Another fine (DHE) mess........
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Shefford, Beds, UK
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Did the 'get it fixed or I will' to my local DHE and they didn't move a jot until I reminded them that as the Landlord they have responsibility for the safety of their tenants and that I will recover the costs of the repair by suing them. Seemed to do the trick - Muppet with hammer turned up the following day to 'fix' the problem (roof leaking onto electrical sockets). Roof did stop leaking for 3 months but started again – same lacklustre response, met by same threat, to be treated to same Muppet with hammer.
Question – Whilst Annington homes are flogging the 3 bedroom terrace houses (no garage, small gardens, opposite busy domestic site) at a non-airbase near High Wycombe for £160K, why is the RAF paying up to £1500 per month (each) for the 100+ personnel on ERA (sorry SSA) because there are no quarters available?
Does seem a little silly (!) that whilst we (the RAF) cough (on average) £1.8m per year on accommodation which, had it not been sold off, should have been available to these families - I hear the phrase Investing in People. I'm glad they're investing in something because it certainly isn't common sense.
I thought Annington were supposed to sell only 'surplus' quarters, not ones which are desperately needed in one of the most expensive areas of the country.
Annington didn't donate to Milbank as well did they??
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Question – Whilst Annington homes are flogging the 3 bedroom terrace houses (no garage, small gardens, opposite busy domestic site) at a non-airbase near High Wycombe for £160K, why is the RAF paying up to £1500 per month (each) for the 100+ personnel on ERA (sorry SSA) because there are no quarters available?
Does seem a little silly (!) that whilst we (the RAF) cough (on average) £1.8m per year on accommodation which, had it not been sold off, should have been available to these families - I hear the phrase Investing in People. I'm glad they're investing in something because it certainly isn't common sense.
I thought Annington were supposed to sell only 'surplus' quarters, not ones which are desperately needed in one of the most expensive areas of the country.
Annington didn't donate to Milbank as well did they??
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Join Date: Dec 1998
Location: Down Under
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Thing is, the actual landlord is the Secretary of State for Defence and not DHE, however, they act as his agents so I guess the final outcome will be the same. I will be pressing the test by getting a plumber in to fix the kitchen taps in about 3 weeks time. I will of course be getting my free interview with a solicitor courtesy of the Citizens' Advice Bureau first, but I think it will be watertight if I afford them a reasonable time to get the things upto standard or advise me when they will be rectified. Then to the County Court I guess!
HPT
HPT
Some ar@e hole needs to swing for this whole debacle!
Service houses should be sold to service people with high standards of living, not just any old council house dwelling trekko.
The Guardian article was spot on. Why the fu@k should we queue for 3 weeks in a field just to buy a house that we have previously lived in?
Annington Nazi's should hang!
Service houses should be sold to service people with high standards of living, not just any old council house dwelling trekko.
The Guardian article was spot on. Why the fu@k should we queue for 3 weeks in a field just to buy a house that we have previously lived in?
Annington Nazi's should hang!
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: door or ramp, don't mind.
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"Annington Nazi's should hang!"
...and then be allowed to bid for the rope afterwards, only to discover it's priced way out of their reach?
...and then be allowed to bid for the rope afterwards, only to discover it's priced way out of their reach?
Last edited by Talking Radalt; 2nd Sep 2002 at 00:14.
Sitting here, looking out over the Dales, everything's fine and dandy. Snag is, now face crazy commute through Yorkshire's finest because DHE will not spend the money to providedecent housing near where I'm posted!
Q. If I can't find someone to do my Proxy M/O, can I tell them to ' @@@ it@?
Available personnel are few and far between at the former secret Wilts airbase and I'll be damned if I'm driving down for this formality.
Q. If I can't find someone to do my Proxy M/O, can I tell them to ' @@@ it@?
Available personnel are few and far between at the former secret Wilts airbase and I'll be damned if I'm driving down for this formality.
Join Date: Mar 2000
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EESDL
When we left said secret airbase I couldn't do the march out, I wasn't going to let Mrs Banggearo deal with DHE and I certainly wasn't travelling back!! DHE didn't seem to have a hard time with this and assuming you paid for a cleaner the only danger is that if they try and charge you for damages etc you can't argue the to$$ at the time.
