Renting Problems, Damp.

netally

That's just awful... I rented a place a couple of years back which also had that horrible black mold. During the winter it got worse and I ended up with a pretty much constant cough and chest infection. It got to the stage where I was coughing up blood in my phlegm (sorry to be so graphic!) and I just knew I had to get out of there. Could you maybe stay with parents while this is sorted? I would hate to think of someones kids getting ill like I did. It could cause permanent damage.

T4i

Both our parents just don't have the spare room. We are completely stuck until something gets sorted.

We have no monies for a deposit on another rent, can't get a mortgage (and wouldnt on todays prices)

Just keeping fingers crossed that EH can help, local councillor can help, and that none of us become really ill becuase of this.

barnaby-bear

T4i wrote:

We pay £270/month.
If our landlord did the work to make this right then yes i'm sure he would put the rent up, but its still only a two bedroom place and we are all living on top of each other.

Wow! That's cheap - you can't get a single room in a shared house with mould for that kind of money round here.

If you can get EH to declare unfit and !!!!!! LL off enough you'll be unintentionally homeless which should help for council/HA priority. Really if you can only afford £275 a month you should be in social housing. Or look into housing benefit.

musey

EHO person is correct, there is little point them coming out if they can't contact the landlord t o get them to do anything. The only benefit I can see to them coming without permission to contact landlord afterwards is that their opinion may sway your partner to change her mind about allowing the contact if she realises that by not doing so she is endangering her childrens health.

clutton_2

ask your local authority if they have a Bond Board - some councils do, some dont they might be able to help with the deposit for another place

T4i

EH come 2mrw

Our LL is now back from Spain, not sure how but he knows far too much seen as though we aint seen him since he went away.

We had a builder round yesterday (sent by the LL) he came in and asked to look at the wall, responded with two words. 'Bloody hell'

Got his ladder out and went on the roof, next time we looked his van and himself had dissapeared. Got a phone call from the LL saying he would be round today (21/09/06) to tell us what the builder has told him.

We wait in hope!

T4i

Update**

Spoke to LL myself, he needs to wait until it rains so he and the builders can see if the water is missing the guttering or running down the wall.

He may put a damp course in about a foot and a half high from the outside floor level.

Spoke to EH an dthey are quite happy with this, and they don't see any point coming out tommorrow.

So we will leave it at that, hopefuly it will rain soon and he will be able to sort it soon, then we can try get it dry and stop been ill all the time, EH said the silverfish will go when the place starts drying out.

Joe_Bloggs

They could have tested the guttering with a hose pipe and enough mains water pressure.
I suspect ground water / the local water table comming up through the foudations after rain is a factor. I am not a surveyor though. There are MSE forum member who are.
J_B.

amboy

T4i wrote:

Update**

Spoke to LL myself, he needs to wait until it rains so he and the builders can see if the water is missing the guttering or running down the wall.

He may put a damp course in about a foot and a half high from the outside floor level.

Spoke to EH an dthey are quite happy with this, and they don't see any point coming out tommorrow.

So we will leave it at that, hopefuly it will rain soon and he will be able to sort it soon, then we can try get it dry and stop been ill all the time, EH said the silverfish will go when the place starts drying out.

You had taken the big step of calling in EH, I am amazed you and they are putting off their visit just because he has sent a builder round.

Also seems a bit iffy why he has taken these steps now

lazy_girl

T4i wrote:

Update**

Spoke to LL myself, he needs to wait until it rains so he and the builders can see if the water is missing the guttering or running down the wall.

He may put a damp course in about a foot and a half high from the outside floor level.

I think you should still get EH round. What if your LL is just playing for time & the builders don't do anything?

I think you'd be best getting them round to do a proper inspection, the LL might find some urgency then. I'm not even sure you should still be living in the house even if it is being sorted - putting in a damp course is a major job and that might not be the end of the problems, it looks like some areas will need replastering, redecorating etc. What about the electrics?

Seriously, I would look to getting some independent legal advice on this, there are solicitors who specialise in housing problems and an initial consulation wouldn't cost you anything.

Best of luck.