From: Jill Nash <Jill.Nash@peabody.org.uk>
Date: Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 5:04 PM
Subject: FW: Heating
To: bowden.stephen@gmail.com
Cc: Alexandra Bashir <Alexandra.Bashir@peabody.org.uk>
Dear Mr Bowden
Please see below the email from my colleague who has investigated your enquiry.
You will in the forthcoming weeks be contacted by a representative of Connaught who will
design the heating installation and then arrange a date for installation.
regards Jill Nash
Hi Jill
It seems that no one from Goldsmiths was ever written to about the out of programme
central heating so he has not applied through that route. He has had his decent homes
survey done though, which says he does require new CH. I've just spoken to Darren
who said they will very shortly be starting CH works on the estate so it seems like it
will be quicker to continue on the normal DH route.
Jenny
From: Stephen Bowden [mailto:bowden.stephen@gmail.com]
Sent: 23 January 2007 14:42
To: Alexandra Bashir
Subject: Heating
Good afternoon Alex,
Emma and I were wondering if the 'Decent Homes' people
http://www.decenthomesstandard.co.uk/about
who came to our flat last year were serious about fitting central heating into
Prideaux Place?
I ask Personally because since I was diagnosed with Diabetes (insulin based) my
blood circulation has deteriorated and I really feel the cold and to be quite honest
the electric economy heating installed is at best useless.
I suffer with neuropathy in my feet and legs and Emma and I keep catching colds
and are as you know we are expecting a new addition to our family in April.
Decent homes has recommended that central heating is fitted but we have no idea
of when this will come about or if indeed it will.
Please can you clarify this matter.
Thank you in advance.
Your always helpful.
Regards From.
Stephen Bowden.
Xx Prideaux Place,
W3 xxx
From: Jill Nash <Jill.Nash@peabody.org.uk>
Date: Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 5:04 PM
Subject: FW: Heating
To: bowden.stephen@gmail.com
Cc: Alexandra Bashir <Alexandra.Bashir@peabody.org.uk>
Dear Mr Bowden
Please see below the email from my colleague who has investigated your enquiry.
You will in the forthcoming weeks be contacted by a representative of Connaught who will
design the heating installation and then arrange a date for installation.
regards Jill Nash
Hi Jill
It seems that no one from Goldsmiths was ever written to about the out of programme
central heating so he has not applied through that route. He has had his decent homes
survey done though, which says he does require new CH. I've just spoken to Darren
who said they will very shortly be starting CH works on the estate so it seems like it
will be quicker to continue on the normal DH route.
Jenny
From: Stephen Bowden [mailto:bowden.stephen@gmail.com]
Sent: 23 January 2007 14:42
To: Alexandra Bashir
Subject: Heating
Good afternoon Alex,
Emma and I were wondering if the 'Decent Homes' people
(http://www.decenthomesstandard.co.uk/about) who came to our flat last year were
serious about fitting central heating into Prideaux Place?
I ask Personally because since I was diagnosed with Diabetes (insulin based) my
blood circulation has deteriorated and I really feel the cold and to be quite honest
the electric economy heating installed is at best useless.
I suffer with neuropathy in my feet and legs and Emma and I keep catching colds
and are as you know we are expecting a new addition to our family in April.
Decent homes has recommended that central heating is fitted but we have no idea
of when this will come about or if indeed it will.
Please can you clarify this matter.
Thank you in advance.
Your always helpful.
Regards From.
Stephen Bowden.
8 Prideaux Place,
W3 7AS
From: Jill Nash
To: Mr.S Bowden
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 8:11 AM
Subject: RE: Legal Proceedings
Mr Bowden
Your MP wrote to the Trust and our Property Director replied, copy attached. This advised a
change in our programme. In all our correspondence we have advised you to report the
storage heaters that are not working to the customer service team. I have checked our
records and the only recent works requested was for a fan heater in the bathroom.
I am expecting a revised programme from the contractor who is to return to the Goldsmith
estate at the end of this week. After which we will be able to advise residents of the
programme.
In order to take further your claimed disrepair issue please send to Graham Lawrence Company Secretary to the Peabody Trust at 45 Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7JB
regards
From: Mr.S Bowden [mailto:bowden.stephen@gmail.com]
Sent: 05 March 2008 14:01
To: Jill Nash
Subject: Legal Proceedings
Importance: High
Dear Jill Nash,
February has been and gone and there has been no sign of a surveyor to design a
heating system for our flat which has been without heating for more then two
years.
Emma and I have made arrangements to see a solicitor about this and it's our
intention to take you to court over this matter.
