Hi meg&mog The first thing I would do is write to the council asking for confirmation as to which improvement is being carried out at your property and explain the issue with the added downstairs toilet and if possible if a Clerk of Works could visit your property so you can show them this issues before any works start and to speed the process along. You also say that your son has autism so I would try and speak to the social work/occupational therapist/gp and explain the issues for the removal of the toilet and if they would do a letter as this way it backs up your case for getting the toilet removed. Hope this helps

Hi detoxdj Sorry to hear about your problem but please bear in mind yes you were not medically discharged but this happened during your service and is still an ongoing problem. Please give the Veterans Agency a call and ask to speak to a welfare rights officer or even better if one could visit you at home. As this happened during service they would be able to advise you if you are entitled to claim for a War Pension and if so even help you fill in the paperwork. It does not matter if you were medically discharged from MOD or not to claim a War Pension. They will also be able to give you advice if you are entitled to anything else. Hope this Helps

Hi AliCat69 As you point out you are one fire exit less, this is a fire safety issue as well so I would contact your local fire station and ask their advice and possibly to visit to do a fire inspection of the building pointing out the fire exit blocked off by the council.

Hi Wheelbarrowboy The main thing to remember is the Tenancy Agreement your parents signed that states its the Housing Associations responsibility to maintain all appliances. As the letter seems to imply that they are changing this Tenancy agreement which is a legal document by stating that once the warranty runs out, it will be the tenants responsibility for rectifying any faults. Write to them and ask for clarification on this i.e. as the letter seems to imply that the Housing Association is changing (put the tenancy agreement name,date and the full paragraph stating the clause about the appliances) are they going to be issued a new tenancy agreement. In the letter sent by the Housing Associations letter what appliances are they refering to as it does not states this ask for clarification. As its a Housing Association that Tenancy Agreement is a legal Document and with that clause in the agreement is to your parents benefit as I said above the letter seems to imply they are amending this clause and if so you would have to clarify this by writing to them but head it Formal Complaint as these have to be logged on file. Also remember if they say they are renewing the agreement and removing that clause they cant just backdate it being a legal document without your parents consent. Please bear in mind this is through knowledge not legal. Hope this is of some help

Hi emaconway Sorry to hear about your situation but i would let your doctor know about the mould issue as this may be inflaming your asthma. Also contact your local council enviromental health department and ask their advice explaing the mould issue. hope this helps

Hi Dotty50 I agree with Mr Shed write to the letting agent pointing out that they need to give you 24hrs notice in writing. Yes your Letting Agent/Landlord is allowed reasonable access to the property but must give you the tenants at least 24hours notice in writing, if they continue to use the clause we gave you a phone call but no one answered put it in your letter that you want notified in writing 24hr minimum in advance and that one of the tenants must be present. Please bear in mind you have a right to privacy and the agent/landlord just letting themselves in wrong because who is to say they havent done this before and went looking at your individual property or worse something is stolen from the property. They are not being reasonable with you the tenants and have no write to let themselves into that property for viewings the way they are doing. As for changing the locks be careful with that as you would have to put that in writing to the letting agent/landlord requesting permission to do this and you would still have to give the letting agent/landlord a set of keys for the new locks. Hope this help

Hi davey 1978 As you are in Social Housing like myself your Housing Association will have a policy for Medical Needs/Circumstances in there housing application forms but these also require physical evidence of your partner needs ie letters from doctors/hospital consultant. a) Ask your Doctor better still Hospital Consultant for a letter from them as it has more punch explaining your partners problems. b) Contact your local Social Work Department and ask for the Occupational Health Teams number your local council will have these details and ask them for a visit to assess your partners need and if adaptions to the property are required they are the people that can action this via your housing association. (most social housing association get a grant each year for adaptions but require evidence and thats where the Occupational Health Team come in to play espically if they say your partner need certain adaption they put they request in to the housing association on your partners behalf). c) Dont forget to also speak to your housing association about this as they may be unaware of your circumstances and can also give you some advice also ask they for the medical needs form but tell them why. Hope this helps

Hi Willie Nelson Another issue that seems to have been missed her is that your Landlord has also broke the Data Protection Act by giving you an Inventory for the property with the previous tenants details on that form which breaches the Data Protection Act.

Hi xoAmyox Im afraid you are only correct if the month on month agreement does not have a clause in it refering to the original 6 month tenancy agreement and the terms and conditions for ending/notice period which as Saint2k has pointed out there is unfortunately.

