Council bill for repairs came after property passed by inspector.3 months have passed.

[Tawnyowl]

For a couple of months my wife and i had to move into my father in laws council house to help care for him as he was in need of care.

His wife had died and he lived with his son.

The son took on the house tenancy jointly with his father along with my wife.

Anyway shortly afterwards more suitable house was found for them as accommodation was not suitable for his needs.

The house was examined room by room and passed by a inspector from the council.Who said only thing that needs to be done

is all carpets to be moved out of premises.

This was back in early July..And was carried out as said.

A new tenant had moved in a month later.

 

Moved out a couple of weeks later to new house and continued caring for a couple of months then he passed away.

The council were informed of this.

Now early in November a bill came for replacing kitchen sink unit and worktop costing 400 pounds.At the old property.

Which after 14 weeks after vacating a passed property came as a shock.

Also addressed to Passed away father in law and his son.

 

Then we got in touch with the council who said they will look into it ,

took our phone number and they would get back in touch.

Seemed quite concerned about this matter.

 

However this last week a letter came saying despite previous reminders the amount is still outstanding.

And must be made within 7 days otherwise your case will be referred to a DCA and also consider taking legal action which will incur substantial costs.

 

So once again phoned the council who this time said there was no one to deal with this and to email a complaint.Which i am going to do shortly.On their behalf.

But the seven days are up now and i suppose the debt will now be on its way to the DCA.

Personally i would rather go to court and tell the judge what i feel about this and fight it.But feel i am not being given much choice.

Feeling harassed and threatened really with a bad credit file.

 

Now personally i would pay if this was justified.But in my mind is clearly not.

I enjoy standing my ground when needed.And want to help.

What would you do.

[neil6534]

stop phoning and start writing to them....start a formal complaint addressing your concerns and the facts as they are and detail what outcome you require...it would be helpful if you had any documentation from the inspector stating his acknowledgement of the condition of the property to show them too

[Tawnyowl]

Cheers neil6534-

Inspector had many papers at the time.

Did not give a copy.

Just verbally told what needed doing.

And also said what condition some properties are in that they inspect.

Said it was in fine condition.

I will compose a complaint on their behalf now.

And keep this thread updated.

Anyone else have any experiences or advice please post.Thanks a lot.

Tawnyowl.

[neil6534]

personally I would have thought it difficult for them to bring any charges against you being that someone else has since lived in the property...they need to prove the damage was there before you moved out....ask them for proof of what condition the worktop and sink were in, any charges they had to pay to get the work done - proof of work carried out - the date at which point they found the worktop and sink to be in such bad condition that they needed to replace them both

[Tawnyowl]

Thanks neil6534 for the advice.

On the day we moved i made a short video.

Kind of goodbye old house.And there is a short clip of the kitchen showing the sink and worktop.

I will hold back on this piece of possible evidence for now.See what they say.

So i will complain now and see what happens next.

Makes you wonder though what has happened to a sink and worktop only two years old.

I like how the council have spelt kitchen-kitcehn-just picking.

185 materials.Just noticed 2 worktops.

Sounds like something serious has happened somehow.

Since moving.

[neil6534]

great to have the video, slap them with a couple of photos from it...case closed

[dx100uk]

I had this

They tried for 18mts to spoof me into paying for all manner of things

Totalling £1800

 

I argued on every point

And the bill went down and down

As like you I had video and photographs that prove

Whatever they were charging me for

Was either inherited by me when they moved us there

Or

Was not caused by the time of moving out

 

Eventually it ended up at

 

Knew that was not my doing and ignored their silly court threats for summary damage

 

About 9mts later a letter from Phillips bailiff arrived

Claiming the sum

 

I happen to notice it said debt collection wing

So safe to ignore

 

I emailed the council

They sent photos from 7days after I left

Showing a whole heap of building rubble dumped in the drive

 

They tried to make me pay for someone that had fly tipped the front garden

 

Moral..question every sum they are after

[ericsbrother]

Dont forget, the claim is to your late FiL so they arent going to get very far once that sinks into ther heads.

[Tawnyowl]

I see by reading your posts this could be happening to many people.

As councils become strapped for cash as many are they will obviously look for any way possible to raise some funds.Draw something back.

My town seems to be turning into a giant carpark but that is another story.

 

Multiplied by thousands of properties across Great Britain i understand this kind of thing could cost councils millions if houses are left with damage.

DX100uk clearly had one hell of a time but stood up to the demands.

But how many just accept these bills that seem to arrive weeks or many months later.

Moral is clearly when moving take photo and video on day of moving.Witnessed by someone if possible.

 

As there was also a council tax shortfall which i have sorted out because when i rang to ask telling them my father in law had passed away,they said well we then chase the other joint tenant for the shortfall.

Fair enough,so i presumed this would be the same.

 

They would chase his son now for the sink,worktop etc.

Things become so complicated some will probably just give in.

His son finds everything very difficult to deal with in many ways that is why i have become involved.

As ericsbrother says the letter is still being sent to both father and son despite his father passing away and the council being informed.

 

Thankyou for your posts.

Even now after many years on the forums it is nice that people care enough to offer advice and share their own experiences.

These kinds of things as you get older niggle at you,worry you, can i dare say keep you awake if you have limited funds.

Everybody in Great Britain or many i should say the money they have can only be spread so far.A unexpected bill can wreak havoc with planning.

Both by councils and individuals.

I believe in fair play but sometimes things are just plain wrong.And clear to see.

[stu007]

Hi

 

When they have the move out inspection by the council did they sign any paperwork?

 

Which Council Housing?

 

Make a Formal Complaint to the council housing and title the letter as that make sure and keep copies and get free proof of posting from the post office you want to keep a good paper trail.

 

Also ask for the following documents:

 

1. Customer Care/Service Standards.

2. Complaints Policy.

3. Compensation Policy.

4. Tenant Handbook

5. Allocations Policy.

6. Copy of the Move Out Inspection Report for date xx/xx/xxxxx

7. Copies of the dates when the previous sink and worktop were installed.

8. Copies of the lifecycle policy for sink and worktops once installed.

9. Complete breakdown of the bill for £XXXX

10. Cyclical Maintenance Policy

[stu007]

Hi tawnyowl just thought I would pop in to see how this is progressing?