We feel that Peabody have dragged there feet over this matter long enough and
letters from Peabody contradict the information that we have in our possession and
my local MP is backing us.
You have effectively ignored and made up stories about our heating and libelled
yourself on paper.
Not even our new estate manager was filled in with information about the goings on
at Prideaux Place which shows a very low input between estate manager and estate
logistics.
Even the most recent repairs that I have reported to Peabody haven't been
acknowledged by repairs team, frankly it's pathetic.
Emma, myself and children have become very ill because of the lack of heating, and
has exacerbated my diabetes and other illnesses for which I suffer.
If you could please supply the name of the person that the court writ should be
addressed to please, otherwise I will see fit that your name is on the writ.
Peabody have had enough warnings with this matter, and because Peabody haven't
acted on our non existent heating I am sure the newspapers, watchdog and the
courts will go to town with this matter once it's in there hands.
This isn't a threat, This is our intention.
Yours Sincerely
Mr.S Bowden
Ms E Alloway
8 Prideaux Place
Acton, London W3 7AS
020 8354 1630
F.A.O: Andrew Slaughter, (MP)
12/12/07
Dear Sir,
I am writing in the hope that you can help me with a problem with my Landlord.
During the year 2006 under the decent homes legislation my partner and I had a
survey done.
Emma and I were told that if we were offered central heating for our home would
we take it?
Emma and I jumped at the opportunity.
We were written and emailed to and told that a "Steve McNally" from Connaught
contractors would contact us and arrange for design and locations for radiators etc.
This never happened.
Indeed after much complaining, letter writing and email this year I did manage to
get some help from my new estate manager Sam Dimond who said that she had
never heard of Prideaux Place being allocated money for central heating and that it
must have all been a mistake and that they would send out another surveyor from
decent homes to see what they had to say.
I cannot understand why they would order a second survey when decent homes
clearly think heating would already be a necessity to our home.
It's now fast approaching 2008 and this is our second winter with no heating.
There are electric storage heaters wired into the premises but alas they do not
work, they are supposed to be economy 7 heaters but when they last worked in
2005 these heaters ran us up a £1200+ electric bill and then simply stopped
working at all, there is no form of timer or temperature control which I believe to
be decent homes recommendation to be turn on and offable, economic with
temperature control.
To be honest I feel my landlord is trying to shirk it's responsibilities and worm it's
way out of this work as we have never had any straight answers.
Last December 2006 I became life threateningly ill with Diabetes I was admitted
to Hammersmith Hospital with a diabetic stupor and then fell into a nine day
hyperglycaemic coma with a blood glucose count of 108.9, normal levels are
between 4 and 7 so you can imagine how sick I was and very lucky to survive.( I
was unaware for quite some years that I was a diabetic.)
I spent two weeks in hospital and I spent months recovering at home and I am still
not 100%
I am living with severe depression, anxiety, neuropathy pain and
polycythemia_vera these conditions made worse for losing four members of my
family in a period of only three years, they include my Mum, Dad, Nephew and
Uncle.
I am father to two children that live at home, Thomas aged seven Months and Luke
who is a bright nine year old top of his class at East Acton Primary School.
My eldest boy who lives with my ex partner in Islington will not come and stay over
anymore in the winter as the cold plays havoc with his Asthma.
Emma, the kids and I have always got colds.
I contacted my estate manager Sam Dimond last week who informed me it was her
last day as manager so I guess I will have to wait another two years.
Because this is Government Legislation is it in your power to order these people to
stop dragging there feet and get on with the work?
Peabody trust is after all renting properties out privately now and selling off
properties to make money, which I should imagine they could use to fix up it's
estates, simply moving them into the 20th century would be a start and then have
them catch up with the 21st century society later!
I would like to state living in Social Housing does give people the impression of
being spongers, However I am a medically retired Leading Railman with
commendations for bravery and assisting in the extraction of "One Unders" for
which I still suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I have an excellent 20 year security cleared working history, the last of which I
spent working for LUL and Security Officer for the Courts and Job centres.
Sir, I am really hoping that you can help me with this problem,
Here are some useful addresses.
I have sent a copy of this email to my partner for her records and also my last
known estate manager.
I am also holding a letter from my GP stating the recommended temperature for a
baby which is 18 degrees.
Peabody Trust
45 Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7JB
0207 021 44 44
My Address is
8 Prideaux Place
off Friars Place Lane
Acton
London
W3 7AS
Yours Most Sincerely,
Mr. Stephen Bowden
Ms. Emma Alloway
0208 7436368
0785 6850687
Dear Sam,
30/11/07
Thanks for your last reply concerning the lack of movement in installing central
heating at our flat.
