strong smell of oil in house

bhtmcf

There is an oil spillage on floorboards and on to the sub floor of our rented house. What are our rights? What can we do? We are thinking of getting Environmental Health out for a look. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Cat695

how did it get there??

Your right is to clean it up.

bhtmcf

The oil boiler was in the house, the boiler had to be bled when we got an oil delivery. The landlord, after a week of delay, finally got the boiler moved by engineer to outside house. Oil is under floorboards where boiler used to be. It stinks and the smell is all over the house! Thanks

Cat695

why don't you talk to the landlord first and if he's not helpful talk to CAB.

bhtmcf

We can only talk to agent. We have asked to talk to the landlord but no luck yet. Tried to contact environmental health but they are not available until Monday. Will try CAB. Thanks

littlesnuggy

For clean-up, contact this company, Regenesis - they have excellent products which can be used in-situ to get rid of contaminants & lingering smells. Website is insanely sciencey (and they're an international company), but I know they definitely deal with domestic oil spills, usually through insurance companies. There's a contact in Bath or one in the North East, depending where you are.

clutton_2

""We can only talk to agent""

what did the agent say ?

SKIPPY

littlesnuggy wrote: »

For clean-up, contact this company, Regenesis - they have excellent products which can be used in-situ to get rid of contaminants & lingering smells. Website is insanely sciencey (and they're an international company), but I know they definitely deal with domestic oil spills, usually through insurance companies. There's a contact in Bath or one in the North East, depending where you are.

It will depend on how much oil has leeked - I know of someone who had to have the floors dug up and had to move out of their house for about two years while the work was done. Enviromental Health had to be happy all the oil had been removed which is why it took so long!

theartfullodger

You can "talk" to the Landlord. (Assuming you are in England & Wales) there must be an address given to you for the Landlord to "Serve Notices". (If not the rent is no due to be paid!).

Address given may be the Letting Agent.

Write to the Landlord at that address, send it recorded-signed-for, keep a copy. Letter should explain problem, politely & calmly, and ask for whatever course of action seems sensible. Send copy to Agent.

If the Agent opens Landlord's letter & doesn't pass it on he's probably committing some offence of "Interfering with Her Majesty's mails".. or some such.

Might be worth a word with Environmental Health - or indeed just letting the Agent know you are going to do that...

Cheers & Good luck!

Artful
PS I'm a LL