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You think you've got damp?

I just popped in to see a neighbour today and she showed me the mushrooms she's growing.

No they're not in a kit box - they're growing on the wall and floor in her kitchen!

She's had an ongoing issue with damp since she moved in on this one bit of the kitchen and now it's got worse and the landlord isn't going to do anything as she has rent arrears (She has to make up the LHA to the rent level)

I've told her to contact the council's private rent team about it and will be going back tomorrow with my camera!
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Comments

  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,021 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 4 December 2009 am31 12:09AM
    It's such a risk renting a property when you see the number of landlords that are simply in it for a buck. I watched HUTH the other day where they were painting magnolia over dry rot. That didn't work so they had it replastered - which is obviously not treating it either. I'd hate to be their tenant in a year's time when it's found it's way out again.

    It makes me so angry just at a proper auction today watching them like gannets basically only wanting to buy stuff for next to nothing and taking ages to fight with each other over £500 bids - much of it didn't sell while they were wrangling over houses they were bidding on at below guide with such earnest, but they'd be buying these houses blind of course with no intention of doing things properly. Totally shoddy - there was hardly anyone there that looked like they could dress themselves properly, let alone present a quality home for someone else.

    I'm lucky enough that I was able to buy a little house for my cousin to rent so she could pay a decent rent for a decent house for her family. Why should anyone get away with providing substandard accommodation? It makes me angry that some tenants seem to think it's normal for houses to be like that or can't seem to move out.
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • poppysarah
    poppysarah Posts: 11,522 Forumite
    I know she's not going to want to move too so is going to be reluctant to try and pressure the landlord...
  • May I 'umbly suggests she follows these wise & calm bits of advice....
    http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets

    in particular
    http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets/landlord_refusing_to_do_repairs

    bleedin' cr**ked evil incompetent Landlords!!!

    Given what has already happened it might be worth checking other stuff is done right (Gas safety cert, electricals safe, deposit protected, income declared to tax man... )

    If you ever need a large bomb invite the council to do an HHSRS risk assessment...
    http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/hhsrsoperatingguidance

    Cheers!

    Lodger

    Hope it works out...
  • tbs624
    tbs624 Posts: 10,816 Forumite
    From what you have posted the LL is clearly failing to meet his repairing obligations and, as Artful says, the local Council should be asked to come and assess the property under HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System)

    You say
    poppysarah wrote: »
    I know she's not going to want to move too so is going to be reluctant to try and pressure the landlord...
    however you also posted
    poppysarah wrote: »
    I she has rent arrears (She has to make up the LHA to the rent level)..
    so she may have no choice but to move.

    Is she deliberately withholding rent because of the state of the property?
  • tbs624
    tbs624 Posts: 10,816 Forumite
    Doozergirl wrote: »
    It's such a risk renting a property when you see the number of landlords that are simply in it for a buck...
    LLs don't buy and let property for anything other than that, whatever end of the market they are in. They may spout about how they are "providing accommodation to those in need" but there is no altruism there.
    Doozergirl wrote: »
    I watched HUTH
    HUTH?
    Doozergirl wrote: »
    they'd be buying these houses blind of course with no intention of doing things properly. Totally shoddy - there was hardly anyone there that looked like they could dress themselves properly, let alone present a quality home for someone else.
    I agree with you that anyone buying up property should ensure that a decent standard is reached before offering it out for rental.
    Doozergirl wrote: »
    I'm lucky enough that I was able to buy a little house for my cousin to rent so she could pay a decent rent for a decent house for her family.
    Market rent? In which case you'd be "making a buck" ;)
  • Fire_Fox
    Fire_Fox Posts: 26,026 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    HUTH = Homes Under the Hammer I think.
    Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
  • poppysarah
    poppysarah Posts: 11,522 Forumite
    tbs624 wrote: »
    Is she deliberately withholding rent because of the state of the property?


    She has to make up £25 of the rent a month herself - which I think she is doing, but the LL took ages to get in touch with the housing benefit LHA about payment details so there's been a delay on that. From what I can tell it's that arrears he's moaning about rather than the bit she has to top up.
  • poppysarah
    poppysarah Posts: 11,522 Forumite

    Given what has already happened it might be worth checking other stuff is done right (Gas safety cert, electricals safe, deposit protected, income declared to tax man... )


    Thanks

    She's never seen the gas safety certificate but was told one is on file ...
    I know another of his tenants has a broken combi boiler and no gas cert so this one is a right cheeky monkey who needs reporting
  • adg1
    adg1 Posts: 670 Forumite
    tbs624 wrote: »

    Market rent? In which case you'd be "making a buck" ;)

    I think the point Doozergirl was making is that she was able to be a landlord to her cousin and provide a home that is safe, clean and worthy of a tenant (any tenant) and not be a landlord who buys a house on the cheap, does repairs on the cheap and is simply rented out with out a care for the tenant.
  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,021 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 4 December 2009 pm31 1:26PM
    adg1 wrote: »
    I think the point Doozergirl was making is that she was able to be a landlord to her cousin and provide a home that is safe, clean and worthy of a tenant (any tenant) and not be a landlord who buys a house on the cheap, does repairs on the cheap and is simply rented out with out a care for the tenant.

    Exactly. But she doesn't pay a full market rent either, I don't need my morals questioning. We both benefit; I'm not pretending that I've given her a house on plate but the agreement is fair; she isn't in a position to own her own home at this point and no-one would expect me to give her a house! My motivation was to give her somewhere safe, manageable and warm for baby to live and a decent landlord; I am able to facilitate that for her without losing anything myself. She definitely has a good thing.

    HUTH is Homes Under the Hammer. Someone doesn't read this board enough!
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
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