Hi Saint2k The only way around this would really to be very polite and enquire with your Landlord/Agency if it was possible to amend the terms to one months written notice since your have be their longer than the initial 6 months and try enquiring before you have to sign your next months rolling. Hope this helps

Hi Saint2k You need to check that the month to month 'rolling agreement' does not refer back to the terms and conditions in the initial six month short assured Tenancy agreement because if it does i'm afraid you would have to give two months notice. If it does not and the rolling agreement does not state generally its one month but also check with your Landlord/Agency/Housing. Hope this helps

Hi Banl I would contact your Local Council (Ask who deals with Private Landlords) and tell them the issue as councils keep a register and as the property was muliple occupany they would have to be issued with a HSMO by the council any. Not really much else you can do except seek legal advice from Citizens Advice Beauru, Shelter or Solicitor

Hi There what everyone seems to be forgetting you says the sound disruption is throught the building you are in and all properties are affected by this issue. If every tenant is affected put complaint after complaint in but put it in writing as this affect all tenants try to get together as a group and complain even a petition signed by all tenants in the Building. Also your HA were wrong for even telling you that the neighbour concerned could be evicted as thats the courts decision not theres. Also contact your Local Councils Enviromental Health Department as a lot of Councils have Noise Teams that have specialized equipment that can tell the nosie levels. Hope this helps

Hi Ploddertom I would also ask the landlord for a copy of his investigation report that concluded you were responsible for the damage. Also there are Health and Safety issues especially if this is the only WC in the commercial lease and if they employ staff.

Hi timeldo Best advice if you are unclear as to what the termanology in there document means as tell them that you require the document in plain english so you can understand this part of the document or for a letter explaining this part of the agreement as then you have a documented evidence. I would also be careful signing this document as the wording 'Without Prejudice' means they do not accept liability and also with them refering to a covenant what covanant and have you actually been given a copy of this covanent. It sounds as if the property you are going to sign for has some sort of covenant on the property which tends to means different thing and you should have been given a copy of this to read with this agreement so that you know what the covenant was as to what you can an cannot do. Please be cautious as the wording 'Without Prejudice' is a classic get out clause for them meaning they do not accept liability. SO basically even is there are spelling mistakes, agreement terms wrong etc in the document once you have signed this document you have accepted this they have already told you by this wording they are not Liable so you would have issues if you ever had a claim against them.

Hi Georgesdragon am ex forces myself and another route to help you that you may not have considered being in the forces and overseas is there any Royal British Legion associations or is there a local Hive as they tend to have info or may be able to get you in touch with someone that may help ease the pressure with trying to deal with this many miles from your parents with i know is stressful. I would also try and speak to your OC confidentialy as sometimes they have contacts or may be able to try an point you in the right direction for someone to help and advise from your side. Hope this is of help

Hi georgesdragon sorry to hear about your parents situation but you will need to get all documentation,legal agreements signed by your parents and have a good read as these may explain in more detail your parents situation. It sounds as if this company that is dealing with the we buy your house you rent it back is in some sort of predicament as why else would they come round and ask for cash up front. I would be questioning why they want CASH up front when this is coming out by direct debit for so long with no problem and personally I would not hand over any cash in person. My advice would be to visit your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau taking with you the following: - All documentation/legal agreements between your parents and this company. - All bank statements showing the Direct Debits going to this Company. - The letter of reposession from the Building Society. I would also write to the Company concerned asking why they are wanting cash in hand when this is coming out by direct debit and also enclose a copy of the reposession order and ask why this is happening and for a copy of your parents statements to be sent to them. Another thing you could do is an internet search for any details of this company and its goings on. I would do all this pretty fast as the Building Society has gone for reposession for a reason and was the actual letter from the building society addressed to your parents our just the present occupier. Please Please seek immediate advice from the Citizens Advice Buearu or legal representation

Thanks newSADH Nop they have not been advised of any of that but i still find the diagnosis by the plumber strange from only turning on the taps especially since theres is also the only property affected by the loss of water supply. They know themselves that if it was frozen pipes to be wary incase of burst pipes when they thaw. Thanks again

Hi All Your help is much appreciated just a small update Have just checked his HA handbook and according to the Right to Repair his HA had 24hrs to complete repair. He did report this repair over a week ago to which they sent out a plumber who in 2 minutes flat diagnosed frozen pipes by doing what the tenant done by turning on the taps only which i witnessed and was a bit surprised as to how he reached this conclusion by only turning taps on but hey there the professionals. Because of this diagnosis the HA response is that the pipes need to defrost so there is nothing they can do until then so they are supplying limited amounts of bottled water. Where does he now stand can the HA say for example well we followed the right to repair as our contractor was out within the agreed 24hr period so we followed the rules and cant complete repair until pipes have thawed. I only ask this as i think this is the sort of stance they would take. Thanks again everyone

Hi all Many thanks for your advice sadly my friend is still no better off and still without a water supply except bottled water. They have checked again with the water board but still same responce its not the water boards mains issue its the landlords supply therefore landlords responsibility. As its xmas all HA offices are closed until 2011 and as the diagnosis at the begining of this was frozen pipe all that happens when you contact the out of hours number is that their is nothing we can do, do you have enough bottled water, will pass on to duty person.

my friend who is a disabled HA tenant has been left with no water supply hot or cold, they state frozen pipes and are only supplying a limited amount of bottled water and not taking into account this person is disabled. Has now been left like this for seven days with no proper washing facilities, no toilet facilities, no hot or cold water only given a limited amount of bottled water but having to complain each time to get this They did contact the water board to be told its not a mains water supply issue but your landlords with the proprties supply as no other properties in your area affected. Please Please any help and advice much appreciated Help