-This relates to the whole of the UK, but this bit about Scotland is shocking
“…Research in Scotland estimates 7,700 tonnes of flooring is removed from social housing properties in Scotland every 12 months.”
When I moved house over a month ago, I had to rip up hundreds of pounds worth of wooden flooring from a 3 bedroom flat. I was disgusted that I couldn’t leave it for the next tenant moving in. Ok, it had been down for about 5 or 6 years, but it was still in very good condition. Then when I moved into this 1 bedroom, I had to fork out another good few hundred for underlay and carpets. If I hadn’t had savings behind me, I would STILL be sitting here with bare floors. There is no rhyme or reason why flooring has to be uplifted and families have to suffer bare floors (especially now when heating is so expensive!)
Also the environmental impact of all this waste as well. I know my stuff was put out the back, and no doubt taken by neighbours (which is fine, if they can put it to good use) but most of flooring ends up in landfill.
I’m not sure what you mean by wooden flooring. Is that floorboards?
I think that most houses here, when sold, would retain their floorboards.
If they were removed, there would be only wooden joists and the underfloor open area, presumably down to underlying earth.
The point is, you have to remove it when you move…regardless of what you do with it…you NEED to leave the place absolutely bare bones. No flooring, no shelving (all holes filled in), make it like nobody lived there.
@PixieKnuckles , You are right, it’s a bloody disgrace l can understand the
carpets on hygiene grounds, but to remove remove the hardwood flooring
is just being bloody minded imo!!
I suppose it could be to stimulate the economy ??
Donkeyman!
It doesn’t stimulate anything apart from peoples temper due to the councils bloody mindedness and wastefulness. Imagine a family of young school age kids trying to cope with every day life - what a relief it would have been for them not to have to think about flooring the place. Its bad enough having to paint and decorate, fit new curtains or blinds etc…but to think that good flooring was flung out into the abyss for no apparent reason. pah!
Yes, carpets I could agree with. Textiles hold smells and stains etc (fleas & carpet beetles), but you can give wooden stuff a good clean and disinfect, no problems.
You get charged for not doing it. If the council guys have to come in after you hand your keys in, and fix stuff like flooring and do repairs…they send you the bill.
As a landlord of several rental properties, I can understand the reasoning behind the removal of some floor coverings as I have witnessed the mess and infestations left behind by some less than hygienic tenants. I now fit FLOTEX flocked ‘carpeting’ as that is almost indestructible and can be commercially cleaned if left in an unhygienic state. It is expensive as an initial outlay, but it pays dividends throughout its very long life.
I hate this hardwood flooring with an absolute passion as most people have no got a clue what is necessary if like me you stay in the middle flat. The people above me did not bother to screw down the squeaky floor boards or use a decent sound insulation so it can be noisy.
The same with those below me cheap floor no sound insulation and a gain noisy as this type of flooring does not absorb sound. It does not seem to bother them that you can hear every word pretty much that is spoken if on the ground floor entrance hall to the block of flats.
@PixieKnuckles , Well the council managers have to get their £100,000
salaries from somewhere Pixie ??
I believe over 2000 of em get more than this too ??
Donkeyman!
I understand this, yes…but I was very lucky as the guy below me was stone deaf, so didn’t hear anything. Plus I did have a few rugs to deaden any sound. However, the family above me were truly awful and loud - especially when they had friends over on the weekend and the clickety click of high heels up and down the hallway…drove me nuts!
I can understand that if there is damage of some form to fixtures and fittings, or unhygienic contents, then the council can charge for reparations, but if everything - certainly quality wooden flooring - is fully functional and usable then I cannot see any sense in it.
Many years ago I worked as a joiner and went into houses that were beautifully maintained and the work they must have done and money spent, but as far as the council was concerned out it all came.
I have no idea either. Its quite sad making people fork out extra money when there is no need to. Even if they kept the flooring down for a specified time until folk get settled.
Only 4 months ago I was with my sister in Surrey and the flat above hers became vacant . The tenant was a hoarder and the flat dirty and unkempt. No one knew this until the council went in . The flat was emptied and painted but the carpets still left down and had been for many many years . When the new tennent saw the flat she had to arrange for the carpets to be removed at her own expense .
Gosh, well that’s at the other end of the scale then, Susan. Why did the council paint it but not lift the carpets? Such a shame your sister had to pay for them to get removed. I bet she gave it another hose down after that, too!
Its quite sad making people fork out extra money when there is no need to. Even if they kept the flooring down for a specified time until folk get settled.