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Published: 5th November, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

THE sight of a builder fast sleep on her living room floor when he should have been installing a new kitchen was the final straw for Finsbury Park housewife Kelli Marshall.

It was just one of a series of incidents invol­ving contractors working on behalf of housing agency Homes for Islington. The workmen have been refurbishing mother of three Mrs Marshall’s house in Charteris Road, including installing a new kitchen, electrics, windows and repairing the roof.

The job, which began in May, should have taken no more than a few weeks to complete. But almost six months later it is still not finished, with builders having to return four times to repair the new kitchen.

Costs, including up to a £1,000 a day for scaffolding at the house, continue to escalate.

The sleeping builder had been waiting for materials to arrive to complete a job in the kitchen but dozed off at the three-bedroom home which is part of a housing co-operative in the road. 

“I came home and found the front door wide open and the workman asleep on my floor,” Mrs Marshall said.

The incident formed part of a catalogue of 32 complaints lodged by Mrs Marshall and her plumber husband Daniel against HfI.

HfI have apologised in writing to them, but the experience has left them angry. The Marshalls, whose three children are aged eight, three and one, moved into the house in January last year.

Mrs Marshall, 34, said: “The kitchen refurbishment, which took a couple of weeks, was so bad that it had to be dismantled and started all over again. They broke work tops and equipment, there was a gas leak, a mouse infestation, and they left tools about that the children could find.”

The Marshalls also complained that the builders often possessed no identification, front doors were left open making the house vulnerable, door bells were rung regularly even though the builders had keys, and the Marshalls' bins were used to dispose of builders’ rubbish.

The Marshalls’ complaints have mostly been upheld by HfI. Complaints officer Lynne Edwards wrote to apologise, adding that “the contractors had failed to provide the required ser­vice to you and your family even though they had been made aware of these issues on several occasions”.

The Marshalls are now desperate for the work to be completed so that they can get on with their lives.

Mrs Marshall said: “I had a meeting with officials from HfI and I said: ‘Look, this is getting ridiculous. You have been in my house for almost six months. When are you going to finish the work?”

This week the builders were completing repairs to the roof. The job is expected to be signed off next week.

Chairman of Charteris Housing Co-op Steve Markley said that a large proportion of tenants, representing 58 units, have complained about work carried out on behalf of HfI. 

“We did our own survey among our tenants. Among the biggest number of complaints were workmen not turning up. We’ve had workmen turning up with the wrong tools and asking if they can borrow one from the householder. 

“There are complaints about homes left in a mess and lack of communication between workmen and residents who have taken time off work.”

HFI say they will be giving Mrs Marshall a cheque for £500 for her patience. A spokesperson said: “We are sorry that Mrs Marshall has experienced delays to the improvement works being carried out in her home. Additional external works required to the property meant a party wall notice was needed.

“We are meeting with Mrs Marshall and the contractors to resolve any outstanding issues regarding the quality of works.”

Invitation to discuss housing

AMID major concerns over the running of housing in Islington residents are being invited to a convention tomorrow (Saturday) to discus the issues.

Dozens of residents are expected to attend  workshops at the Assembly Hall in Upper Street, as the council aims to to ensure tenants and leaseholders are more closely involved in services provided by the council, registered social landlords and other providers. Workshops will cover five topics: “repairs and major works”, “anti-social behaviour”, “look and feel of estates”, “friendly and accessible services” and “over­crowding, housing needs and moving home”.

And “trouble-shooting” sessions will attempt to solve problems, with housing experts and councillors on hand.

Councillor James Murray, executive member for housing, said: “We want to make sure tenants and leaseholders have a say in their service from the council or their  housing association. 

“Social housing needs to be fair and accessible and our policies trans­parent and understood so everyone knows where they stand.

“We want to hear  from tenants about what services they prioritise and those who provide housing management services can do better.”