How on earth was that allowed to happen?

We HAVE to move out due to sons severe disabilities. He would be at risk and it would slow down work.

We had no pre-building meeting with builder.

Builder is sub-contracted by LA (because he says LA can't place orders). He then places orders with a third party who carry out works.

But, they called at 1.23pm today to tell us floor/ceiling not suitable for hoists AND changing bed not ordered. I feel that it is important to explain what happened here.  Having ordered equipment to install at a cost to the taxpayer of approx £23K no-one checked and then double checked that the hoists could actually BE fitted to our property.  What has emerged is that our floor / ceiling (depending on where you are standing) is unsuitable for the hoists to be fixed to - its too thin.  There is probably something else worth saying as well, to avoid expenditure in the future - we have been 'housed' in an accessible 'home for life'.  It was built in 2015 and we are the first and only occupants. Why was the design of the flooring / ceiling not checked to ensure that it is appropriate for fixing hoists at the initial design and planning stages for the development.  But even more recently, at the stage where the reps came out to check the property - why was the flooring / ceiling depth not checked again then.  And then, finally, when the order was placed, why was the idea that the very expensive equipment COULD be fitted not checked?

They (the subcontractors and the builder) knew yesterday. We did not know until today - just before we go home tomorrow. 70 percent of the way thru the work. Although I suspect they knew about the bench before then.

These issues have arisen because the works have not been surveyed and then communicated properly. i.e. poor management and delivery.

We asked the builder, who has called and kept saying that he wanted a way forward, to be included in all conversations and informed as early as possible. He said he can approve of nothing as all of this is down to Haringey. Haringey were supposed to call by end of day. They have not.

I have tweeted extensively.

For full disclosure, it got to the point where the builder was being so evasive and unforthcoming in my exasperation I did threaten going to the press.

I am incredulous at this incompetence - at the same time as the Blue Badge fiasco.

I had a letter late 2017 telling me the work would be done by March 2018. I chased up and found out late 2018 that the issue was between Haringey, the builder and money.

We initially applied November 2015.and got the grant application in 2016.

(We delayed because our son's health was very unstable AND we had a bereavement september 2015).

Anyway - can you help.

We would like from Haringey that:
1. They honour the phone call We were finally called at 6:18pm by the local authority - 2 full working days after they knew that there were issues with the hoists and the bed
2. They recognise the cost to us of moving out for a week and financially compensate us when we have to do it again for the now 2nd set of building works Nothing agreed nor would the officer discuss this
3. They recognise that as the occupants of the property we are key stakeholders in the delivery of this service and that we are included in all future conversations and decisions in a timely and respectful way. This has been recognised.  The property was inspected at  noon yesterday, we had a call early evening, we still do not know if the lift is in working order

But given the Blue Badge Blues it is a further example of incompetence.

As an aside. We tweeted Haringey but they referred us to Homes for Haringey - which is of no use to us.

So failure compounded by failure compounded again by failure and then further failure then.

I hope that given the complexity of our son's needs and the requirements on us to care 24/7 and work 9 to 5 (back to work Monday) you will understand the additional pressures these failings are putting us under.

There have been multiple stages when this issue could have been avoided, when taxpayer money need not have been wasted, when the lives of a family not thrown into chaos and disarray by the local authority:

1. When approving the planing applications for 'homes for life'
2. When the reps from the companies came to visit
3. Checks before placing of  any orders to be carried out by the 'builder'  employed on behalf of the local authority to place the order, because he says that the local authority cannot place the order with the subcontractor who carry out the work, it HAS to be done by a third party
4. clear lines of reporting and responsibility in the system (these again have not been made clear to us)