
just not a nice place to bring kids up so she doesnt like them going out but then again they cant even be safe in their own back.
Sorry to waffle on but this situation has fired me up after all they are my grandkids and I dont like to see them get hurt.
Is there anything she can do ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Repairs needed v Houseing Ass 
