Did you see an article yesterday about a mother of two who refused to move into?

Question

a housing association home until they'd decorated it to her liking?

I've seen it once and now I can't find it.

Answer 1

It surprises me, I have a close friend who works for the country's largest housing association, he just said that the tenants are now expected to decorate for themselves, when they first move in they get magnolia.

Answer 2

Does not shock me at all.

She will need a bigger house soon as I am sure she will continue to pump out kids, that I (as a tax payer) will have to fund!

Answer 3

After reading dave s's link the housing association said that the house was not ready so I can't blame her for not moving in. As far as the decorating then she has been given £200 of homebase vouchers she is a healthy young woman who must have family and friends so it is up to her. I had to move into a council house 7 years ago and I got the maximum points for decorating materials. The night I got the keys myself, my daughter her friend and my son's partner were at the house there were no windows or doors only security fitted ones, it was cold I sat on the floor of a filthy house cried and said 'I'm too old for this'. We worked really hard for the next 2 days so that it was clean, the day I moved in the doors and windows were put in. I had workmen in and out of the house for weeks doing jobs, that was 7 years ago. I love my house it is a little palace even the housing officer said it was beautiful. I did most of the decorating myself  with some help from my daughter although for the past 2 years I have paid someone as my health is not as good as it was.

Answer 4

I work in Social Housing; I've seen worse demands acceded to.

Answer 5

To be fair, if that was the story in Worcester the HA have said sorry and that the property was not fit to live in yet. There are some double standards here as well. It sounds as if that particular property was abandoned by the last tenant. As anyone leaving a property properly these days have an inspection and any damage or bad decorating has to be put right or re-charged to the outgoing tenant. As that IS the case it's a pity that this woman was given vouchers to do work that she clearly didn't feel she could do. Have a heart hey not everyone is practical or has the same abilities.

Answer 6

Nothing would surprise me in this county .......... Im almost ashamed to be British!

(well actually Im Australian but according to the Passport Im also British as well, so I kind of feel half-agrieved lol)

Answer 7

If it is the article Dave linked to then the woman was absolutely in the right. The council can't let out properties which are inhabitable and in a dangerous condition. Council's won't decorate properties but they have to do safety checks and make sure houses are in good condition. In this case it wasn't done, and even the council have recognised they were in the wrong - and they don't do that very often!

Answer 8

I read the article, and agree completely with this mother of two. It wasn't a matter of "decorating," the place was not livable, according to the person in charge of such things:

Craig Greens, assets director for Worcester Community Housing, which provided the flat, said there had been a breakdown in procedures and the property was not ready to move into.

"I would like to apologise and we need to look at what has gone wrong and put it right," he said.

"It is not acceptable that the property was signed off."

Mr Greens said an inspection had not been carried out before the keys were handed over. He has now launched an internal investigation to find out why.

I live in the U.S., and would find this enough to raise a fuss about if it happened here.  a little paint is decorating. Rehanging doors and putting a chair rail on the wall is NOT decorating.

Answer 9

Dave thanks for the link, she may have a point, the house sounds quite dangerous what with plug sockets exposed and nails everywhere etc, she is only 21, and has two young children, I would think that she is putting her childrens saftey first, not everybody does that do they?

Answer 10

i have not seen it