Hope you're enjoying life up North and the new job
Regards BG
When we left said secret airbase I couldn't do the march out, I wasn't going to let Mrs Banggearo deal with DHE and I certainly wasn't travelling back!! DHE didn't seem to have a hard time with this and assuming you paid for a cleaner the only danger is that if they try and charge you for damages etc you can't argue the to$$ at the time.
Hope you're enjoying life up North and the new job
Regards BG
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Has anyone else received a survey from QinetiQ, on the subject of DHE? I'd like to see the results. Only needed the 'Extremely Disatisfied' column in mine. Advice for Chief Petty Officer Beeching? Don't move out, keep paying rent, see what happens.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Can I stay here please?!
Well, was actually starting to look forward to heading back to blighty, but now........Thing is, in the (much smaller), former colonial air force whose company I am presently enjoying, they may not have a lot of modern kit, but they do try to look after their people.
Example: when a chap is posted to a new unit, he is entitled to a "house hunting trip". This, I believe, is usuallly a week, but often up to 2. But not just the chap mind; if he's married, the wife can come too, and if they have kids, why not bring them along to check out the local area. But what to do with the kids whilst out looking for the new house? No problem old chap, hire a childminder, we'll pay. Oh, and you and yours can stay in a hotel (but let's make it reasonably priced) and we'll put you on allowances while you're their, pay your mileage or, due to the large distances involved, fly you there and pay for car hire. When you finally get posted, take a few days in a local hotel, just to get yourself sorted but, if your new house isn't quite ready, no worries. Have up to 3 weeks as a norm, and make a case if you need longer; we'll understand.
I'm coming home from 3 years overseas and have the prospect of moving into a MQ at the nation's premier AT base to a house where I know the carpets need replacing throughout (coz the last tenant told me!). To be fair, DHE at Brize told me too, but they can't have them replaced. Of course, I'll have to take their word for it that everything else is tickety-boo. Guess I'll find out at the March-In, when it's too late. "Erm, this doesn't appear to be quite up to standard - any chance of a few days in a hotel while you get it sorted?" HAH!! Plus, I'll be entitled to the Oxford Tube from LHR to Oxford, and then the local bus to Carterton, via Witney no doubt. Should be fun lugging about 100lbs of baggage around on that journey.
Yoou know what, 18 grand after tax may just not cut it for another 5 years.
Example: when a chap is posted to a new unit, he is entitled to a "house hunting trip". This, I believe, is usuallly a week, but often up to 2. But not just the chap mind; if he's married, the wife can come too, and if they have kids, why not bring them along to check out the local area. But what to do with the kids whilst out looking for the new house? No problem old chap, hire a childminder, we'll pay. Oh, and you and yours can stay in a hotel (but let's make it reasonably priced) and we'll put you on allowances while you're their, pay your mileage or, due to the large distances involved, fly you there and pay for car hire. When you finally get posted, take a few days in a local hotel, just to get yourself sorted but, if your new house isn't quite ready, no worries. Have up to 3 weeks as a norm, and make a case if you need longer; we'll understand.
I'm coming home from 3 years overseas and have the prospect of moving into a MQ at the nation's premier AT base to a house where I know the carpets need replacing throughout (coz the last tenant told me!). To be fair, DHE at Brize told me too, but they can't have them replaced. Of course, I'll have to take their word for it that everything else is tickety-boo. Guess I'll find out at the March-In, when it's too late. "Erm, this doesn't appear to be quite up to standard - any chance of a few days in a hotel while you get it sorted?" HAH!! Plus, I'll be entitled to the Oxford Tube from LHR to Oxford, and then the local bus to Carterton, via Witney no doubt. Should be fun lugging about 100lbs of baggage around on that journey.
Yoou know what, 18 grand after tax may just not cut it for another 5 years.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Hydraulic Palm Tree
Excellent response. Your paying for this 'service' so demand a 'service'. There is one thing I have learned since coming back in to civvie street is that I don't take any **** from anyone I purchase from, or use the services of. God, I have lived in some 'dives', especially in Germany, and to think, I never once complained, in fact I was always 'humble' when asking for something to be fixed or put right, such is the culture of the forces, 'Don't complain, you'll make it worse for yourself'. I can still remember being chastised by some housing person because I dared to complain about the damp in my bathroom. His answer was that I should leave the window open all the time to let the bathroom 'breath'. In the middle of a German winter ??? On leaving the forces, my first rent on a flat was £350 a month. At first I adopted the humble approach to problems with plumbing, the roof and the garden. Then I realised, 'I'M PAYING FOR THIS !'. The landlord was flooded with phones call and letters, requests and threats of non-payment if work was not forthcoming..... and it worked.
