Damp property!

Batt

We have a contract for 18 months and are three months into this. It is now apparent that there is extensive damp and our furniture and fabrics are going green and the smell is so bad that we have moved in with friends. Dispite providing an independent survey which we paid for, and providing photographic evidence the estate agent/landlord refuses to release us from the contract. We have had to result to not paying rent to make them to at least look at the problem. What can we do next? We are so stressed out because we pointed out the problem one month into the contract but no action was taken. If we walk away I understand we could be liable for the remainder of the rent and they have 2 grands worth of bond money too. Does anyone have any helpful legal advice?

Owain_Moneysaver

Do not withold rent. It puts you in breach of contract and liable for eviction.

Contact Environmental Health and Building Control at your local council. EH can take enforcement action against landlords who let housing that's unfit, and Building Control can, if the property condition is bad enough, compel the landlord to repair.

You might also get priority for council housing if you have to leave your house because it's unfit, but whether that's any use depends on whether there actually is any council housing available.

Also speak to Shelter advice line or Citizens Advice Bureau ASAP.

G_M

Depends on the cause of the damp.

If it is internal, ie condensation, then likely causes are lifestyle: washing, drying clothes, cooking etc without ventilation. Read this guidance.

If it is external/structural, likely causes are penetrating damp throught the walls etc which the LL should fix.

The property may be uninhabitable/unhealthy if there's severe rising/penetrating damp, in which case your local council's Environmental Health Dept can order the LL to make improvements. If declared uninhabitable, the LL would have to re-house you or the contract may be 'frustrated' (ended).