Draft Letter from Jo at Grafton House to YHN - for comment

Jo has asked me to post this draft letter on the blog for your comments.

Three Sisters Tenants Association
Heaton Park Court, Molineaux Court, Grafton House
06/04/08


Dear YHN,
Since you have begun the Decent Homes project at our homes to replace the windows in all three blocks of flats we as residents have experienced a variety of problems and are now rather concerned about the way this project is going.
We have yet to have all issues including; condensation, excess water, drafts, whistling noises, coldness, damp, mould, fungus, and others, with our new windows resolved. We have come together as residents to bring one voice to yourselves to investigate all our concerns and bring satisfaction to the safety issues concerning past, present and future work.
One of the residents at Grafton House had written to yourselves in regards to a fire safety issue a friend of his had noticed in regards to the new stairwell windows. He has received a response which now means our concerns have ramifications to the other blocks of flats throughout Newcastle Upon Tyne which have received new replacement windows.
We have confirmation from yourselves that we have been living in our blocks of flats with a confirmed Health & Safety Risk and as such are extremely concerned about other planned works to our homes. You have confirmed that the stairwell windows Do Not conform to Fire Safety/Building Regulations and must have work carried out upon them in order to correct this safety hazard. Currently the stairwell windows are all sealed when the old ones used to open and now these windows must be replaced with opening windows.
This Health & Safety risk has been present since installation of the windows (Heaton Park Court 18 months) and has only come to light due to our concerns and investigations into the other window problems. Had we as tenants not brought this to your attention we would have continued to live in a Fire Hazard situation and you as our Landlords are responsible for putting our lives at risk!
Since the installation of the new windows there have been a number of problems actually created by YHN Contractors Mansell. One of these being the emergency water outlets on the ground floor flats balcony (for water to escape the balcony in case the water drain gets blocked) being filled with silicon. This had left a potential unknown hazard at the property until the contractors blocked the water drain so causing a large build up of water which then flooded in to the flat through almost all the rooms ruining both carpets and irreplaceable belongings.
Until all of our concerns and problems and Fire Safety issues are resolved we will not allow any future planned works to go ahead due to our lack of confidence and consultation with yourselves. We are extremely concerned about the planned re-wiring, due to start at Heaton Park Court, and you will cease all planned work until we are living in safety and are satisfied.

Yours Sincerely
Three Sisters Tenants Association

Heaton Park Court
Molineaux CourtGrafton House - J.F.