Before anyone asks...

Yes, there was a council contact after my last posting!

The phone rang and a woman identified herself -NOT by name- as calling from Bristol City Council. I was ready but rather than any non-existent complaint or follow up about repairs I was asked whether "as you've experienced problems at the property" I might consider moving.  There were two properties becoming available after Christmas "Both outside Bristol". 

I asked WHICH problems she was referring to but she ignored me and described both the available properties as "very nice". I said I was NOT considering moving.  I then moved on the out-standing repairs and the gap in the roof.  "Oh that's not my department. No hole in the rooves of the two properties on offer though!"

I then asked for her name -which she did not like and avoided.  I then told her I had to be insistent that she identify herself.  I was told that if I was not interested in either property the conversation was over".  I put the phone down first 😜😜

No doubt there is 'no record' of the call, the offer of rehousing or anything else as per usual. Maybe I need to lawyer up?

Any lawyers working for free out there?

Beyond Coincidence?

I had a bad night and did not get to sleep until around 0700 hrs. I was woken by the recycling crew once more throwing my recycle bins against the gate/fence -I appear to be the only householder getting such selective special treatment.

Anyway, I went back to sleep and then the door bell rang.  When I write "rang" I mean it rang in the sense that the person doing the ringing appeared to have no idea that you did not have to repeatedly ring it until the door opens.

I was tired and my head was throbbing and my eyes were bleary. There stood two scruffy dressed individuals -one with a Bristol Council logo on his top.  "Here to clear your guttering" he told me while playing with his phone. I pointed out that a month ago I cleared the gutterings as no one had called as promised. "Done it have you? Looks chock-a-block"  I told him again I had done the guttering but like some very annoying door-to-door salesman he would not let it go.  I explained that I was NOT going to stand on a cold wet doorstep. It was done. "Mind if I make a phone call?" he asked -I pointed out he could use his phone whenever he wanted and the matter was done with. He started his talk again and I told him to "Take it up with the council" and shut the door.

I got back to bed feeling very unwell and then the phone began to ring continuously. I got up and answered the phone "Hello. I'm calling from Bristol City Council repairs" (the ones that DO NOT talk to you on the phone "unless its an emergency"). She told me "We've got two plumbers outside your house---"  at this point I interrupted her.

I explained about having had a phone call before (she sounded exactly the same as that caller) and explaining that I had already cleared the guttering and that I was offered three dates -I declined all three and was told the 'repair' would be cancelled.  I also explained that I had had a bad night been woken by the "plumbers" and then woken by her. FOUR times she asked if I wanted the guttering done as the plumber stated it was "chock-a-block". Fourth time I told her the conversation was over and she cancelled the non-existent appointment.

Here is the thing, like the council surveyor who came to look at the roof and attic and brought no ladder or torch the two plumbers were just standing there -no equipment. Walking along the lane from my house later I looked back and could not see into my under roof guttering and I am a good 3 inches taller than the plumber. From my gateway I could not see upwards and then downwards into my guttering.  From my doorstep looking up at the guttering (and I am a full 3 inches taller than the plumber was) I could not see up and over then downward into the guttering. How could he see that it was "chock-a-block" full of debris?  The answer is that he could not.

Why turn up at a house where there is an alleged guttering clearage arranged without even the most basic equipment to check guttering or do the work?

I posted about the City Council and problems and then I got messed about the very next day by the Council.  Coincidence.  A second time I posted and the Council got in touch next day with pointless messing around. Coincidence. I post yesterday and today I get the council plumbers calling about a non existent appointment. Three times is beyond coincidence.

I did, incidentally, mention to the council caller that all I was expecting was a roofer to look at the gap in my roof. No idea what I was talking about.  No interest.

Let's see what happens tomorrow!

well,,,,

Still no sign of a roofer to check the gap in the roof.

The ceiling damage from the water that came in? "As the tenant that is your responsibility"

The external guttering that is set too high and up under the roof so any flooding of guttering comes into the house? Apparently ALL guttering is fitted to a standard but only mine pours watering in under the roof.

So while Bristol City Council slaps itself on the back over its high housing standards the reality, as this blog shows, is far from that.

