Harringay online

Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Front garden dug up and concreted without notice

We are seeking some advice please. 

We got home from work yesterday to find that our entire front shared garden had been dug up and half of it cemented for the installment of a bin refuse.  There are three flats in our building - two privately owned (we're private), and one council.  Neither of the private owners were notified of this work, which was apparently done at the request of the council tenant living in the ground flat. The building freehold is owned by the council.

When we moved in two years ago we cleared the garden of weeds, dug it over, and had been looking after it since.  I planted a large number of bulbs and perennial plants over the course of last year, ready for spring. All of these are now gone.

We have lodged a formal complaint with Homes For Haringey but were told they could not stop work until they had investigated the complaint and would "rectify" the situation if found to be at fault.  How can you replace a season's worth of growing?

I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences? And if there is anything that you think we should be doing?

Thanks!

Tags for Forum Posts: council, freehold, garden, leasehold

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Betty Careless on January 13, 2014 at 11:58

The Section 20 doesn't give you any say over whether or not it happens though.  The managing agent for my flats (not the council) did exactly this and  despite all three flat owners protesting they didn't want it done, did it anyway, and charged us for the privilege (to add insult to injury this year they then charged us to dismantle the extraordinarily ugly bin hut they'd built, because the new wheelie bins didn't fit in it). Managing agents can legally charge leaseholders 10% of the cost any works they organise as a 'supervision fee' so inventing spurious work that needs doing is a nice little earner.

Permalink Reply by Aleece on January 15, 2014 at 18:54

This is very interesting.  Thank you.  I am sorry that you had such an experience.  Even if the works were to go ahead and we couldn't stop them, then I could have relocated the plants and would not have put in the (literally hundreds of) bulbs. 

Permalink Reply by Aleece on January 15, 2014 at 18:56

We were supposed to have a resolution from the council complaints department today, but they have extended the deadline to the 5th February as it "will now be treated as a service investigation".  We do not know what this means.

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on January 15, 2014 at 21:32

The Complaints Procedure for Homes for Haringey (HfH) is set out on its website.  It says complaints they can't fix within five working days are dealt with as a "Service Investigation" .  And that they: "will investigate your complaint fully. This can take up to 20 working days and is overseen by a senior manager". 

So HFH are following - not extending - their formal procedure.

Having said which, it's plain from the comments and advice people have posted here, that there are important wider issues which potentially affect many other HfH tenants and leaseholders. So please let your ward councillors know about the problem.

If you haven't already done so, and if you live in Harringay ward, do take up Cllr Karen Alexander's offer.

(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)

Permalink Reply by Aleece on January 15, 2014 at 21:45

Thanks, Alan. That's really helpful. I've been in touch with Cllr Karen Alexander and she is following it up for us.  

Permalink Reply by Aleece on February 5, 2014 at 21:41

So, we got the verdict today: an apology for not letting us know that the digging was going ahead, then a declaration that work will proceed because of a complaint by our downstairs council tenant neighbour that the bins blow over and she can't right them herself. I was accused of lying about the extent of the planting. I'm very upset with the outcome, and trying to decide what to do next! We are told that the cost did not reach the threshold for consulting all tenants.

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on February 5, 2014 at 22:30

Reading this Aleece, I'm pleased that Cllr Karen Alexander has taken up the case on your behalf.  Do contact her asap to discuss a follow-up.

Personally, as a former Board member of Homes for Haringey I read your new posting with increasing dismay. I expected better of Homes for Haringey.

Unless there are factors I don't know about, the excuse about cost seems unbelievable. They really couldn't afford to drop envelopes into your homes?  Or put stamps on letters?

(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)

Permalink Reply by Karen Alexander on February 19, 2014 at 10:11
Yes, we are still in touch and I am continuing to try and resolve this satisfactorily. Sorry it's taking some time but thats Haringey Council for you.
Permalink Reply by Aleece on February 20, 2014 at 7:49

Thanks again, Karen.

Permalink Reply by pamish on February 5, 2014 at 23:11

Really, would it have been impossible to tether them? Something a little more enterprising than destroying a garden and adding to flooding.

Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on February 6, 2014 at 5:59
That sounds all rather odd.
Bins blowing over is surely a rare occurrence (unless I missed something and you live in Kansas).
I can't work out how installing a hard surface will stop the wind.
As your neighbour has problems righting a fallen bin, I'm certain that you and your neighbours would have no issues with doing this for her on the odd occasions this happens.
If you have exhausted the council's complaints appeals procedure (which I assume they have) you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman.
Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 6, 2014 at 8:45

From what's presented here, this is barmy, absolutely barmy.

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