Hyndburn Homes Inspections
 

Missed the inspector this week as been on hols, typical been waiting ages for them, so booked now for wednesday morning for inspection as is Tinks, thing is we beleive its only to do with new bathrooms & kitchens ripping them out & replacing with fandangled stuff but missing the most important basic points of need here, which is central heating & double glazing for a start!!!

We are currently on very expensive & crap economy 7 blower heaters that are too expensive to run & are rubbish apart from eating the eleccy, we are on a hill point with only single glazing so winter is freezing & no real reliable heating apart from one solitary gas fire. So why the bathrroms & kitchens for priority??? when heating is more important to us lot up here & certainly need by priority those attending to 1st - thats why we voted em in for that point of promise, so we will be certainly bringing this up with him, specially cos means a big disruption & building site living for a bit:rolleyes:

Cos to our way of thinking of our new landlords is that they are run & have same staff in majority as the old council, so feeling rather sceptical with all the upcoming empty promises. Anyone else had inspectors up?

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We had our bathroom done here by north warwickshire borough council, and fhm, 7 months on I've still got plugs sockets hanging. Be warned unless your bathroom and kitchen is bad it's not worth the hassle, and they never finish them. they say it is but to you it won't be.
If they're storage heaters they won't change them, if it's a warm air blower fed from a central warm air heater via tubes, then they should, they don't work. Double glazing should have been done years ago, we've had it 12 years, give em a kick up the ass.

I strongly believe that there should be an internet based complaints and discusion service for all these councils and housing associations. They seem to be doing what they want where they want for who they want by whoever is the cheapest, and I'm sick of getting a shoddy service. They ignore complaints or fob us off, they don't listen, and if I complain for my nan I'm told to shut up, I'm not the tenant.

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We haven't had the inspectors yet Mel, so let us have any hints and/or tips of how to deal with them for when we do;)

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lol if it's anything like FHM they threaten to walk out if you dare to tell them how you want your kitchen other than stating which of the choices you want that a group of people with no taste dreamt up.

Re: Hyndburn Homes Inspections
 

A couple of years ago or so Twin Valley Homes (Blackburn and Darwen) did my windows (living room, bedroom, kitchen and washroom), front door (I don’t have a back door), kitchen and re-wired my flat. This is my experience. This is all related to a ground floor flat so it will be different (more complex) for a house.

They sent round an agent to discuss the installing of a new kitchen, re-wring the flat, double-glazing and new modern front door. She brought with her samples of all the variables that would be involved and was very helpful as we strolled through the process of selection. I was done in less than an hour. But then aesthetics was never my strong point.

I had a choice of the colour and type of front door and I also had a choice of the style of doors and drawer fronts on all the new kitchen units, the colour of the worktop, floor, wallpaper and colour of paint that the wallpaper would be painted and woodwork. I had limited input on the kitchen layout. In fact there was only one possible layout to take full advantage of the limited floor space. The only variable was where the washer would go. I chose the place and they agreed with my selection.

On the appointed day at the crack of dawn – well it was for me but in reality it was 0830 - the guys arrived to do the windows and doors.

Tip – Make sure that you and yours are up and breakfasted BEFORE they arrive. It is too late once they appear on your doorstep.

Tip 2 - if your TV aerial and telephone leads come through your old window frame disconnect them and pull them through to the outside before they 'do' that window. They will replace them when the new window frame goes in but not through the frame. The wires will be routed around the frame.

Tip 3 - move any furniture that makes access to the windows from the inside awkward. If you don’t they will but may not take the same care as you would. Those guys were in a hurry. Must be a bonus thing.

Tip 4 – if your home is a no smoking zone tell them the minute that they arrive.

Each window was completed, at least on the inside before the next one was started on. The old windowsill was covered over with a new plastic one. Any gaps were sealed with that white silicon sealant stuff and a masking strip of plastic was stuck over the seal. Shoddy work really!

Then came the electricians to do the re-wiring and change the electricity meter to a modern one.

Tip – cover all your furniture with the dust sheets that they supply but only for the room that they are working in. If there are not enough, ask for more. They have to supply them. Keep the doors to other rooms closed and if possible seal the gaps around them. It is amazing how the dust can still get into a room with a closed door.

Obviously all power to the home has to be disconnected at some time and in my case I would have been left without power for nearly a whole day. Yet they had to have power for their work so I asked them to supply me with power to my computer so that I could stay on line and my fridge freezer would also be connected. They obliged.

As the electricians did their thing the kitchen wreckers invaded my kitchen. All appliances except the cooker are removed. Having just a small flat the fridge freezer went into my living room, the washer in the lobby and the gas cooker stayed where it was so that it was still usable in the evenings.

Tip – empty all your kitchen cupboards the day before they arrive and keep handy basic requirements like cups, plates, saucepans, cutlery.

