Daughter and two kids 12 and 2.5 are living in a housing association place,

about a month ago, she had water dripping from the loft hatch, and landing light, called "HA" and with in a few hours they
came round, fixed the leak, but disconnected the upstairs lights

three days later, came back and reconnected the lights
day later installed new fuse box

couple of days later, water again coming through landing ceiling, so "fix the leak" and disconnect upstairs lights
this has happend three times in about 4 weeks, and yesterday, said plumbers came out again, as another leak, and turned her water off,and upstairs lights !!! as the water tank has split

with that they buggered off, and said "they need to order a new tank" and it could be up to 3 weeks

personly i find this very disturbing, they can leave her and the kids with out water and any power upstairs,
but what can we do ?

The "ha" really dont give a stuff, and the mention of her and two kids, got the reply, "that will not make any difference"

She is frightened to put the heating on, as a neighbour said she must not, despite myself checking, and its a totally seperate system
so, were can she go with this problem as the "HA" dont give a stuff

looks like there coming to live with me for a while!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve

What sort of water tank is it? Don't know much about these things but surely you could get one from a plumbing merchants and either fit it yourself and get the plumbers to inspect it or get them to fit it. Sounds like they will be adding a considerable mark up on the tank charged to the HA. I would also be telling HA that I would be withholding rent for the time there is no water supply as a house is considered uninhabitable without and surely they must be in breach of contract if it is. Might get them to act if they think they will lose money.
I would contact Citizens Advice Bureau to see where I stood legally.

Hope you get it sorted soon
Spider.

Talk to council
Talk with HA MD
Make a bloody fuss
Say you'll talk to press
Phone child support
Phone water company

As above, but I think HA's get away with a lot more than private landlords (really, they are exempt from quite a few regulations)

No water means the place isn't habitable. They should be rehoused unless it can be fixed today. Tell the plumber to go the the local plumbers merchants where they keep a variety of tanks. (unless it is a stupid unusual tank, where the guy specifying the build got a backhander from some company to fit their stuff)

edit

Brighton has the Brighton Housing Trust, but I suspect there is a local equivalent? THEY are a real PITA to landlords when they come across stuff like this. Try them. Citizens advice should point you in the right direction.

[Edited on 21/11/12 by cliftyhanger]

solicitors / citizen's advice ASAP.

Keep an accurate log of details.

Also, in your place, I would think to myself.....options....um? replace water tank myself or have them move in with me for an indefinite period? ....no contest!
After all, if you can build a car, a water header tank should be a doddle?

Tell them you're not paying rent on a property you can't live in, and if they'd like to try and drag that through courts they're welcome to waste more of their time and money losing that one too. I'm sure there'll be a law similar to the sale of goods act that you can throw at them

Drain the tank and lift the ball valve or turn off the feed to it if you can then use the cold from the rising main, you will be able to boil the kettle if you need some hot.

Thanks guys,

I am between nights, so for me this is quite difficult

"Also, in your place, I would think to myself.....options....um? replace water tank myself or have them move in with me for an indefinite period? ....no contest!
After all, if you can build a car, a water header tank should be a doddle? "

My wife said exactly that yesterday!!

So last night she had nothing, no water , and no heating, and Sarah, has checked with Shelter, and it is not illegal to not have water, but it is unreasonable if not sorted within a few days

Anyway, a REAL plumber turned up this morning, and basicly disabled the tank, but they do have water, but no hot now
and he has assured her she can have the heating on

So looks like they will be over to us for baths/showers

Steve