Advice Please

[tezza1234]

me my wife and child (expecting number 2 also) currently live in a 2 bed ground floor HA flat,

the flat is in a block of 12 with 3 floors, with 4 flats on each floor.

 

Now the communal hallways on the ground floor seems to be used as a dumping ground for push chairs and bikes ect..

.. (even though there is a out-building for bikes which is only for our block and has each flat has a key for)

 

Now every now and again the HA does write a letter to each flat asking for everything to be removed from the communal area as its a fire hazard ect..

.. Then a few days later all is gone..

.. for about 12 hours then builds up again and within 2 days its all back.

 

Now being on the ground floor it directly affects us as a family,

 

My boy has already caught his cheek on the handle bars for a bike causing a bruise. and my mother and sister in law

dont like to visit as they are both in wheelchairs and cant get past unless i go and move it all out the way first.

 

I have emailed our Housing Officer numerous times regarding this and tried to call, but shes always on holiday, in meetings,gone home ect..... and ive never had a reply to emails.

 

What is my next step,

its just getting worse and worse and apart from being a pain it is a fire hazard.

 

Now we appreciate we have a HA flat and are thankful hence respect the rules,

but it seems most dont,

 

It is a new build property (well 3 years now) and its already a mess in some areas of the communal parts.

[matt v atos]

Formal complaint stage 1 to housing officer email email email.

[tezza1234]

I have sent numerous emails, to which all are ignored

[matt v atos]

I have sent numerous emails, to which all are ignored

 

Not even the notification reply" Thank you for your email. We will process your request within 48 hours".

[tezza1234]

Not even the notification reply" Thank you for your email. We will process your request within 48 hours".

 

Ive only had a automated reply when my HO has not been in, something along the lines of, thank you for your email, Mrs xxxxxxx is out of the office today and will respond to this email on her return which is xxxxxxxx. Otherwise nothing. Even when phoning its just a message saying,not at desk, in meeting, back in tomorrow, off sick ect...

[stu007]

Hi

 

Make a formal complaint in writing to them and title the letter 'Formal Complaint' and explain the lack of response to your emails complaining about the same issue which is not only a Fire Hazard but a Health and Safety Risk and that the Housing Association should be more pro active about such an issue within it properties since they are responsible for the communal areas.

 

Another approach is to also speak to your local Fire Station on issue and explain it to them, they may decide to pop over for a look.

[ericsbrother]

Write to the Governing Body of the HA and tell them that you have made numerous complaints to the local bos who did not give you the courtesy of a reply. Tell them about the injury and that they are as responsible for any injury as the person who left the bkie there as the hA has been notified of the problem and that they will be named in any action if your child suffers further injury.

[tezza1234]

So just an update, never did receive a letter a email or a call regarding the issue, but the HA did do something to show willing. Stuck a poxy leaflet on the information board in the communal area saying 'blocking the communal area could be the same as blocking a escape route in a fire......

Been up for about a week now, has it worked, nope..... Joke, im seething.

What would happen if i took all the bikes and cars to the tip, or threw in the bike shed (where they belong) im sure i would get done for criminal damage.

[tezza1234]

Just thinking also if i want to be pedantic, we pay a service charge on top of our rent which is for the cleaning of the communal hallways and window cleaning once every 2 weeks. Well in nearly 3 years, our windows have never been cleaned, our rent has gone up by £12 in the 2 full years which a proportion includes a increase in service charges, So if im paying for a service which is not being done, am i entitled to a refund.

 

The HA has really got my back up ignoring all attempts to communicate over the hallway issue so now im picking holes in the service we pay for and don't receive