Tip 2 - make room in your living room for your electric kettle and microwave etc. Keep a large bottle of tap water handy for brews during the day. They won’t take kindly to you trying to fill up your kettle whilst they are working in your kitchen. In any case the water will have been turned off for the whole house. Don’t even think about making a cooked meal during the day. Sandwiches and microwave are the answer.

Tip 3 – watch them work if you must but don’t get under their feet.

When they had finished the kitchen the socket for the washer was underneath the worktop and behind the washer when it is in place and there is a switch above the worktop to send power to the socket below. Apparently that is they way things are done these days. Crazy! What happens if the fuse in the plug blows? You have to pull the washer out and somehow get to the plug to change the fuse. Not easy for an apprentice geriatric.

Your cooker will be chained to the wall to prevent you pulling it out so far as to strain the gas pipe and maybe pull it out. I’m not sure if this applies to electric cookers.

When all the units had been fitted they put some stuff down on the floor that was supposed to make it smooth if not actually level. Being guys in a hurry the smoothness left a lot to be desired. Some time in the future the small ridges will be a wear point of the tiles. It needs overnight to cure so you will be barred from the kitchen during that time. The next day the tiles went down.

The whole process took four and a half days for the inside but it took a further week until the outside was sealed properly against the weather.

Some clown managed to cut the telephone cable along the wall but they got someone in (not BT) to repair it within a couple of hours.

They weren’t the cleanest of workers but there was a foreman who flitted from house to house to see how things progressed. Even so their idea of cleaning up behind them didn’t equate to mine and I’m not particularly house proud.

Finally if anything is not done to your satisfaction, tell the foreman before the workers finally leave. However if you notice something after they have gone try and find the foreman first. If you can’t find him or he takes no action then report the problem to your landlord.

One annoying factor, the kitchen wreckers brought in their own radio and liked to listen to some strange commercial programme. This clashed with my Radio 2 or CD’s but my system had more umph than their radio.

It’s amazing how long it takes to finally get rid of all the created dust.

On balance I was glad when it was all over and I could get back to my normal.

A couple of weeks later an inspector came round to inspect the work. If you have found any problems tell the inspector.

Re: Hyndburn Homes Inspections
 

contour housing own hynburn homes and previously i was informed that contour took over another councils properties and DID NOT deliver on the terms that they were given the contract on

i dont hold up much hope for us tennants of hynburn homes but you never know

ps:

this is a kitchen in a hynburn homes flat i took for a family member and hynburn homes seem to think that the flat been covered in every room by damp is quite acceptable for a new born baby to be living in and refuse to re house them even though they have plenty of empty properties sat doing nothing in much better condition :mad:

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well done jambutty for drowning that racket out.
I agree with everything you said apart from they didn't take our appliances out. I advise you to do it yourself before they arrive. they ruined our washer and cooker, they broke next doors cooker and drilled the washer in the other block by using it as a work bench. You got a good gang there jambutty, your lucky. Our foreman didn't care and said so, both FHM and NWBC.
Thanks very much for doing that list because it will be usefull to all yet to have the work done, thats what needs to be done and how it happens.

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I could put 30 pictures on here with faults on sockets hanging of the wall, light fittings not replaced, faulty light switches left in place, miss aligned cupboards, damaged cupboards, cupboards not replaced at all, plinths not fitted right, brocken brackets, holes in the wall, taps that spray over the worktops, areas that should be tiled have been painted with matt paint, the grease splashes from the cooker can't be removed, the sink was scratced because they used it as a work bench, the fan cables hang down like a christmas garland, they used a supply that belonged to me that was fitted for the christmas lights- dunno what will happen there yet. The kitchen door won't shut, the extractor fan lid flies off and hits you on the head if you pull the cord, the bath is 10mm out, it doesn't drain properly. I could go on there's loads more. FHM of Atherstone must be so proud of their work and north warwickshire borough council and newey electrical services who still haven't tested the electrics which according to the new rules which are enforced by the council, it's a legal requirement.

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it sounds like theres a big problem with council and h/a replacing bathrooms and kitchens,we too have had problems and i thought it was just our h/a that did it wrong,we were told the kitchen would be done within 2 days we were left with just a sink then when the kitchen went in they didnt allow enough space for my washer which was 60cm w,i was left with a 50cm gap,so they had 2 come back with new unit and worktop,all in all the work took 2 weeks,when they say 2 days it should take 2 days our workmen were going 2 finish other peoples houses when they were suppose 2 be doing mine,they should finish 1 house then move onto the next,i couldnt leave the house , i didnt know these guys from adam

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NO. first day on a joint kitchen and bathroom project with just replacement of sockets switches to fit the new layout not a rewire is...
Day one strip out of both except bathroom suit ie wallpaper etc in bathroom
day two electrics and strip out old and fit new bathroom suit
day three electric and finishing bathroom
day four decorating bathroom, and fitting new kitchen
day five finishing fitting new kitchen and what should be second electrical fix but they don't do one they bodge it. second plumbing fix sink washer etc
day six decorating kitchen papering
day seven decorating gloss
day eight decorating walls
day nine floors down
day ten standing over the road looking like workmen pricing a job(see gallery competition 10)Sharp intake of break, shakes head, this is a big job.