I really do not see why Emma and I should be chasing up your staff to find out
what's happening about decent homes decision to fit central heating a couple of
years ago.
We have been chasing up and doing much investigating on Peabody's behalf for quite
some years now and finding time to do stuff between looking after a family, my
health and injections and regular visits to the hospital and trying to keep warm
leaves little time to do unpaid part time work for Peabody trust.
Today Emma and I acquired a letter from our GP which recommends that a child
should have a minimum of 18 Celsius to sleep in, our home is lower then that all
day.
My children seem to have permanent colds and I will be holding Peabody responsible
for my children's health.
( We got our last move with the help of my eldest son's doctor due to his Asthma.
)
I am awaiting an answer from my MP and I am also considering the newspapers and
watchdog to agitate the waters a little.
Peabody haven't even offered an alternative temporary form of heating.
I am sorry that I have to step up this attempt to acquire efficient, affordable
heating, but it would seem to me that Peabody are trying to shirk there
responsibilities and Emma and I are prepared to take you to court over this matter.
I would urge Peabody to pull there finger out!
If Peabody cannot sort this out in the very near future then I would suggest that
you find us alternative accommodation.
This is our second winter without heating, I know you said that you also have this
form of heating at your home, but I dare say yours works and that you can afford
to run it.. seeing as your not on a low income claiming a medical retirement pension
as I am from London Underground.
Yours Very Most Sincerely,
Stephen Bowden
Emma Alloway
8 Prideaux Place,
London
W3 7AS
Tel:02087436368
07944218832
07856850687
30/11/07
Dear Stephen and Emma
Thanks for the below. I will now leave a message for Jill Nash to contact you regarding this
matter, as you have had no feedback from anyone other than myself. I do appologise that this
has been an ongoing matter and will do my best to chase people up. However I am sorry to
say that today is in actual fact my last day as Estate Manager for Prideaux Place and my
other estates. I will still be working for Peabody Trust but will no longer be in the same
department. Please do keep me updated as I will still have this e mail address and will
endevour to help where I can.
I would like to thank you both for your support and do hope that you keep in touch.
Kind Regards and best wishes.
Sam
Dear Stephen and Emma
Thanks for the below. I will now leave a message for Jill Nash to contact you regarding this
matter, as you have had no feedback from anyone other than myself. I do appologise that this
has been an ongoing matter and will do my best to chase people up. However I am sorry to
say that today is in actual fact my last day as Estate Manager for Prideaux Place and my
other estates. I will still be working for Peabody Trust but will no longer be in the same
department. Please do keep me updated as I will still have this e mail address and will
endevour to help where I can.
I would like to thank you both for your support and do hope that you keep in touch.
Kind Regards and best wishes.
Sam
Dear Ms. Dimond,
With Reference to your letter dated 02.08.07.
I can assure you that any damage caused to property on this estate is done by
children living outside the estate and rubbish discarded about the estate is caused
by people living in nearby houses not putting there rubbish into metal containers
allowing fox's to distribute the rubbish willy nilly around Prideaux Place.
There are very few children on this estate and I have never encountered any messy
or vandalistic children as was the case at cleverly estate.
The damage caused to the washing area was caused by wind.
I found your letter offensive and bordering on Libel.
If your report has come from another resident then you might consider them to be
callous and also slanderous Libel.
On another note,
It has been some time now since we were told we would get central heating.
As you are aware, our electrical storage heating does NOT meet with decent homes
standards and were originally told would be fitted by Christmas last year.
I would like an answer to my question..a simple yes or no would suffice so I can
make a decision about arrangements for legal action against Peabody Trust.
I have made legal moves against the trust before and I will not hesitate in taking
the trust to court.
When will we get our central heating fitted?
Will we be getting central heating fitted?
I have sent you copies of emails in the past stating the same fact.
The fact that we were told we would be getting central heating!
On A third note,
Will you please contact Mr. Kabir and find out what has happened to his claim that
we owe around £400 in rent arrears!
I have spoken to housing benefit who assure me that Peabody Trust were indeed
paid.
In fact as I pointed out to Mr. Kabir..I have and will remain on benefits and
disability for the rest of my life and so have always been in receipt of housing
benefit since starting my tenancy with Peabody trust.
It has been many months now and this employee of yours has simply not bothered
or has forgotten all about his claim and promised to get back to me concerning this
matter which is quite obviously a cock up on behalf or his office.
Thank you for your time, Emma and I hope to read happy things in the post soon.
Regards.
Mr. S. Bowden
Ms. E. S. Alloway
8 Prideaux Place
Acton
London
W3 7AS
020 8743 6368