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Decent Homes ripped mine apart
• I AM one of the unlucky tenants who is having my flat ripped apart under the Decent Homes scheme.
I have lived in my flat for 30 years, and over time I have made a lot of improvements, most of which have now been lost.
I have fitted a kitchen from a well-known supplier and I asked if I could just have new doors to match the worktop that was fitted by the council.
I was told no, and so my wife agreed to this. When I looked at the plans a bit later I called the contractors back to point out that what they had planned would mean that we would be unable to open the window (as they open inwards) and would hit the cupboards.
They are now fitted, but are of a cheap quality and smaller than normal.
I have found out why the cupboards look odd, with doors opening the wrong way and handles in the wrong place.
The designers only ordered right-handed cupboards.
One workman spent two days trying to fit a door on the other side, which wasn’t drilled.
I also told them that I wanted to keep the tiles I had, which went from the worktop to the cupboards, but was told they were unable to do this and that I would be given three rows of plain white tiles.
I had also tiled my bathroom and toilet, from floor to ceiling, so I asked if I could keep my tiles or that my bath and sink be left, as there was nothing wrong with them.
The workers could not understand and proceeded to smash all the tiles off the toilet wall. I have now been left with the standard three rows of white tiles, as set out by Camden Council.
A qualified electrician had fitted double electrical points, which have now been removed and replaced with single ones.
They tried to put surface-mounted wiring, but I stopped them, and they just pulled it through.
I have been let down time and time
I kept on phoning them to find out where they were, but they didn’t answer.
On one occasion I phoned them, and no one answered, and it went to voicemail.
So I hung up and used a friend’s phone and they answered straight away.
I have had to give up my time, because they have let me down by not turning up to do the work.
I have also had to give up my bank holiday as they are coming to put right all the poor workmanship.
I now live in an indecent home through this council, because they are treating tenants as second-class citizens.
All tenants should vote against this council at the next election.
K Flanagan, NW5
Losing out
• I MUST respond to the unsigned letter (What have the tenants got to lose? May 21).
My husband and I, owned a lovely little terraced house in Raglan Street, Kentish Town.
In 1960-61, the then county council made a compulsory purchase order and the whole street was demolished.
We were then rehoused at Farjeon House. We received just £200 for the land our house stood on.
Your correspondent says they have used their pension policies to purchase their home. How dare they assume we have nothing to lose.
We have lived here for 48 years and my husband and I have kept that flat in immaculate condition, in all those years, as have a lot of other tenants in our block.
Norma Boyle
Hilgrove Road, NW6
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