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did you all get the wallpapering and paintwork done for you? we had to do it ourselves

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ye lol mostly over the windows, new floor, cooker, washer, light fittings, the door, our furniture carpet, new units, bath toilet, sink, cistern. but e've got a white patch in the middle of a magnolia ceiling. I'm not sure why it's magnolia but it is, I think the white patch is where they ran out of paint. I'm not a happy bunny, can you tell. The tiling looks like mickey mouse had done it.
The dust sheets are still down here 7 months on, and thats no joke.

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i take it they left the redecorating to the new apprentice,the kitchens never turn out to be the showroom condition we thought we were getting,its lucky i didnt pay for mine,could have done a better job myself,

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nope, he's a professional, he's really good they all said, he's so quick it's amazing. What this really meant is that he's so quick it's amazing he gets any paint on the walls. I'm going to report the electricians to niceic, I don't see why they should get away with leaving untested sockets hanging off just because it was a council job.

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Well for the first time ever the council has offered a consultation to us for some work they want to do. Their plan is to replace the central heating and we get a choice and an even bigger suprise is that if we cant make this meeting they have a phone number to ring for the essence of what is to happen. As I will be working I have to phone, if I can get over the shock.

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Well just had surveyor & kitchen designer up, poor chap didnt half get a barrage of questions & requests LOL. They are going to be doing a lot of work certainly cut out here, just had my kitchen planned although to me thats not priority but looks nice on paper anyways though a bit overwhelming to decide lol. We will get a new boiler, re-wiring, take out econ 7 & eventually replace blowers with radiators, plus pointed out asbestos & crappy doorframes. They couldnt give me a timescale or indication when to be done as were rather concerned to get kitchen & bathroom planned as reason for their visit, more than concerns with priorities with our concerns of wanting the heating & double glazing, but hey ho i also liked to remind not to run out of funds for up here like previous council hehehehe, whether they meet these will no doubt to be seen.

When these plans come off soon godknows - as when this work is to be done erm :confused:

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Good luck cos your going to need it, but at least you had the sense to arm your self with some knowledge. Some poor sods just get walked all over by them . Just remember when that kitchens done make sure you set up your microwave and kettle in the lounge, even if you escape to a friends for the majority of the day, you'll still be glad you did. This is MAJOR work.

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doesnt matter in the end ... nothing has changed because h/homes are still
employing the same ****e as what ruined (and couldnt manage) h.b.c. in the
first place..... whats the point of giving away ratepayers assetts (they were assetts before the council employed morons and cowboy contractors ) simply
because they couldnt MANAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if h.b.c. would have been replaced by more intelligent employees then there would be no need at all
for all this privatisation hogwash.... thatcher did the same with the power
companies....you have all been conned by cowboys (accy is renown for this)
all this not for profit statement was pure FABRICATION to get you to vote yes
to this conservative deal.... if you did vote yes then you are lower than a snakes scrotum for not allowing h.b.c. to be held responsible for its lack of
management qualitys ..... the very same people are now exempt from blame
but are still employed to give you the same lousy services..... i think i was born at the wrong time or on the wrong planet..... why doesnt anyone see the truth? this not for profit is darn lies...... if that be the case...howcome
the rents have gone UP? this town is the pits ..... and h.b.c. is a beast which needs to be destroyed....

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Woooah there hold on to those panties real micheal ;) Of course we know it's the same muppets running the asylum, you'd have to be pretty thick not to know. I'm hoping (I know :rolleyes: ) that this time it might be different. From what I'm led to believe it's the Government that's given the local council the kick up the arse and told them tht their housing stock has got to be upgraded to a reasonable standard by X number of years (10 I think it is). So if they don't make good on their promise not only will they be held responsible to the tenants but also to the Government who have the ability to get them to tow the line.

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Really Micheal - you dont say:eek:

I think even the most simpleton of people know that, but as tinks rightfully say these HH staff have to prove themselves - they have 10-15 years to sort properties out to required standards set by government guidelines & also to the tennants of Hyndburn Homes.

Dont get me wrong im sceptical [very!] but least this way its giving them a chance to improve on poor housing standards locally if we didnt vote them in - then nothing would of changed at all no chance of it & could of got much worse.

