[MargaretR]

It is now 2 1/2 years since I began asking for a shower install,
The bathroom and kitchen refurbishment which were scheduled for 2008 are postponed indefinately.
The occupational therapist's recommendations have not been implemented because HH do not have the money to do them.
I recently had notification that the spending in 2010 will be replacement soffit boards only- they are rotting - pieces dropping off in large chunks - so they can't postpone that one

I have decided that I need a better standard of accomodation than this and have taken active steps to be rehoused.
The drawbacks of this flat-
1. communal stairwell
The next door tenant wanders up and down the stairs regularly in the early hours of the morning (3am yesterday, 4am the day before)
The noise in the stairwell wakes up us other residents - the bedrooms adjoin the stairwell and have a single brick dividing wall.
In order to sit out in the sun I have to carry my lounge chair up and down 13 concrete steps

2. It is at the top of a hill - so I need a car to get me to the nearest bus stop at the bottom.

3. The bathroom suite is over 30 years old - chrome on fittings is worn away with age - taps are a struggle to turn - basin is at mid hip height- bath has indelible marks - bath panel is brittle due to age and is cracked in 2 places.

4. Kitchen is very small and badly laid out. In order to accomodate a dishwasher I had to get my washer plumbed in in a cupboard - I struggle to prepare food on a worktop 2'x3'
I replaced the cupboard doors at my own expense because many had peeling veneer exposing the chipboard.

5. Window catches are broken - only one window opens wide enough to allow access out in the event of fire - there was a stairwell fire in these flats not long before I moved in.

6. When the roof leaked in 2003 the plasterboard ceiling swelled and bulged in a 3ft square area - it is still like that.

7. The windowsills in the lounge and kitchen are warped and cracked. (I have tiled them to improve their appearance.)

8. The walkways around the block are clogged with slutch and rotting leaves. This renders attempts at keeping the stairwell clean impossible.
A slutchy pond appears regularly at the front entrance.

The only reason I have put up with it is the view of trees and fields, which I will sadly miss.
I had great hopes that Hyndburn Homes would have refurbished as promised, but all that has been done is the central heating.
That had to be done because the hot air system was blowing out 30+yr old dust and caused some people health problems.

So I joined 'b-with-us' in February, and HH have recently joined this scheme, which previously was only used by Twin Valley Homes.
I have been interviewed and now have a priority rating for rehousing.
I can view a list of available 'social housing' online and 'bid' for any that may look suitable.

I will not be applying for 'gods waiting room' type housing - a little bungalow with my own front door would be lovely, as long as it has a shower and more kitchen space.

There are drawbacks to wherever you may find yourself living - unless you are filthy rich and have unlimited choice.
I count my blessings that I am not still living in that house I 'sold for a song' in Church.