Council House - Applying for a new Kitchen and Bathroom - Home Swap
23 answers /
Last post: 09/11/2023 at 12:22 am
Anonymous
27/01/2014 at 10:32 am
Hi Mums and All,
Just wondering if anyone has applied for a new kitchen and bathroom in their council house before? if so, how long did you have to wait after you initially applied?
We are applying to do a home swap with a council tenant who has had no work done there at all for 20 yrs! iv called the council and spoke to a mean woman who said we take the house as it is. wtf does that mean? thats hardly fair, the lady whos living there can not cope with the house and she has let it get in a bad way, she cant seem to arrange a time for the council to come round and so never gets anything fixed. Do we really have to fix these things as well? we'll be paying rent (we both work) so i dont see why we should pay to upkeep their house (i mean things like the roof and probs with the windows, not things like decorating of course)? are they feeding me rubbish? they also say we could be waiting 5 years on the list for a new kitchen and bathroom? is this accurate or is she trying to put me off or fob me off??
Advice really appreciated from people in the know lol
(im not going to appreciate any sarky comments like if i want a nice home to privately rent or buy my own home. we've got three very young children, me and my partner both work so claim no benefits we just are not in a position to buy and we would be extremely tight paying private rent prices. thanks)
Just wondering if anyone has applied for a new kitchen and bathroom in their council house before? if so, how long did you have to wait after you initially applied?
We are applying to do a home swap with a council tenant who has had no work done there at all for 20 yrs! iv called the council and spoke to a mean woman who said we take the house as it is. wtf does that mean? thats hardly fair, the lady whos living there can not cope with the house and she has let it get in a bad way, she cant seem to arrange a time for the council to come round and so never gets anything fixed. Do we really have to fix these things as well? we'll be paying rent (we both work) so i dont see why we should pay to upkeep their house (i mean things like the roof and probs with the windows, not things like decorating of course)? are they feeding me rubbish? they also say we could be waiting 5 years on the list for a new kitchen and bathroom? is this accurate or is she trying to put me off or fob me off??
Advice really appreciated from people in the know lol
(im not going to appreciate any sarky comments like if i want a nice home to privately rent or buy my own home. we've got three very young children, me and my partner both work so claim no benefits we just are not in a position to buy and we would be extremely tight paying private rent prices. thanks)
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Featured reply
Chosen by Netmums
Polly L(45) - 06/09/2022
Hi everyone,
Netmums Moderator here, just popping in to add a link to some official info...
The government website says:
"Your council is responsible for making sure:
- the structure of your property is kept in good condition – this includes the walls, ceiling, roof and windows
- gas and electricity appliances work safely
- shared parts of a building or housing estate are kept in good condition
Your council will have a published policy setting out the timescales in which it will carry out different types of repairs."
So your best bet is to check your local council's website, to see if that matches what the council advisor is telling you (or even ask her if you can see their published policies). If you're still not happy, perhaps you could consider contacting Citizen's Advice, to see what they say?
It's also worth noting that the government website implies that you're responsible for your own kitchen and bathroom:
"If you’re a secure tenant, you have the right to carry out improvements to your property. These include:
- installing a new bathroom or kitchen"
You can read more here: https://www.gov.uk/council-housing/repairs-and-maintenance
Good luck!
Anonymous
27/01/2014 at 10:48 am
They normally do schemes where they offer you a new bathroom OR kitchen.
The council are very reluctant to do anything, we don't have a toilet upstairs, we only have one downstairs and i asked them to put a toilet upstairs due to the fact I have small children and they can't go downstairs in the middle of the night to go to the loo and they wouldn't put one in and I had a new bathroom as part of a scheme but they still didn't put a new toilet in, they put a new shower but no toilet? Wtf! And they won't remove an old fireplace from the cling room even though the fire has been capped off they want me to keep it there even without it working!
The council only do urgent repairs that are necessary. If the kitchen it bathroom is in a really bad state then they should replace it for the new tenant (you) but of it's still in good condition of working order they won't change it.
It's ridiculous really because the council expect you to live on horrible houses
Sent from my iPhone using Netmums
The council are very reluctant to do anything, we don't have a toilet upstairs, we only have one downstairs and i asked them to put a toilet upstairs due to the fact I have small children and they can't go downstairs in the middle of the night to go to the loo and they wouldn't put one in and I had a new bathroom as part of a scheme but they still didn't put a new toilet in, they put a new shower but no toilet? Wtf! And they won't remove an old fireplace from the cling room even though the fire has been capped off they want me to keep it there even without it working!
