Damp problems in newly rented house - getiing no help - what can we do please?

sunshine777_2

Hello to you all

I would be really grateful of any advice with regard to the following as to be honest I am getting upset

We rented a house just over a month ago and were it's first occupants after it had been empty some time and it had been redecorated. It is double glazed and centrally heated.

There seems to be issues with damp, especially around the windows with mould growth and visible dampness and wetness of about 7-9cm all the way around the UPVC windows on the walls.

We have kept the house warm, and always tried to reduce condensation by keeping it aired and we also have a dehumidifier. We have also cleared the guttering but have noticed that all the air bricks have been plastered over on the inside, I don't know whether this is normal but there are areas of damp there too on internal walls where the air bricks would be. Items of ours have been damaged with mould already as we were unaware at that point.

We have told the LA but they seem disinterested, the LL wanted to sell this property initially so I am unsure whether they will want to do the work as I have a feeling it may be expensive.

We feel the LA have been pretty much useless throughout and we will probably have to go the Environmental Health at the Council, but as the LA have failed to (after numerous requests):

Provide proof to us that the deposit was protected within 14 days

Copy of EPC and Gas Safety Certificate

Copy of amended inventory

and with their apathy with regards to the repairs

is there any way we can get out of the 6 month Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement as to be honest I am really concerned for the health and welfare of my family.


Any advice would be greatly appreciated - thank-you.

BitterAndTwisted

The LA act only as the landlord's hand-servant so if you have brought issues to their attention their job is to bring these to the attention of the landlord. They are often not authorised to carry out any repairs without the landlord's express permission.

The covering up of the air-bricks sounds like what might be causing the problems but I'm no building contractor. Take dated photographs of everything right away as condensation problems are often (but not always) caused by the occupants' lifestyles.

In the meantime I would look into getting a dehumidifier and running it 24/7 while heating and ventilating adequately.

And no, there is no simple, fast way of getting out of a tenancy agreement BUT the landlord is breaking the law by not lodging your deposit in one of the protection schemes. Have you double-checked on the websites concerned?

ETA: Just re-read your post so cancel what I said about the dehumidifier.
Sounds like a phone call to your private lettings peeps at your local authority and environmental health should be at the top of your list.

clutton_2

unblock the air vents.....

where do you dry your washing ?

sunshine777_2

Thank-you for your replies.

Sadly we can't really unblock the air bricks as they have all just been plastered, painted and wallpapered over, and we wouldn't really do this as Tenants anyway.

We have been cutting out all condensation and have been taking the washing elsewhere as well as generally taking extra care whatever we do and using a decent dehumidifier.

I think best recourse would be to go the Council, we don't really want to stay but there seems little we can do for now.

Thank-you anyway.

suelees1

Give Shelter a buzz on Monday (it's a freephone number). They'll advise you of your rights

http://england.shelter.org.uk/

sunshine777_2

I will definitely do that - thank you very much for the tip.

suelees1

You're welcome. Let's hope you can get it resolved one way or the other. The usual problem for private tenants is if they try to exercise their rights the landlord can serve notice and as long as it's lawful they can usually gain possession. It wouldn't seem to matter in your case as this seems to be what you want. If you do want to stay you should mention this to Shelter so they can guide you.

sunshine777_2

Thank-you for all of your comments and suggestions, they really are helpful

sabretoothtigger

Vinegar & water when cleaning works well for clearing moss type dirt around windows and might help stop it coming back so quick

clutton_2

first of all i think you should find your landlords address and send him a letter detailing the problems first.. it is possible that the agent has not passed your complaints onto the LL - you have to give the LL the opportunity to repair things first before starting to escalate the problem to council officers.... or court...

you have only been there a month and it seems that you have not had contact with the LL yet... that is your first step

Britwife

What do your windows look like? Are they covered in condensation?

If it's that bad, you should have noticed and smelled it when you first moved in. I think as tenants we have a responsibility to lessen the amount of condensation and take care to clean it or dry it to help it.

We get a lot of condensation here and we do a quick wipe of the lower windows and the sill. If it builds up, it will seep into the entire window wall. If we don't follow a simple routine, we get mold.

Is it just the condensation issue that you want to move or have you found that you don't like the house?

I would address a recorded letter to EA that you do want the house to be checked for any leakage to be on the safe side and address the issues of your belongings getting damaged.

Out of curiosity....what would the council do about condensation? Seems pretty typical in the UK