Advice needed about disrepair and slugs

sparkswillfly_2

I moved into my flat 2 months ago and when we got here the bedroom carpets were wet, it smelled of damp and the furniture (which was being removed) was mouldy. The landlord said that it just needed airing out and the previous tenants hadnt had the windows open enough, he left us a dehumidifier.

So I put the dehumidifier on for a week straight in both of the bedrooms and the carpets dried on and the smell completely left my daughters room. Our room however still smelled. A month later the weather turns and the whole front wall is covered in mould and our mattress is mouldy. Theres also condensation on the windows all the time.

The landlord is hard to get anything out of, he said that he had the walls checked and there is nothing wrong with them and the previous tenants found that a dehumidfier helped. So I called environmental health who came out today took a quick look at the mould and said its a ventilation problem and the windows need to be left open for an hour a day. Bearing in mind the bedroom is ground floor on a main road and its december!

In any house I have ever lived in I could leave the windows shut all winter and not end up with everything covered in mould so surely its not right? Something must be wrong!

I have cleaned all the walls with bleach but I cant clean my mattress it needs replacing, but if I buy a new one whats to say its not just going to go mouldy again if I forget to open the window for a couple of days or if I go on holiday and then windows are shut for two weeks.

Along with this problem our toilet is leaking dirty water all over the bathroom floor and our boiler keeps cutting out. The pilot light goes out everytime I turn the heating on or run the tap.

Other than one response by email saying there was nothing wrong with the walls I have had no response from the landlord. He completely ignores us.

Oh and we are also infested with slugs. They are everywhere! One even managed to crawl into a mug in the cupboard so when I went to make my morning cup of tea at 6am it floated to the top. I have never felt so sick in my life.

I have spoken to citizens advice who referred me to a housing solicitor but Im worried that if I contact a solicitor the landlord will just give us our 3 months notice. I cant carry on living like this. Im not sure what to do. Especially with the slugs, I cant work out where they are coming in and with my daughter crawling around I cant really leave slug pellets around.

Any advice about the landlords responsibility would be great.

poppysarah

Environmental health again...
Or private rented sector team at the council.

Gas boiler - you got a gas cert? You should have one.

sparkswillfly_2

Been to the private rented sector at the council they are useless. Came out once to look at the mould and never followed anything up with the landlord and now wont return my calls. I ring everyday!

We have a gas certificate from 2 months ago. The problem with the boiler is recent.

poppysarah

Take photos and compile a list of times you've requested work from the landlord.

Send the landlord a copy.
CC it to the private sector team
CC it to your local councillor and make an appt to go and see them at their next surgery.

You need to create a paper trail.

sparkswillfly_2

Does everything need to be by post or is email acceptable? He has responded to us once by email so I know its correct.

poppysarah

You can email I spose.
But I'd keep a record somewhere of when you've written ..

email is great for sending lots of pictures.


Can you request a receieved receipt through your email program? (I don't think google mail does this yet)

sparkswillfly_2

Ive saved on the emails and they are all dated. I even sent him pictures of the problems. He never replied... Ill look into the recepit thing, Im using hotmail not sure if it does that. I just sent another email if I dont get a response from that Im going to switch to recorded post.

Thanks for the advice.

poppysarah

See your local councillor if the council dept is not dealing with it.

Doozergirl

Put slug pellets all around the outside of the property and create a barrier that way. If you're worried about your little girl and slug pellets outside then put salt instead but you will need to replace it much more regularly. It does work.

I'm sorry for your plight, it sounds like a nightmare - that's all the help I'm able to offer

anotherginger

poppysarah wrote: »

Environmental health again...
Or private rented sector team at the council.

Gas boiler - you got a gas cert? You should have one.

housing officers are usually, but not always, qualified environmental health officers.

sparkswillfly_2

I have been put off using slug pellets because of our dog. I just ordered some copper tape from some organic gardening place that is meant to repel slugs. Going to try putting it around the outside of the flat.