Still, it makes me angry to know that some service personnel live in sub-standard accommodation. You can argue the point that if they don't like it they could always go private or whatever, but a service is provided in the renting of MQ's, so (and even though it is considerable cheaper then civvie accommodation), my point is, your paying with your hard earned money for something, so expect and demand all that is required to bring that accommodation up to a standard worth living in ! If that doesn't work, get your free hour with a solicitor. My friend did just that because of a damp bedroom which she complained about for years. She received a four figure pay out for her health and ruined clothes !!
Excellent response. Your paying for this 'service' so demand a 'service'. There is one thing I have learned since coming back in to civvie street is that I don't take any **** from anyone I purchase from, or use the services of. God, I have lived in some 'dives', especially in Germany, and to think, I never once complained, in fact I was always 'humble' when asking for something to be fixed or put right, such is the culture of the forces, 'Don't complain, you'll make it worse for yourself'. I can still remember being chastised by some housing person because I dared to complain about the damp in my bathroom. His answer was that I should leave the window open all the time to let the bathroom 'breath'. In the middle of a German winter ??? On leaving the forces, my first rent on a flat was £350 a month. At first I adopted the humble approach to problems with plumbing, the roof and the garden. Then I realised, 'I'M PAYING FOR THIS !'. The landlord was flooded with phones call and letters, requests and threats of non-payment if work was not forthcoming..... and it worked.
Still, it makes me angry to know that some service personnel live in sub-standard accommodation. You can argue the point that if they don't like it they could always go private or whatever, but a service is provided in the renting of MQ's, so (and even though it is considerable cheaper then civvie accommodation), my point is, your paying with your hard earned money for something, so expect and demand all that is required to bring that accommodation up to a standard worth living in ! If that doesn't work, get your free hour with a solicitor. My friend did just that because of a damp bedroom which she complained about for years. She received a four figure pay out for her health and ruined clothes !!
Join Date: Sep 2001
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I have to say it looks as if not only has nothing improved, but things have actually gone down hill since I last resided in a MQ more than 30 years ago in 1969. When I was first married, being an officer under the age of 25 I was not entitled to a quarter and privately rented a delightful bijou cottage in a small village from a wonderful and generous landlady. My first taste of quarters was on moving to southeast England where (with the rules now changed to permit an officer over the age of 21 to occupy a quarter) I moved into my one-and-only MQ, with MPBW and the MQO conducting the march-in which made me feel like a stupid little schoolboy. The rent was high and the heating was with those wonderful cheap-to-run night storage heaters. During the strikes of 1970, whilst I was away on one of the many detachments we had, my poor wife would sit wrapped up in a bed quilt, reading by the light of candles and cooking over a camping Gaz stove, there being no alternative to electricity in the quarters. Getting anything to grow in the gardens was difficult as when the quarters were built all the top soil had been removed to what became a so-called recreational area, and never moved back to the gardens by the building contractor when the houses were completed. We took a week getting ready for the march out. I swore I would never live in a quarter again and I never did, even though all we could afford to buy was a tiny mid-terrace 2 bedroom house. Quite a number of my friends at the time who had children were trying to claim income support and a couple, whose wives were teachers locally, moved into council houses. Our nation has never properly taken care of the housing needs of its servicemen and women, despite the service they render to their country and the difficulties faced by many families being moved around between bases every few years. I used to commute 10 hours to my home )on the few occasions I could afford to do so) after a posting as I could not afford to move. This made the already considerable separations even worse. Successive governments of whichever party have continued to ignore the housing needs of those responsible for their defence and politicians being what they are I dare say the situation will never improve. 
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Wow, now there's a memory or two, 'Marching Out'.
On my hands and knees with a bowl of hot water and bleach, scrubbing an 'Army-table-dining' plus six chairs, whilst been stood over by two housing officers, and being told 'don't ever present anything like that again'. The chairs had suffered two years of normal wear and tear, totally unacceptable to the housing !!!