Those who contacted me and explained they are too afraid to complain as council officers have told them their homes might be at risk -ie they'll be evicted if they kick up a fuss- all I can say is document everything and see a solicitir to protect your rights as a tenant.  You DO have rights as a tenant!

How Odd

After yesterday's posting I got a phone call from Bristol Council repairs. They wanted to arrange for someone to clear my gutterings after 12th December.  I pointed out that someone should have been here two weeks ago so did it myself to avoid further water leaking in.

Usual 'apology' followed by "backlog" excuse.

I asked about the water damaged ceiling, wall and the gap in the roof. After 5 minutes of checking -nothing. No record.

Exactly as I predicted and this MUST indicate that Bristol Cioty Council are "doctoring" its official repairs record.

Not even the glimmer of an apology.

As a follow up, yes, someone did turn up to "look" at the leaking ceiling. He only came up to my shoulders so my idea of having a step ladder was handy (no, he never identified himself but had his council jacket on).

I showed him the bathroom ceiling and he looked and told me "yeah, that's water coming through". I was greatly relieved at that point as I had thought I had ectoplasm leaking in. That was sarcasm.  He had no idea why a water blister (water building up between the wall and paint) had formed twice but told me "We'll keep an eye on that"....how??

He then told me that he had to go back to his van to get a ladder -I pointed to the one leaning against the wall under the attic door...he then had no torch but luckily I did.  He got to the top of the steps and shone the torch over the interior above where the water was coming in. "Looks dry and damp free" he told me.  As he had not entered the attic nor felt the roof I had my doubts.

He then said "You're supposed to have a hole in your roof -looks okay"  and so I told him to turn to the right and look up. "Oh. Right"  He saw the gap along the roof ridge.

he then went out -I took the step ladder in case and he decided he needed to check the guttering so "good call" on my part :-) I was told the guttering was clogged up and the water was spilling back into the house causing the leak.  He told me he would get someone out to clear the gutters -something I normally do every year since the council does not bother now. "I'll book it for beginning of next week. I'll also have a roofer call around to check that gap"

Off he went.

Two weeks later and I have cleared the guttering.  Absolutely no one has called around and the repairs people could not talk with me on the phone as they "only deal with emergencies".

I wonder whether a report was made or, like all the others, including the alleged past surveys, all have vanished from the record?

So there you go....oh, the council DID contact me again by phone but the individual did not identify themselves ("we don't have to give out that information for personal security") but wanted to warn me about my excessively loud music. After chattering on about the tenancy agreement (which the council NEVER upholds its end on) I asked if I might now speak?  I explained that the person she wanted lived in the property in front of mine -the music goes with the drinking and heavy pot smoking.  Name? What address number?  I have no idea but I said "They own the property -its not council" to which all interest was lost "Oh. Then that is out of our hands" and that was it. Not even the glimmer of an apology.

Complete This form...that you are not allowed to submit.

Seven days after my complaint of recycling not being collected I received this:

do_not_reply@icasework.com

To:hoopercomicsuk@yahoo.com

13 Nov at 02:26

 

Dear Mr Hooper

 

Thank you for your complaint received on 6 November 2019. I would like to thank you for bringing the matter to our attention.

 

You have expressed concerns about you recycling collections and that on this occasion you cardboard bag was not emptied.

 

The crew should be collecting cardboard if it's been folded (or cut) down, with all packaging tape removed and placed in the blue cardboard bag.

 

In order for us to process your case we need some additional information. I would therefore be grateful if you could provide me with a photograph, or description, of the contents of your cardboard bag as soon as possible. I can then pass the information onto the recycling Supervisor to investigate.

 

Please respond by clicking on the link below to ensure your response is linked to your complaint.

 

Submit your response

 

Yours sincerely

 

Ceri Carr

Customer Service Officer

Another form.  Great. But clicking the link they sent:

Which means that I cannot email them as it would be rejected as spam and cannot finish my complaint because I am not allowed....so BCC will NOT register the complaint.

Slick.