Its upto them now to prove :D

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our council were also told by the government to have all the kitchens and bathrooms upgraded but that they had to be replaced every 10 years too,i think the council might just finish the last house in 10yrs time and have to start back at n1 again straight away

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Looks as though he local councils have had a size 12 up the bahookie to get stuff done. Got a letter saying that my place will be surveyed for new central heating on the 16th. Wether it will be of a high standard and with little or no real mess (dreaming again) who knows. Must be honest I am dreading it.

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Sorry tinker .... im not raging :** im going on the performance of the people
who are still employed to sort out this mess.... and privatising is always down to bad management (the same people as before,) i live on a council estate
and they made it worse than before..... drilling mesh to a damp wall and pebbledashing the mesh doesnt constitute a re-vamp in my mind....
the damp in every room prooves that.... what h.b.c. have done is more or less treason.... you cannot convince me otherwise. the cowboys that did the work are still employed by h/homes cus they have no knowledge of what a good job is compared to a lousy job which needs to be re-done again
and again costing up to six times the amount of a job done well..... this procedure still goes on because no-one checks that the work has been done
proporly in the first place.... e.g. months after meadoway was done (done is the word) ridge tiles on the roofs blew off,(plus the sub-standard doors and windows fitted) big deal you think... yes it really is.... if these ridge tiles were done properly in the first place without the skimping from cowboys like whatmore and hambling then they would not have blown off in the first place... who picks up the bill for the re-repairs which should not need to be done? i have an extensive amount of photos
of the sheer ametuerism of these cowboys and i know its because of ****-poor managment who dont know jack about the building trade ... i do ....
i used to oversee for a large firm in manchester and only a small amount of
botch jobs were down to the individual who skimped to save time, but the majority of work was skimped on to minimise expenditure/maximise profit by
order of the management! and you say they will be held responsible...how?
by voting yes you lost your right to "manage" which really means the new landlords can dictate what they want, even act ultra-vires and theres nothing you can do.... the government has 42 billion pounds for people like us
yet h.b.c. sold your souls for a measly 35mil .... of which most of it will come through rents anyhow... so where is all this deluge of investment? if you do some detective work im sure you will conclude the same as i have... the quarter of a mil used to print the privatisation propaganda could have been
spent on housing but instead it was used to get some has been comedian
to lure you into the ideal of h.b.c,s privatisation policy...... so lets give you the facts... check em out yourself...please... the goverment have 42 billion
pounds to spend on us, so in reality this deal didnt need to happen....h.b.c.
could have claimed this money direct from the gov but chose to privatise before anyone could find out about the gov deal (42bil) .... i smell a rat that
involves back-handers and swindelling mr public ..... hyndburn homes are cowboys
who should have been replaced a long time ago by competant people, money
is irrelevent, its how its spent.... now you have lost your right to complain...
you voted yes... you live with the consequences .... just dont expect me to
bow down to monkeys..... just remember its not not delapidated housing that
makes slums.... its the human garbage in it.... :)

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Your preaching to the converted here real michael. I already know the shower of sh*te couldn't run a p**s up in a brewery. Just for the record Contour/Hyndburn Homes didn't get my vote ;)

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& voting no - what would that done except keep the existing HBC rubbish anyway & no chance of any works, ive lived on estates in another town & seen what failing councils do if no change & that is run their housing down to the point of refusing repairs with exception to emergency repairs or H&S but anything else auto refused, to the point people moved out leaving it a dire mess of boarded up homes worse than was longsdale or regen phaze 2!! Now are taken over by twin valleys & those houses were knocked down & rebuilt probably a lovely place to live now, so im reliably told:D

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why can private companies who build houses put them up quicker than the council or h/a can fit a bathroom and kitchen,it just goes to show that they are really slack in there work

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LOL Jackyalex, i think ours will take a year before we get anyone up maybe longer lol

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Decent standard, your hoping. Maybe I'll upload some pics of these flats after they've been bought up to standard. One of the units is still old, electrics sockets hanging off. But then we stayed council, not housing ass.
Strange thing has happened today though, I got a hand delivered letter from Mike O Brian, the mp.
"I am concerned about the recent managment crisis at North Warwickshire Borough Council. There have been internal investigations, senior staff have been suspended, the police have been involved and I believe services to tenants have been affected. Most of the problems have arisen in the housing works department. "

No wonder our stairway lighting hasn't worked for one and half years.

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iv got to ring up for my appointment to sort all the kitchens ect but after reading all this its kinda put me off im not happy with them as it is because weve just recantly moved in this house thay left us with a toilet that leacks all over the floor plus no bin for our rubbish it took allmost a month to get 2 bins and all the recilin bins but thay still havnt removed a shed full of rubbish from when we moved in now im havin to keep an eye out for rats as this rubbish has been in the shed for 5month now and all the hot weather hasnt helped i think if i get rats ill be goin to our local mp with a complaint i might even give him a sample