Oh the joy of owning one's own place !!
On my hands and knees with a bowl of hot water and bleach, scrubbing an 'Army-table-dining' plus six chairs, whilst been stood over by two housing officers, and being told 'don't ever present anything like that again'. The chairs had suffered two years of normal wear and tear, totally unacceptable to the housing !!!
Oh the joy of owning one's own place !!
Join Date: Dec 1998
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As promised, an update for those who are interested.
DHE had not done any of the works to my quarter by the time I had returned off my hols( Yes they did have a key). That was a month after reporting the faults. I wrote to them again, this time elevating the issue by writing to local DHE office, Area manager and Regional Controller, reiterating that I would employ a workman to carry out the work if they had not done so within the following 2 weeks. Additionally I told them that they had also failed to follow the laid down procedure for responding to my earlier written complaint in that they had not replied within 10 working days. Three days after writing the letter, my wife recieved a call from the Area Manager at 0715hrs to say that the works/garden wold be rectified to the appropriate standard immediately. The small faults with the house are now all but done, however, we have a slight impasse with the garden.
DHE did indeed send a contractor to returf my rear lawn, however, they laid only a small amount of turf and left 95% of it in its overgrown and unnaceptable state. This work cost them £370 and was quite frankly disgraceful and a rip off by the contractor. They will now return on Thursday to completely returf the right side of the garden, but they are proving stubborn over the major part of the garden, insisting it is seeded. This would be fine if they were to prepare it correctly, but of course they will just throw seed over the meadow grass and weeds that are now firmly established.
I will wait and seed what mess they make of it and then write once again. I still have only received an acknowlegement letter from DHE and they only have 2 days to respond fully in writing. If they don't, and/or the work to the garden is unsatisfactory, I will raise the stakes once more and write to the Director of DHE housing in Town, indicating that I revoke authority for DHE to take rent from my salary until the issue is resolved to my satisfaction. You will note that you have to sign the license to agree for the rent etc to be deducted from your pay.
Sorry its long winded.
HPT
DHE had not done any of the works to my quarter by the time I had returned off my hols( Yes they did have a key). That was a month after reporting the faults. I wrote to them again, this time elevating the issue by writing to local DHE office, Area manager and Regional Controller, reiterating that I would employ a workman to carry out the work if they had not done so within the following 2 weeks. Additionally I told them that they had also failed to follow the laid down procedure for responding to my earlier written complaint in that they had not replied within 10 working days. Three days after writing the letter, my wife recieved a call from the Area Manager at 0715hrs to say that the works/garden wold be rectified to the appropriate standard immediately. The small faults with the house are now all but done, however, we have a slight impasse with the garden.
DHE did indeed send a contractor to returf my rear lawn, however, they laid only a small amount of turf and left 95% of it in its overgrown and unnaceptable state. This work cost them £370 and was quite frankly disgraceful and a rip off by the contractor. They will now return on Thursday to completely returf the right side of the garden, but they are proving stubborn over the major part of the garden, insisting it is seeded. This would be fine if they were to prepare it correctly, but of course they will just throw seed over the meadow grass and weeds that are now firmly established.
I will wait and seed what mess they make of it and then write once again. I still have only received an acknowlegement letter from DHE and they only have 2 days to respond fully in writing. If they don't, and/or the work to the garden is unsatisfactory, I will raise the stakes once more and write to the Director of DHE housing in Town, indicating that I revoke authority for DHE to take rent from my salary until the issue is resolved to my satisfaction. You will note that you have to sign the license to agree for the rent etc to be deducted from your pay.
Sorry its long winded.
HPT
Join Date: Dec 1998
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Another Update:
Now the proud owner of a very nice, tidy rear garden. Half of it completely re-turfed, the other half tidied, trimmed and reseeded. Just goes to show that if you follow the correct complaints procedure, DHE can pull their finger out. Such a shame I had to resort to threats in the first place though.
HPT
Now the proud owner of a very nice, tidy rear garden. Half of it completely re-turfed, the other half tidied, trimmed and reseeded. Just goes to show that if you follow the correct complaints procedure, DHE can pull their finger out. Such a shame I had to resort to threats in the first place though.
HPT
