Dear Mr Paget Brown,
the following written this morning:
I am writing to you because I am at an impasse with those responsible for the maintenance and repairs of my flat. If I cannot get repairs done using the request system, I am hopeful that you as leader of the council may have some influence in getting jobs done. If you cannot get the job done with your influence, I really don't know what to do. I have had one communication from the repairs Department regarding something, repair number 20140772, which is not identifiable on the see my data website. And somebody called Keith asked me to give him a call about the rewiring, I don't know who Keith is and I have not yet returned his call due to hospital appointments.
the following written yesterday:
Further to my email earlier this week, matters arising which need to be passed on to the relevant departments. My reason for asking you to help me is because of the failure of the relevant departments within the TMO to take notice, and the failure to update and identify repairs to my abode. On numerous occasions, repairs have been raised by me, and looking at the computer generated issues, on see my data on the TMO website, it is very difficult to see what is outstanding in terms of repairs which do not contain enough information for either me as a tenant, or the TMO repairs Department. It does however highlight the tangled knots of administration and a failure of the system to help anyone manage repairs effectively.
For your information:
Flat 12 Curran house repairs: outstanding upgrade of rewiring to the whole of the flat. Water leaking from wet room into flat number six below, resident advised me of the continuous leak on Monday 19th May. Window in the kitchen needs repair to the chain mechanism, which is not working. Gas boiler bar pressure slowly reducing every 4 to 8 weeks over the last year.
After repairs to my wet room facilities, where a leak was identified and mended, my neighbour at number six, Curran house informed me on Monday that there is still a leak coming in into the bathroom area in the middle of the ceiling. There may be a connection between the leaks which are continuous and the boiler bar pressure going down over a long period? So there may be a leak in the radiator system somewhere in the wet room area? Rewiring of flat and works to identify where the leaks are coming from, this will cause quite a lot of inconvenience which I must accept as part of this process. And the issue of the kitchen window and the chain mechanism has been going on for some months now. The rewiring issue is one of confidence in contractors to do the job properly, and recent information given to me is consistent with a negative experience from other service users.
Project managing: gas and radiators, for a leak into flat number six. A matter of health and safety given the leaks have compromised the electrical system below? These are things I don't know, but it is obvious that it is a concern, given many flats in this block have been rewired, and the letter sent out by the contractor on behalf of KC TMO. The reason I raise the issue of project managing, simply sorting out one problem without reference to the other may indeed double the work if it is not planned correctly and double the inconvenience, not only to the resident, but to the TMO duplicating time and effort to restore the property back to ordinary condition of habitation.
Rewiring contractor: Stewart electrical; my experience is some of the staff are belligerent, leading to a total lack of customer/service user as a priority. Damage to other service users facilities, gas systems, electrical systems, computers. Messy installations using conduits rather than a normal installation. Contractors leaving mess and not clearing up after themselves. This sort of conduct is insulting to those who have signed off on this contractor, and also to the service users. Some installations taking a long time to complete.
Having recently replaced the washing machine in my kitchen, I realised the mouse proofing exercise and repairs are incomplete. There are still large gaps where mice can get in, and this repair cannot be done correctly without sealing up the boiler pipes around the gas boiler. And in attempting to do this, it is obvious that any further repair work will be undone when the rewiring is initiated.
All repairs to my abode, have taken a long time, replacement of a defective water pump in the wet room, which is a simple and easy job took several months. And as a result of this particular repair/replacement, this exacerbated the leaking situation of water into the flat below. Which means any of the repairs done in the wet room/WC/kitchen have not been done correctly, they just looked okay and the principal problems have remained.
Mr Paget Brown please help,
Don Oddy
Flat 12, Curran House
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2014 8:33 AM
Subject: Fw: Health & Safety Issues
Dear Mr Paget Brown,
As you can see it is some weeks since I last wrote to you and other members of the RBKC, and the TMO Department. Having had difficult conversations with the electrical installers and egregious incidents with RM Stewart staff, I really don't know what to do next. As the landlord, you sent me a letter about the dangerous nature of the electrical wiring in my flat. And I was happy to have the whole flat rewired by people contracted by the TMO. In addition, water has been leaking from my flat into the flat below, flat number six, Curran house. I have made it plain that I am happy to have people come and do the work, providing they are up to the job.
I'm still happy to have a discussion here at my home, about matters arising over the last few months. If this is an option you prefer, as leader of the council, I'm very happy for you to come and be a part of any discussion. Although you weren't invited before, a meeting between you, Tim, Robert and Lorna would be very welcome, and anyone else you feel might be helpful. Not too many though, because it is only a small flat. Alternatively, if you feel that the council cannot rewire my flat for some reason, I would be happy to get three quotes and present them to you, so that I do not become a victim of a health and safety issue which has not being addressed.
Don Oddy
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2014 10:31 AM
Subject: Health & Safety Issues
Do you think your departments understand health and safety issues thoroughly? And is 10 working days to respond the right response?
Don Oddy
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 4:50 PM
Subject: Mr D Oddy, Flat 12 Curran House, SW3-Stewart Electrical
Dear Mr Oddy
Thank you for your email. Issues your raise are being investigated by our Project Management Team, you will receive a reply within 10 working days.
Kind regards
Ms Dulce De Oliveira Watts
Complaints Officer
0800 137111
www.kctmo.org.uk
292a Kensal Road, London W10 5BE
P Before printing, please think about the environment
From: Don Oddy [mailto:donoddy@outlook.com]
Sent: 04 March 2014 11:48
To: (T) Complaints; Lorna Cunningham; Leader Paget Brown; Dave Stevens; Tim Coleridge
Cc: Nicola Rees
Subject: Stewart Electrical
To the complaints manager:
Illegal parking by contractors – Stewart electrical
Stewart the electrical contractor had an operative working at Curran house this morning, March 4 around 11 AM. As you know I live at number 12 Curran house, and I am a disabled person, easily understood and identified with a walking stick. I was a bit concerned that a van was parked outside flat 1 Curran house, blocking in that person who is disabled, and blocking entry to the shed area where I keep my electric bike, without which I find it extremely difficult to get anywhere.
Approaching the vehicle, I became aware that it was occupied and I waved towards the occupant, and he for whatever reason, chose to ignore a sign of hello. I think he felt I was being rude. Anyway, I asked him quite straightforwardly to move the van, so I could get into the shed area. He started to say something about having a right to be there because he was working in the flats.
Just a reminder that your departments have been saying they advised Stuart electrical not to Park on the forecourt of Curran house. So number 1 Stuart electrical are ignoring you and your instructions.
After a few moments, I mentioned the sign above the Stewart vehicle on the wall which said no parking. The man in the Stewart vehicle said he could neither read nor write. And he didn't like my attitude. And that he had permission from the caretaker to park outside flat 1, which blocked in the disabled gentleman who lives there, and blocks access to the shed area where I was headed.
If you need to know who the man was, I can send you his photograph.
As a contractor working on behalf of the TMO, I wish to complain and say emphatically that the attitude and behaviour of Stewart Personnel is completely consistent and no change has been made, and with this in mind, and this particular incident on top, how can you trust this contractor to do the job properly?
I don't know if you are aware, but it came to my attention, that computers and other facilities inside some the flats which have been rewired, had been left faulty and return visits have been necessary. This is unacceptable.
I'm looking forward to Lorna coming to see me with the contracts managers or whoever she's decided to bring in the near future.
Illegally parked vehicles blocking disabled people is going to make them angry and loud in their voices. And especially when the driver dismisses a person and says that he cannot hear them.