The council only do urgent repairs that are necessary. If the kitchen it bathroom is in a really bad state then they should replace it for the new tenant (you) but of it's still in good condition of working order they won't change it.
It's ridiculous really because the council expect you to live on horrible houses
Sent from my iPhone using Netmums
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Anonymous
27/01/2014 at 12:22 pm
The council are responsible for keeping the house in a good state or repair so if the roof was leaking or the window frames were rotten they would be expected to repair them.
As for putting in a new bathroom and kitchen, I think it will depend on the area where you live and how much money is budgeted for that type of home improvement. At the moment councils are on a tight budget so what they consider to be essential work will take priority. If the toilet is leaking then they will repair/replace it but won't put a whole new bathroom suite in.
I think what the lady from the council is saying is that if you wish to swap houses you are doing so knowing the condition of the place as it is at the moment, and that only the essential repairs will be carried out, anything else which will be regarded as home improvements you will have to go on a waiting list for.
It might be worth looking at your local council's website to see what they will/will not do.
As for putting in a new bathroom and kitchen, I think it will depend on the area where you live and how much money is budgeted for that type of home improvement. At the moment councils are on a tight budget so what they consider to be essential work will take priority. If the toilet is leaking then they will repair/replace it but won't put a whole new bathroom suite in.
I think what the lady from the council is saying is that if you wish to swap houses you are doing so knowing the condition of the place as it is at the moment, and that only the essential repairs will be carried out, anything else which will be regarded as home improvements you will have to go on a waiting list for.
It might be worth looking at your local council's website to see what they will/will not do.
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Anonymous
27/01/2014 at 1:21 pm
Exchanges you have to sign a form saying you take the house as it is, your have to be on a new development scheme for new kitchen and bathroom I think you just have to keep ringing and asking but you could be waiting for a while if your desperate to exchange you might have to consider redoing the kitchen and bathroom yourself as the council isn't reliable and don't rush theirselves. They won't do no repairs untill you have been in the property for 6 months
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Anonymous
27/01/2014 at 1:48 pm
It's such a difficult situation. I completely understand as when I took my house just under 3 yrs ago, it sounded much the same- kitchen was from the 70's and cupboard doors were hanging off, bathroom was disgusting and there's no way I'd bath let alone put my children into it! I am on my own and work, pay my £285 a WEEK rent plus bills, council tax, etc. I replaced my kitchen- fitted it myself and purchased unit by unit to get by! As for the bathroom, it came from B&Q, again, purchased items 1 by 1 as/when I could. I really would no rely on the council. Other properties in my area have ad garages painted, new front doors, etc, but I somehow get left behind. Have a search around for bargain prices. Good luck x
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Anonymous
27/05/2014 at 12:57 pm
If you do a council swap take a hamer and smash up the Bathroom. If you claim the old tenant did this before they left then they are obligated to replace. Baths are difficult to replace but old toilets are easy. Don't try smashing tiles as they will only renew the broken ones lol. The tenant who I swapped this did this and got a new loo, taps, sink and bath panel.
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Anonymous
27/05/2014 at 2:17 pm
In answer to
Anonymous
If you do a council swap take a hamer and smash up the Bathroom. If you claim the old tenant did this before they left then they are obligated to replace. Baths are difficult to replace but old toilets are easy. Don't try smashing tiles as they will only renew the broken ones lol. The tenant who I swapped this did this and got a new loo, taps, sink and bath panel.
That's so wrong blaming it on the tenant as they will get charged for the damage! Really wouldn't recommend taking this advice OP as rhe previous tenant will have to pay for the damage
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Anonymous
27/05/2014 at 5:25 pm
When u do a swap you have to sign and say will take as it is, the council/ housing association will only update the kitchen/ bathroom when the property comes up for renewal. This maybe in 6 months or 6 years just depends.
If the house is in the right area for u and right size I personally would accept it as its so hard to get a perfect swap.
All houses have to be in a fit state and when u have inspections they will tell the tennant that blah blah blah needs doing before u can swap! Its very stressful but worth it!
We have done 2 swaps first a multi with 2 other parties, 2nd a straight swap!
If the house is in the right area for u and right size I personally would accept it as its so hard to get a perfect swap.
All houses have to be in a fit state and when u have inspections they will tell the tennant that blah blah blah needs doing before u can swap! Its very stressful but worth it!
We have done 2 swaps first a multi with 2 other parties, 2nd a straight swap!
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Anonymous
27/05/2014 at 5:51 pm
Ino in my area kitchens get replaced every 25 years and bathrooms every 30 years. Also like previous posters have said you take the property as it is. If there are any leaks in roofs or damp problems with boiler ect then yes they get fixed by your housing association but if its just "updating" that you want they probably wont do it.
