Hyndburn Homes - security compromised.

[Margaret Pilkington]

She might want to HR......if HH can't get their act together!

[MargaretR]

I am watching out (on BwithUs) for one of those flats at Huncoat (near my son) which have secure access. The last time one came available there were 93 applicants!

On another thread
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ree-58435.html
a member here admired my view from my lounge - a slight move to the left shows this.
Note the rotting soffit board - renewal scheduled over a year ago - not done
....and the defunct sky dish and masses of ariel wiring that should have been removed when the (expensive £5 a week) communal ariels were erected last year.
(this failure to remove breaches the retrospective planning permission that was given when the new ariels were installed)


PS I have assumed battle stations haven't I - emailed the Observer - war progress will be updated here.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Benipete

They could fit one way locks,Not very expensive but effective.

ie.you need a key to get in but not to get out.

That type were fitted Peter, and there were also key safes fixed outside each entrance, so I can't see what the problem was really, I know when we had a very undesirable tenant, living upstairs in our block it was a bloody nightmare, we started locking the doors to keep his hangers on coming round at all hours of the night. from my point of view I have had an intercom system fitted to my front door so I can monitor who is at the door ( I cant tell the JWs where to go without schlepping to the door now) its a very good thing for me, and I also have two key safes for the front door one for HH (warden service) and my own

[MargaretR]

The locks we had removed were conventional 5 lever mortice - don't know why yours were different.

Downstairs flats have exterior doorsafes, and there is also one outside the front exterior door which is now not needed.

[shillelagh]

in haslingden old peoples flats theres an intercom ... the doors are locked at 4.30pm and after that if you are visiting someone then you have to use the intercom and they let you in ...

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

The locks we had removed were conventional 5 lever mortice - don't know why yours were different.

Downstairs flats have exterior doorsafes, and there is also one outside the front exterior door which is now not needed.

Well the ones on my block you could unlock from the outside with a key and with just a thumb catch on the inside

[MargaretR]

These flats where Jaysay, Mez and I live are not restricted to 'old folk' occupancy, but in practice the ground floor flats are only allocated to the disabled - who are vulnerable whatever age they are.

It looks like Jaysay's locks should have stayed, and all of us should have them.

[mez]

when i first moved into mine the door leading out the back nearest to mine would not keep closed so i just used to lock it at night, but could not keep it closed during the day as the door would not stay shut & if you opened the front door that caused the back one to bang shut, so one of the residents keeps it open using folded up cardboards, & yes i came home today to find shavings on the floor & new handles on that door so im cleaning the communal area (downstairs only ) yet again i only did it sunday, am fed up of council workers in & out doing stuff & not cleaning up after themselves. yes margaret i feel vunerable here but have got my trusty sam who barks at the slightest thing so im not too bad .

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

These flats where Jaysay, Mez and I live are not restricted to 'old folk' occupancy, but in practice the ground floor flats are only allocated to the disabled - who are vulnerable whatever age they are.

It looks like Jaysay's locks should have stayed, and all of us should have them.

Margaret neither is the flats where I am either, there is a young lass lives above me and a couple in their mid to late 40s in the other upstairs flat and my other neighbour although a little older than me is very fit and gets about quite easily, But I agree its a nonsense, over reaction the the PC brigade, can't think in all the time I've lived on here that anybody has ever been trapped in their flat, its just daft to me

[mez]

tend to agree with you both really, but the downstairs flat opposite me is empty & has been since last october but h/h men keep walking in & out doing whatever & off again its a real pain in neck they said 2 months ago that they were getting it ready for letting ..........oh .....forgot ...its hyndburn homes .

[MargaretR]

They appear to have altered their practice and only seem to do refurbishments when these flats are unoccupied. So at least you have a decent bathroom and kitchen.

They create havoc when they happen whilst you are still living in them, as I detailed in my thread -
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...all-39508.html

After that traumatic month long episode I have decided that some unusable kitchen cupboards is a small price to pay for peace. I replaced the peeling cupboard doors at my own expense.
.....but that peace is now under threat with this latest charade today.

[MargaretR]

A new ominous development -
When some workmen were removing locks this morning there was another workman on the landing with a stepladder messing with the stairwell light.
They sometimes do checks on them so I though nothing was amiss.

However - the landing stairwell light has not come on automatically (light sensored) at the same time that the street lights have.
The light in the downstairs passageway has lit, but the actual staircase is in dim light only and the landing is dark enough for any intruder to lie in wait for upstairs residents.
I hope this light switch off is accidental or the S.... is about to hit the fan!

There comes a time when cost cutting has to stop.

[b rawlinson]

There are now serious questions as regards Hyndburn homes being a responsible social landlord.Their attitude of total disregard for their elderly and vulnerable tenants needs to be examined.Glossy brochures and so called forums are not what people want,they want safe comfortable homes, not having their security taken away without resonable notice and no consultation as in the case of the door locks.Hyndburn homes seem to be moving into the rogue landlord class.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by mez

tend to agree with you both really, but the downstairs flat opposite me is empty & has been since last october but h/h men keep walking in & out doing whatever & off again its a real pain in neck they said 2 months ago that they were getting it ready for letting ..........oh .....forgot ...its hyndburn homes .

The flat above me was empty for about 15 months Mez as I think you know, yet other flats have a two week turnround, strange

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by b rawlinson

There are now serious questions as regards Hyndburn homes being a responsible social landlord.Their attitude of total disregard for their elderly and vulnerable tenants needs to be examined.Glossy brochures and so called forums are not what people want,they want safe comfortable homes, not having their security taken away without resonable notice and no consultation as in the case of the door locks.Hyndburn homes seem to be moving into the rogue landlord class.

To be quite honest I actually think that Councils and housing associations are all running scared because of the risk factors, which in this case seems to be a nonsense, especially where the lighting is concerned, although it doesn't effect me its quite wrong to put people's perception of safety at risk, but I think that saying they are entering into the rogue landlord zone is a bit harsh really