Also, the recycling company got in touch (all this on the day of collection mind you) to say they needed a photo of the cardboard recycling or a description of the item in the card recycling bag. 1. my camera isn't working.  2. the bag contains all recyclable food card packaging (which is apparently not good enough a description) which is now soaked through and wetted by local cats. Apparently this is needed so that the supervisor can use it in their investigation...the supervisor could simply call around and check....maybe explain why batteries that are on their recyclable list are taken out of the box allocated for this and dumped on the ground?

And tomorrow I get a visit so someone can "look" at my damp/dripping ceiling.

All very exciting stuff. :-/

Up date

As I predicted, tomorrow will be the 5th day since the cardboard recycling was not collected.  That will be 4 days after the promised of "missed collections will be collected by 12pm the next day".

If I were a betting man I'd say like every other time before (and there have been many (20 in the last 15 months) the recycling will be left until the next collection.  I will no longer be recycling cardboard until Bristol City Council and its publicity seeking Mayor, Mr Marvin Rees, take recycling seriously and actually collect it rather than using it for publicity purposes.

Head of Estate Management Mr Paul Bannerman is also very noticable by the absence of any form of response.

As for the leaking ceiling reported (again) on the 21st October -nothing.  Apparently a leaking ceiling is something BCC expect its tenants (but NEVER private tenants) to put up with. I am also guessing that the person coming to "take a look" on the 14th will turn up but I shall expect any repair to take months.

People: every tenant that finds themselves with a council that considers them to be nothing more than revenue sources -COMPLAIN.

Blog Stats for the record

Bristol City Council KNOWS about this blog as I have sent them links before (they just do not care) so I just checked to see how many people have read posts here.

It staggered me -25,000

So, Bristol City Council time to take notice and act FOR your tenants not against them....

....or will I get another phone call threatening legal action to force me to take down the blog?

Up Date on events

I would like to start by pointing out that my case is NOT unique. I have spoken to a lot of long time Bristol City Council tenants who have had similar problems -but not the full harassment- to those I have recorded.  The problem is that these people are scared to kick up a fuss. 

Not surprising since my local Labour MP Karyn Smith did not even bother to offer assistance when asked -and my family have always been staunch Labour supporters going back to both grand parents. My MP seems far too fond of travelling to other counties to get press coverage and forgets WHO voted for her and WHAT area she is supposed to represent.

And so Bristol City Council continue to offer a very poor service to its tenants -I for one am happy spending what time I can these days in my garden and trying to relax. I do not like complaining or being the victim of admitted harassment.

I would urge any tenant of Bristol City Council with a problem to make them known and not put up with it in silence. BCC prides itself on being "Right on" landlords and championing the environment (in the press and on radio and TV) and criticising private landlords for the very things they do.

Speak  up.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Mild irritation. BCC and its recycling is a joke. My kitchen waste and black bin often go without being collected for 2-3 weeks (the maximum was over one month). My neighbors have their recycling collected -in fact one chased after a recycling crew member on one occasion to hand him my recycling that he had totally ignored.  My waste bin and black box was not returned.

BCC has just brought in cardboard waste bags to keep everything separate. The crew member came and took my waste and black box but did not even look at the very large blue cardboard recycling bag. By the time I got outside he was gone.

I made a complaint and was told that BCC would like a photo of the contents of the recycling bag -I was told the day before that as a missed collection it would be picked up Thursday by 12 noon.  It is now Friday, 10:45 am and the waste is still there. No, I am not taking photos of now soaked through card for the recycling team -all the card packaging is clearly labelled "recyclable" anyway -the crewman NEVER even looked at the bag.  So I make a formal complaint and here are some of the questions I am asked as a tenant BECAUSE some work shy council employee did not do his job:

What is your sexual orientation?
Have you undergone gender reassignment or are you considering it?
What is your religion?
What is your ethnic background?

There were others but I think that is adequate here.  The question is what the hell does any of that have to do with a very poor recycling service?

My bet is the cardboard recycling will be left until next collection -this is what happens 100% of the time with missed waste collection.  BCC recycling is a joke.