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Anonymous
28/10/2014 at 6:34 pm
Hi I had the same problem with my housing trust ,I exchanged with someone last year and unfortunately didn't take much notice of the kitchen when I moved in I noticed that there were no wall units and only 1cupboard under the sink and barely any work surfaces .when I rang my housing they said because I exchanged it was down to me to refurb the kitchen .also the kitchen is not due to be replaced till 2021 so that's makes it 15 years since it was last done ?
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Can't find your answer?
Anonymous
22/06/2015 at 8:37 am
How can you find out how old your kitchen and bathroom are in a council place?
We were moved into emergency housing after being unable to pay for private rent. The flat was in a horrible state and we have spent nearly £2000 decorating and making it nice. But the kitchen and bathroom suite aren't in a very nice condition at all and we are unable to replace them. Thanks
We were moved into emergency housing after being unable to pay for private rent. The flat was in a horrible state and we have spent nearly £2000 decorating and making it nice. But the kitchen and bathroom suite aren't in a very nice condition at all and we are unable to replace them. Thanks
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Anonymous
22/06/2015 at 9:23 am
I haven't read all the replies but with a home swap, someone from the council or housing association comes out to do an inspection. If anything is broken, holes in walls doors etc need to be fixed. I have exchanged about 4 times so I know that you don't take it how it is unless there's no damage. The decoration is your problem not theirs same as flooring/carpets
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Anonymous
22/06/2015 at 9:26 am
Also, things like new kitchens and bathrooms it depends on when this lady had it done. When I phoned up for my kitchen, they told me it was anything between 3-5 years so in one of my previous houses my ex (at the time partner) fitted our own kitchen the previous owners had a fire in the kitchen and there was barely any units etc, so it was something we did ourselves.
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Anonymous
06/03/2020 at 12:41 pm
In answer to
Anonymous
Hi Mums and All,
Just wondering if anyone has applied for a new kitchen and bathroom in their council house before? if so, how long did you have to wait after you initially applied?
We are applying to do a home swap with a council tenant who has had no work done there at all for 20 yrs! iv called the council and spoke to a mean woman who said we take the house as it is. wtf does that mean? thats hardly fair, the lady whos living there can not cope with the house and she has let it get in a bad way, she cant seem to arrange a time for the council to come round and so never gets anything fixed. Do we really have to fix these things as well? we'll be paying rent (we both work) so i dont see why we should pay to upkeep their house (i mean things like the roof and probs with the windows, not things like decorating of course)? are they feeding me rubbish? they also say we could be waiting 5 years on the list for a new kitchen and bathroom? is this accurate or is she trying to put me off or fob me off??
Advice really appreciated from people in the know lol
(im not going to appreciate any sarky comments like if i want a nice home to privately rent or buy my own home. we've got three very young children, me and my partner both work so claim no benefits we just are not in a position to buy and we would be extremely tight paying private rent prices. thanks)
Just wondering if anyone has applied for a new kitchen and bathroom in their council house before? if so, how long did you have to wait after you initially applied?
We are applying to do a home swap with a council tenant who has had no work done there at all for 20 yrs! iv called the council and spoke to a mean woman who said we take the house as it is. wtf does that mean? thats hardly fair, the lady whos living there can not cope with the house and she has let it get in a bad way, she cant seem to arrange a time for the council to come round and so never gets anything fixed. Do we really have to fix these things as well? we'll be paying rent (we both work) so i dont see why we should pay to upkeep their house (i mean things like the roof and probs with the windows, not things like decorating of course)? are they feeding me rubbish? they also say we could be waiting 5 years on the list for a new kitchen and bathroom? is this accurate or is she trying to put me off or fob me off??
Advice really appreciated from people in the know lol
(im not going to appreciate any sarky comments like if i want a nice home to privately rent or buy my own home. we've got three very young children, me and my partner both work so claim no benefits we just are not in a position to buy and we would be extremely tight paying private rent prices. thanks)
Mine needs doing but council have said I've got to wait another 10 years. be4 I can have a new kitchen. I need new cupboard hinges but if they ain't broken council want replace. Having a laugh or what.
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louise o(179)
06/05/2020 at 6:08 pm
If you replace kitchens/bathrooms at your cost and anything goes wrong council won't repair it as it's not their property. My sister put a new kitchen in as there was a long wait and had a problem with her hot tap. Council wouldn't do anything. Most council properties kitchen/bathrooms are expected to last up to 30 years. If you exchange, you exchange as is.
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