help required with annual council prperty inspection

macman

Basil1234 wrote: »

sorry have to disagree here but i remember watching life of grime and this chaps house was clean just full of stuff he was a massive hoarder rooms full of furniture and stuff he collected barely path from door to his bed or path from door to an arm chair to watch tv basically the council came in said it was a huge fire risk they even had the fire bridge in to have a look and said if a fire started it would take his house out and at least next door. so the council gave him a period of time i think was 2-4 weeks to sort if not done he would be kicked out. anyway he did nothing so was kicked out into reitrement home in his case.
so basically the councils do have control in this instance!

That was the infamous Mr Trebus? A rather different scenario-his house was crumbling with decay (he had tunneled under it), was crawling with rats, and he had mental health problems.
Nothing in the OP's description mentions that the place is dirty (though it may well be). It's just stuffed full of...stuff.
I have relatives who have a double garage that is similarly stuffed with junk. Should they be evicted?

Mrs_Imp

A garage is an entirely different situation to a house so no, your relatives should not be evicted.

Basil1234

macman wrote: »

That was the infamous Mr Trebus? A rather different scenario-his house was crumbling with decay (he had tunneled under it), was crawling with rats, and he had mental health problems.
Nothing in the OP's description mentions that the place is dirty (though it may well be). It's just stuffed full of...stuff.
I have relatives who have a double garage that is similarly stuffed with junk. Should they be evicted?

no not that person sorry plus i never said was dirty! if you bother to read again you might understand what i wrote. the point was this the guys house was clean just full of stuff furniture and paperwork etc and they said was a fire risk end of story period. was actually a very new house mid terraced.

Suzy_M

having an annual check done...something thats never been done up until now they have lived there for 7 years

Why now? Have they had some 'official' visitors of any kind who may have made a report to the council. I'm not saying the report would be malicious but a genuine concern for welfare. Apart from the fire and vermin risks, if anyone in the house has breathing problems the clutter, the resulting dust and all the fumes given off by synthetics can exacerbate this.

mothers bedroom - 11 wardrobes full of stuff king size bed in the middle ....5 dressing tables and god knows what else piled up ontop of every available surface.

All this in one room? - I'd be concerned about the weight on an upper floor.


For the time being I'd just arrange to be there when the council inspects. I certainly wouldn't start agreeing 'action plans' with the family before the council visits. Apart from the fact it is not your house or your stuff if you are not careful you could alienate your family and be accused of interfering, being bossy, looking down your nose at them, etc. etc. Wait until the council have been then they will be the villain of the piece and you will be all sweetness and light.

Once the council have been you'll know exactly what, if any, problems there are and you can take it from there.

housequestions2010

Suzy_M wrote: »

having an annual check done...something thats never been done up until now they have lived there for 7 years

Why now? Have they had some 'official' visitors of any kind who may have made a report to the council. I'm not saying the report would be malicious but a genuine concern for welfare. Apart from the fire and vermin risks, if anyone in the house has breathing problems the clutter, the resulting dust and all the fumes given off by synthetics can exacerbate this.

mothers bedroom - 11 wardrobes full of stuff king size bed in the middle ....5 dressing tables and god knows what else piled up ontop of every available surface.

All this in one room? - I'd be concerned about the weight on an upper floor.


For the time being I'd just arrange to be there when the council inspects. I certainly wouldn't start agreeing 'action plans' with the family before the council visits. Apart from the fact it is not your house or your stuff if you are not careful you could alienate your family and be accused of interfering, being bossy, looking down your nose at them, etc. etc. Wait until the council have been then they will be the villain of the piece and you will be all sweetness and light.

Once the council have been you'll know exactly what, if any, problems there are and you can take it from there.

thanks for the reply.
i do think someone has reported it althogh i dont know who as noone has been round but the neighbours know about the situation...not to the full extent though.
i suppose that it would be best to leave it for the moment and see what the council say as ive had too many arguments over this already i just dont think that my mum understands how serious it is and to be fair i cant do a lot in 2 weeks on my own anyway.

housequestions2010

ddoris wrote: »

Maybe the op could ask the neighbours about these visits- that is if they haven't got stuck in one of the wardrobes ,as not sighted for several days.

ha this did make me chuckle! i dont think they would care to be honest nice thought though

housequestions2010

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

Unless the OP's parents regularly move everything so that they can clean, hoover and dust properly then it IS a health hazard already. Maybe not vermin, and therefore not a council problem, but full of harmful bacteria, mould spores, insect droppings, dust mites and all manner of other nasties that can cause respiratory problems, skin problems, eye problems etc etc etc. Nor can it be good for someone's mental wellbeing to live amongst such overwhelming clutter.

Far better that the upcoming inspection is used as motivation to get things sorted out. OP, don't be afraid of asking the Council for help.

i agree it is a heath hazard i managed to move 1 sideboard downstairs the other day and underneath was ....well disgusting covered in dust and just plain nasty so i hate to think what the bedroom is like i hope the council can give me advice

27col

Be sure to let us know the outcome after the visit takes place.

iamcornholio

The councils annual check is [normally] merely a check of the structure, fixtures and fittings - ie the things they are responsible for. They will be looking for repair issues, and may also want to update their records as to type of heating, smoke alarms, and location of meters and stop taps.

They may test smoke alarms, fit new batteries, and give the tenant a couple of low-energy lightbulbs. They may also offer energy saving advice, check if any disabled needs are catered for (ie grab rails), and suchlike

What that should not be looking for, and can not comment on, is the way the tenant is living. The tenant can live in the property how they like, and hoard what they like. It only becomes the councils concern if/when damage is being caused to the structure or internal fixtures

The councils rights to interfer in how a tenant lives are extremely limited

Fire_Fox

iamcornholio wrote: »

What that should not be looking for, and can not comment on, is the way the tenant is living. The tenant can live in the property how they like, and hoard what they like. It only becomes the councils concern if/when damage is being caused to the structure or internal fixtures

The councils rights to interfer in how a tenant lives are extremely limited

But this is a clear health hazard - dust, fire access and the possibility of it collapsing on a person or falling through the floor if heavy enough.