Major annoyance. I finally got my home in order after years of having to move everything around for BCC for one thing or another and for 4 electrical surveys.  I was told in September by SSE contractors that the council had ordered a full electrical  survey in October. I contacted SSE and told them when I had already had these surveys (supposedly every 6-10 years). I was told that BCC had insisted the survey was carried out or I was breaching my tenancy agreement (apparently the tenancy agreement ONLY works for BCC -I can prove that).

I contacted Head of Estate Management Mr Paul Bannerman and explained about previous surveys -he cannot deny receiving the email as I got the receipt confirmation back (automatic). Not a word back just SSE stating that BCC had insisted on the survey.

So everything was moved from switches, plugs, light fittings (I live in a bungalow so not much room). Two electricians came to carry out the survey and one asked me when the last survey was. I said 2017 and got a puzzled look and was told that no stickers or documents showing checks were found and the fuse box was packed with dust.  I was asked what these electricians had done and told them that I left them to it. The last survey sticker was for 2004...I was living here in 2004 and there was no electrical survey (they take about an hour and a half).

The question BCC will NOT answer after being given previous survey dates is just what those who called were supposed to be doing because they moved about the house but did not check electrics. Could it be BCC realised the surveys (4???) had not been carried out which is why they were insistent to SSE that they were?  I know council tenants of 20, 30 and even 45 years standing who have never had an electrical survey.

BIG question mark.

Second major annoyance.  After we had a new boiler installed by BCC -the other broke down 4-5 times a year since 2004- I noticed a damp patch on the bathroom ceiling.  Then I noticed one (two in fact) at the other end of the ceiling. I reported it online. Nothing. I phoned but it was NOT an emergency so the BCC officer would not deal with it. I completed another online repair form -nothing.

On the 20th October 2019 I tried to report the fact that there was water dripping from the ceiling and the damp patch was now wet.  This was not, I was told, an emergency and I was to =complete an online repair form (21st October).  I was then told someone would come to "look at" the problem on the 14th November.  I reported online again that I had wet patches at both ends of the ceiling and water coming through in one area.

This was ridiculous since one damp/wet patch is near the ceiling light switch. I sat down and set Mr Paul Bannerman,  Head of Estate Management, an email explaining things. I got the automatic confirmation that the message was received. Absolutely no response.

I am guessing that the fellow who  will "look at" the problem will arrive on the 14th.

Here are some photos of what BCC  think is acceptable for its tenants but nopt private landlords tenants.

 This damp/wet patch is 31" in length but when first reported was around 4" -that patch just above the wall ornament shows the original leak spot.
Below the damp patch

Below -hopefully the dripping water is clear enough.  No heavy rain last few days so it has stopped.

Not a great photo but to the right of the light switch you can see the two spreading out patches -over 

16" in length at the moment but when reported 1-2" in length.

Mr Paul Bannerman, Head of Estate Management has copies of these photos and others highlighting the problem and I do wonder two things: how long before the two damp patches meet and would Mr Bannerman accept this in his own home along with the strong musty smell of damp -a health hazard in itself.

Perhaps the Mayor of Bristol, Mr Marvin Rees, ought to spend less time on TV, radio and the papers talking up BCC and see what they are actually doing?

Oh, yes, I still get council officers calling but not clearly identifying themselves/  To stop the ones who think they can wander around the back of the property I have blocked things off.

I remember when BCC were good landlords.  And it was bad enough when it stopped employing iots own electricians, carpenters and got in some dodgy contractors but things hit rock bottom when everything moved online with no come back for poor service. BCC closed all its offices long ago

Tip of an ice berg

Apologies in advance if I swear.

There is an ongoing problem over YEARS in that the Bristol City Council recycling collectors will not call for 2-3 weeks (on one occasion 5 weeks). My neighbors have no probelms -one has even called out to a collector that he has missed our bins...

Twisted a thigh muscle today so nort as quick at moving as normal. Recycling crewman TOOK our two bins. Looked at the new cardboard recycling bag then walked off. Everyone else had cardboard collected.

After years I thought I need to raise the matter again. Simply online form since the council will not respond to phone calls IF you find a number.

However their complaint form I considered to be a bloody disgrace. Did I write "Your lazy work shy bastards never bothered again?" No. So, for missed collections why am I asked the following:

What is your sexual orientation?

Have you undergone gender reassignment or are you considering this?

