Local authorities, and carpets

[Harry Bloomfield]

In the news at the moment, is the ridiculous situation, of when someone moves out of council property, the property has to be totally cleared of everything - furniture, floor coverings, and carpet, irrespective of the condition of the items. The person then moving in, is faced with massive initial expense, to cover the bare floors - what a fantastic waste, of time, and money.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

What's worse. Carpets in dirty, possibly flea ridden condition, or no carpets? At what point are they clean, or dirty ?

It's a difficult call for any authority to be able to give an instruction on how to assess, so probably easier to just empty.

No easy answer, but people desperate for accomodation almost certainly can't afford what many would call basics.

 

[Deleted member 317777]

In the news at the moment, is the ridiculous situation, of when someone moves out of council property, the property has to be totally cleared of everything - furniture, floor coverings, and carpet, irrespective of the condition of the items. The person then moving in, is faced with massive initial expense, to cover the bare floors - what a fantastic waste, of time, and money.

I see rented houses re-rented with the carpets left intact. 100’s a year, hardly any get changed. Only when they are needed.

As I’ve said before, councils aren’t fit to run a tap.

What's worse. Carpets in dirty, possibly flea ridden condition, or no carpets? At what point are they clean, or dirty ?

It's a difficult call for any authority to be able to give an instruction on how to assess, so probably easier to just empty.

No easy answer, but people desperate for accomodation almost certainly can't afford what many would call basics.

More of your waffle.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I see rented houses re-rented with the carpets left intact. 100’s a year, hardly any get changed. Only when they are needed.

They seem to be suggesting it's a blanket rule, here, irrespective of how new, clean, or dirty they are.

 

[Deleted member 317777]

They seem to be suggesting it's a blanket rule, here, irrespective of how new, clean, or dirty they are.

It’s ridiculous. Next you won’t be able to sell a house and leave the carpets!

You couldn’t make up nonsense like this

 

[Tigercubrider]

Having done a quick google, apparently it’s a liability issue to protect the social housing people from climate change against hygiene claims and health and safety .
I don’t know the rules for carpets in owner occupier homes but is it possible that the social housing don’t want to be lumbered with carpet that may not fit fire regs?
My brother had a council flat as a key worker and it was all vinyl tiles.

 

[MNW67]

Having done a quick google, apparently it’s a liability issue to protect the social housing people from climate change against hygiene claims and health and safety .
I don’t know the rules for carpets in owner occupier homes but is it possible that the social housing don’t want to be lumbered with carpet that may not fit fire regs?
My brother had a council flat as a key worker and it was all vinyl tiles.

???

 

[gas112]

They seem to be suggesting it's a blanket rule, here, irrespective of how new, clean, or dirty they are.

We had this very conversation with head of housing especially regards sheltered housing for the elderly which by its very nature has i high turn over ,
Brand new carpets/ curtains blinds etc .
We said you know who the house is being allocated to so let them view the house first and decide whether they want to keep the existing instead of going to the ££££ in expense
His reply was oh does this not happen it does make sense . 8 years later it still has not been implemented .

 

[gas112]

Having done a quick google, apparently it’s a liability issue to protect the social housing people from climate change against hygiene claims and health and safety .
I don’t know the rules for carpets in owner occupier homes but is it possible that the social housing don’t want to be lumbered with carpet that may not fit fire regs?
My brother had a council flat as a key worker and it was all vinyl tiles.

A lot of tiles in 1960s properties contained asbestos

 

[ic1927]

Surely its cheaper, and more enviromentally friendly, to steam clean/shampoo the carpets than replace them?

 

[gas112]

Surely its cheaper, and more enviromentally friendly, to steam clean/shampoo the carpets than replace them?

Have you ever worked in housing be it local authority or private there is absolutely no way you could do this in a helluva lot of the shyte holes .
We are talking carpet covered in animal and human excrement and years and years of grime.
One of tricks is put a sheet of white paper down and stamp your feet and watch the flees jumping to it

 

[ic1927]

Have you ever worked in housing be it local authority or private there is absolutely no way you could do this in a helluva lot of the shyte holes .
We are talking carpet covered in animal and human excrement and years and years of grime

Fair enough, and yeah I've worked in loads, but not all floor coverings are fit for the skip.

 

[gas112]

Fair enough, and yeah I've worked in loads, but not all floor coverings are fit for the skip.

which i said earlier

 

[blup]

In the news at the moment, is the ridiculous situation, of when someone moves out of council property, the property has to be totally cleared of everything - furniture, floor coverings, and carpet, irrespective of the condition of the items. The person then moving in, is faced with massive initial expense, to cover the bare floors - what a fantastic waste, of time, and money.

It’s a standard condition in social housing tenancies afaik, and reflects the fact that the majority of floor coverings are not fit for new tenancies, and, more generally the fact that over the years, tenants have become responsible for more and more of the maintenance costs

 

[mattylad]

ISTR that Martin Lewis has been campaigning for councils to not do this by default, instead to do an inspection and assessment and consultation with the new tenant.

Whilst yes there are lots that are absolutely awful, many will also be in a good condition and acceptable by the new tenant.