Hyndburn Homes refurbishment

MargaretR · 15-01-2009, 14:47

Hyndburn Homes bang on target - News - Accrington Observer
This report in the Observer is by my reckoning - a lie!

I was advised over 2 years ago that the schedule for improvement to my flat was -
a bathroom and kitchen refurbishment in the 08/09 financial year.

I need bathroom disability modifications and waited 1 year for an occupational therapist to assess my needs.
That happened last May - I had a thread here about it at the time
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...all-39508.html

I still wait

Bathroom problems-
I have now reached a stage where my knees wont cope with my method of getting out of the bath.
I stand in a few inches of water, lather myself, then rinse using a jug.
The tap adapters which the therapist arranged and supplied have been returned, because they were designed for larger taps, needed padding and were forever coming off.
My loss of grip means that I have only one hand I can use to turn them, and one tap is so stiff (basin hot tap) that I rarely try to use it.
I have lost hot water down the drain because I struggle to turn it off.

Kitchen problems-
My left hand has 2 nerve damaged fingers, is semi numb and is very sensitive to hot water (feels that hot is like scalding)
I drop things very easily due to loss of grip.
To overcome this I have bought a dishwasher and rearranged my appliances.
The positioning of them is not ideal at present but I thought that the layout would be temporary until the kitchen refurb happens.

There are now only 2 1/2 months left in this financial year so I thought that by now HH will have decided when I am due these refurbs.
I phoned them today..........

The Observer report was misleading in the extreme !!!
The budget for this year is almost all spent !!!!!
Some refurbishments are postponed !!!!!!

I wait the usual 'will look into it and call you back' scenario.

Motto - the local press are misguided....take everything you read with a pinch of salt (if you haven't decided that already)

shillelagh · 15-01-2009, 14:57

Margaret when mum was alive we had to have modifications done to the house as well. Mums social worker and occupational therapist said what had to be done - another rail on the stairs, handles on the doorsteps, bath took out and a shower installed with a bath seat etc. They told the council that mum could not come home till they had been done. When 3 weeks later mum was well enough to come home and they hadnt been done the hospital got onto the social worker and she got onto the council .... the work was done the following week and mum was home the week after.

Might be an idea getting hold of the occupational therapist who did the evaluation and saying you know what you recommended ... well it hasnt been done yet ... and ive got worse.

MargaretR · 15-01-2009, 15:06

Several weeks ago the occupational therapist phoned me to ask whether the modifications had been done, and sounded shocked that they hadn't.
I got the usual 'will look into it'

Only last week I got a survey to complete about the waiting list for disabled modifications.
The air was blue here as I filled it in - it will be posted very soon, but doesn't have my name and address on it - might open the envelope and add them.

magpie · 15-01-2009, 17:16

Margaret get your MP on the case.....

Neil · 15-01-2009, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Motto - the local press are misguided....take everything you read with a pinch of salt (if you haven't decided that already)

Have you phoned the reporter of the article to give them your story?

MargaretR · 15-01-2009, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Have you phoned the reporter of the article to give them your story?

There is no reporters name attached to the story on the website.
They read here for news anyway so I dont need to waste a phone call

emzy · 15-01-2009, 21:30

My kitchen & bathroom were completed a little over 12 months ago. Cant say I was 100% happy with the work carried out though, saying that they no longer use the sub-contractor that did them. Was advised by hyndburn homes inspector that they should have installed a new bath during the work but only the sink and toilet were replaced (and it does look odd having a bath that doesnt match) and the kitchen cupboard doors arnt completely straight etc but theres very little i can do about it over 12 months on.

My sister lives a few streets away from me, in the same area but as yet has not had the new kitchen and bathroom fitted but a number of months ago received a letter from HH asking if she was happy with the work carried out etc (I have never received one of these letters) She contacted them when she got the letter to let them know that no work had been done but as of yet still nothing, she is waiting to hear when hers will be done

MargaretR · 15-01-2009, 21:45

My bathroom suite is very old-

..the bath sidepanel is plastic so old that it has gone brittle and cracked in 2 places

..the toilet was installed on a backward slope so that the toilet seat wont stay in up position

..the chrome on the fittings is worn off in places

..there are marks in the bath that look like rust spots (even though it is plastic)

..the position of H and C taps on bath and basin don't match (now that took some getting used to)

...these flats have unboxed interior plumbing which is awkward to keep clean (reminiscent of a submarine)

So it isn't as though the refurb incorporating disability gadgets is a luxury indulgence... or am I just being an old fuss pot?

derekgas · 15-01-2009, 21:58

I will not generalise and say that all the council houses workmanship is rubbish, but I have worked in a few that have been bought, and have yet to find one that is of a high standard, when I bought mine, the whole ground floor had to be replaced, the floorboards the concrete floor in the kitchen and 75% of the joists, the damp proof was none existent, the plasterig had been patched in places, and it was easier to remove the lot, including ceilings, so when you do eventually get your improvements done, dont expect anything fantastic.

MargaretR · 15-01-2009, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekgas

I will not generalise and say that all the council houses workmanship is rubbish, but I have worked in a few that have been bought, and have yet to find one that is of a high standard, when I bought mine, the whole ground floor had to be replaced, the floorboards the concrete floor in the kitchen and 75% of the joists, the damp proof was none existent, the plasterig had been patched in places, and it was easier to remove the lot, including ceilings, so when you do eventually get your improvements done, dont expect anything fantastic.

Plaster !!- what luxury - there isnt a scrap of it in my flat - paper on bare plasterboard

derekgas · 15-01-2009, 22:13

probably because aside from the fact that it is cheaper, the plastering i have seen isnt up to much.

Neil · 15-01-2009, 22:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

There is no reporters name attached to the story on the website.
They read here for news anyway so I dont need to waste a phone call

Well if you can't even be bothered to call them with your story how can you expect them to print it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by emzy

Was advised by hyndburn homes inspector that they should have installed a new bath during the work but only the sink and toilet were replaced

Did you follow that up to try and get the bath replaced?

MargaretR · 15-01-2009, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Well if you can't even be bothered to call them with your story how can you expect them to print it?

I never said that I want them to print - just to get their facts right in future

MargaretR · 16-01-2009, 01:47

I have been webrowsing for luxury apartments - plenty for rent at reasonable rates
A few are available at Puddleside
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ent-33216.html

Neil · 16-01-2009, 02:53

Are you thinking of moving?