What is your marital status?

What is your ethnic group?

Are you an asylum seeker/immigrant?

Asking me those questions to my face would be very risky without some good reasons for asking. But I am reporting lazy work shy ******** for not doing their job so what do any of those things have to do with it?

I have already completed a long online feedback about the council today (they kept sending it) and I am about to complain about no action over a leaking roof.

Since everything went online and local offices were closed Bristol City Council has loved and looked for press and news columns on how hip and cool they are but they their actual service to tenants is utterly abysmal.

Never even asked whether I was a vegetarian or vegan!!

Hmm....is this a new Council Tactic?

The original purpose of this blog was not to get sympathy or anything else really but to keep a diary of what Bristol City Council have been up to.

This year I have had two calls about 'anonymous complaints' about the garden.  My question in each case was: "Could you please give me your full name and I would like to speak to your supervisor"  The response in each case was that they did not have to give their names as a matter of personal security -wrong. Also, THEY were the supervisor.  My question after this is whether they can, after 23 years, provide a copy of a written complaint or exact details of when, where and how the complaints were made.  No -"data protection" well "data protection" is not a good enough reason after threat and more threats (including at one point when I was a metre away from the council official and was wearing garden gloves, had secateurs in my hand and was surrounded by bush and tree cuttings and gardening tools) about taking action over my not gardening. In all 30 plus visits not one council official has seen anything wrong with my garden -apparently it says so on my file! No evidence -I put the phone down.

What I hope this blog has shown is that tenants of local councils -who slam private landlords- should not be afraid to speak out if they face these problems.

A year ago, when I was very ill and was awaiting a Tribunal Hearing after another "Medical assessment" resulted in my benefit being stopped, the council was made fully aware of the situation but even sent me a letter stating I would no longer be allowed to live in the property and proceedings were underway -this just as I won my appeal and the council got all of its back rent.

Despite the visit by the head of Estate Management, Paul Bannerman, a few year back and despite a total of 12 surveyors calling about repairs not one single repair has been carried out.  For a year water was gushing from a piupe under the sink -corroded pipes. Nothing done.  Letter to the City Mayor as well as a copy to a journalist friend enclosing photos of the mess -within two days visit after visit until all the pipework was replaced.

More surveyors looking at repairs -all noting this and that. Three years on -nothing done.

According to the rules there should be an electrical survey of council properties every ten years. I have neighbours who have lived in council homes 20, 35 and even 40 years and never had a survey. Guess how many I have had in ten years? SEVEN.  My property is cramped and small and I have just gotten it back to livable after the last lot of council insistence on something being done.  Now I am told everything will need to be moved again for another electrical survey -the 8th in ten years.

"Tough" is the basic council response as "I have to abide by the tenancy agreement" (apparently only I have to).  The council knows my health situation including PTSD and yet here we go again.

As a neighbour put it: "Seems they can't get you with the garden so they're using this" and this neighbour says he really wants a survey with the problems he is having.  Oddly, I have had other phone calls about my caravan or vehicle causing problems and having the relevant part of the tenancy agreement quoted at me. Well, neither I nor my neighbours have a caravan and though some of them do seem to like to reverse into my fence I have no car.,  Never driven in my life so every time I put the phone down.  Wait a few months then....another call.

The Tenancy Agreement" you sign as a tenant is strictly one way: the council wipes its hands of anything they have to do under this agreement such as repairs or dangerous footpaths.

The point is that no one who is a tenant of any council should feel they are going to be kicked out of their home.  Yes, I am highly suspicious of all these surveys of just my property  -they used a sudden survey of gas fittings at my last property to label the home unfit for human habitation despite qualified gas engineers giving everything the all clear two weeks before/ Could not be repair "because" -I get moved on and the property is demolished and redeveloped.  Always be suspicious!

Go to your MP or any other body or person you can but do not give in the bullying.  I have chatted with 20 other Bristol City Council residents who have had the same problems but are terrified of speaking out.  YOU have rights. Yes, free legal help is impossible to find but do not give up.

I will post an update when this 'survey' is carried out and my thanks to the 20,000 people who have read this blog and I hope it has helped you.