Preparing for winter II

wrightk

bluebag wrote: »

It's seems there is a dreadful damp problem, maybe a dehumidifier would help reduce the overall damp and make it easier to heat? It may make the atmosphere a bit healthier for the time you are there too.

tried a dehumidifier. its the walls they have rising damp, the council lady tested the walls with a damp meter, the reading was the highest she had ever seen, off the scale.
oh well instead of doing something about it our landlady has decided to throw us out right on christmas!

we went for some advice from shelter, they sent her a letter asking for compensation for loss of childrens toys that we had to throw away due to being covered in black mould and reduced rent until repairs are done, next morning we get our notice given at 930am by two of the LA staff

Red_Doe

our landlady has decided to throw us out right on christmas!

That`s awful, wrightuk! I really hope it all sorts out for you soon...the stress must be unbelievable.

wrightk

i think we have just lost the will to fight.
i just hope we can get a HA house.
it seems we have very bad luck with landlords always seem to get the bad apples. last time we rented our landlord pocketed our deposit and refused to give it back when we left so went through a lengthy court investigation which we won and now this.
i have been told by the council to stay put over christmas until she can get a court order to get us out then we will have more chance of getting something off the council,still its a lot hanging over our heads of xmas (our childs first xmas too!)

mcjordi

aww no wrightk why they doing that?

rosieben

wrightuk I was in a very similar position to you last year; the council rehoused me as an emergency and said they will condemn the previous property unless the landlord has a whole list of work done including putting in a damp course; landlord is not allowed to re-let until the work is done and approved!

I couldnt keep any food in my kitchen at all, even plates etc came out of the cupboards with a fine layer of green mould dust on them so I had to stop using the base cupboards altogether.

when I moved into this flat it was like heaven, in fact I cried when I first saw a clean and dry kitchen! Its stressful trying to cope with conditions like that but you will all be healthier when you're living somewhere decent, my contact at the council confirmed that mould can be harmful, especially if people have asthma-type issues; I suspect an eviction order will place you at the top of the list for allocations.

hope the new year sees you in a nice cosy home, good luck

missychrissy

bluebag wrote: »

I found a really good way to stock up on candles for free.... just 'mention' that you like them. I got them for christmas, birthdays, thank you gifts and every other occasion known to man.

I now have sufficient candles to light the Eiffel tower.

I would appreciate some bubble bath but I'm too scared to 'mention' it.

One of my 4 sons' girlfriends asks me every year what I would like for Christmas. As she sees more of me than the other wives/girlfriends/sons, they all look to her for clues. For the last 2 years I have given her a little list. I don't put anything very expensive on the list but I give them an idea of what I need or fancy eg this year: kitchen scales as mine are not very accurate; the new Take That cd; Spa Santuary; book of poetry by Keats and/or Emily Dickinson (loaned both of mine to someone and never got them back); waterproof jacket; candles and anything that keeps me warm.

lovelife_3

wrightk wrote: »

tried a dehumidifier. its the walls they have rising damp, the council lady tested the walls with a damp meter, the reading was the highest she had ever seen, off the scale.
oh well instead of doing something about it our landlady has decided to throw us out right on christmas!

we went for some advice from shelter, they sent her a letter asking for compensation for loss of childrens toys that we had to throw away due to being covered in black mould and reduced rent until repairs are done, next morning we get our notice given at 930am by two of the LA staff

Goodness me this sounds Dickensian, how cruel is this landlord, really hoping you get a lovely place to live very soon, big hugs to you xc

diddly74

wrightk wrote: »

i think we have just lost the will to fight.
i just hope we can get a HA house.
it seems we have very bad luck with landlords always seem to get the bad apples. last time we rented our landlord pocketed our deposit and refused to give it back when we left so went through a lengthy court investigation which we won and now this.
i have been told by the council to stay put over christmas until she can get a court order to get us out then we will have more chance of getting something off the council,still its a lot hanging over our heads of xmas (our childs first xmas too!)

My friend had a similar situation the bathroom sink fell off the wall and they had no electricity upstairs in their house and the LL refused to do the repairs, so having kicked up a stink my friend got her marching orders but the council said she wouldn't get a place until she was "evicted" not just by a normal notice but by the courts as she would be forceably made homeless then. She got a house 2 days before her eviction was due, and needless to say is very happy now!

We are especially lucky I think with our landlords - I asked if we could trim some trees the other day, and up popped a blokey sent by the landlord to quote to do the work - to be paid for by LL. Front door - catch broke - spoke to LL - fixed within the week. Only fly in the ointment is their plumber - he hasn't been in to fix the heating Grrr but I know that isn't the LL.

We love our house, and our LL and hope to be here for a long time!

[Deleted User]

snow chains v winter tyres. We used both at different times, when we lived in the lake district. Snow chains have to be laid down and fastened on every time you need them. We used to get winter tyres on for winter and took them off when the weather got better and we used to store them in the garage. You can carry snow chains in a bag in the boot of your car and they are easier to store but winter tyres would be our choice every time.

NualaBuala

Annie56 wrote: »

Morning

Sitting here nibbling on my toast and the watching our local regional news (Midlands) and there was a piece about how Worcestershire County Council have brought in an extra 1K tons or is it tonnes of salt for this winter, maybe there bieng careful to not be caught out like last year by the weather or do they know something we dont know ( bad bad winter approaching). Am going to phone our local county council (Staffordshire) later on and ask what extra provision they have made incase of a repeat of last years weather.
Then another piece on BBC morning programme there financial slot was going on about forthcoming spending review and he mentioned the begining of the age of austerity..he mentioned that phrase a few times in the piece he was presenting...

Im a pretty open minded person re TV programmes and some of the pieces they turn out but it has kind of hit home that things are about to change and Ive changed my lifestyle, partly due to personal situation (redundancey, forthcoming divorce and exOhs business having to be sorted out) and mostly due to joining the Old Style Forum, and its struck me that Im damn lucky as I am having to be careful but can and will cope when reality hits the fan for us all about the real state this country is in, but what about people who really really struggle on a day to day basis??

My dad was saying the other night I was lucky and so was he and we went down memory lane on his and my moms parents circa 1900 and there working conditions lifestyle and I realise just how very very lucky I am to have what I have today, this morning, Im going to stop moaning to myself from now on...I have my health, a job, roof over my head and sometimes forget that...Im sure out there in the big world, and even in the UK there are folk really really struggling with the basics, food, clothing, accomodation, keeping warm and just existing day to day. The local Salvation Army were looking for volunteers last week, its time I got off my butt and gave something back even if its only time and a bit of compassion, Im feeling wary today like there is something big is about to happen to the UK and were not listening to the writing on the wall..well Im listening but Im not sure Im getting the right message in my head....time to sort out my priorities, maybe Im thinking too deep but some instinct inside is telling me that its time toget proactive and sort out my life....

Just typed my thoughts this morning, maybe I need to get out more and do something , Im going to find out the number of the local Sally Army, Im sure a few hours under there wings is more helpful to other folks than just sitting about doing nothing.

Another day dawns, good morning everyone, have a good day ...

Annie56

Great post Annie, well said!

Wrightk - that sounds horrible. I know it must be incredibly stressful but it sounds to me as though it can only be an improvement to leave a place like that. It sounds terribly unhealthy - you would be breathing in mould spores etc. Good luck finding a new place - the sooner the better!!!

It is cold here but I have managed to keep the heating off thanks to all my winter preparations. :A Today was the first very chilly morning but I am cosy enough in my fleece dressing gown and PJs. And after my shower I will layer up.