Renting, some questions about safety...

Byatt

I'm in a 200 yr old cottage. It's pretty run down, damp, mould etc and a fire risk. Gaps beneath doors, gaps in floorboards in bedroom so can see living room.

Is this acceptable in law?

Also I have a wood burner, and unlike gas it doesn't seem to need a safety certificate and I wondered if this was correct?

Werdnal

I own and live in a house like that! The mould and damp issues are part of living in an older property, but were they noted on your inventory when you moved in? You need to make sure the LL is aware, so you are not charged for any remedial work when you leave. Older houses that are rendered with concrete and pointed with mortar do suffer damp problems as the original lime mortar would have let the house breathe - modern coatings don't. Make sure you keep the place well ventilated which helps.

As for the fire safety/wood burner issues. Chimney should be swept atleast once a year (more often if you burn mainly wood). Check with your LL/TA who is responsible for this. Woodburning stoves should be professionally installed and checked off under building regs. If you suspect yours is not, ask LL to see documentation from the installers. Even thought I have 2 woodburners in my home, I personally wouldn't recommend stoves in rentals, as they take a bit of practice to get the best from and can be temperamental.

Be careful what you burn - old painted wood can contain lead, tanalised timber and MDF give off toxic fumes.

Get yourself a good (or several) smoke detectors, and a carbon monoxide detector. These are not expensive and are livesavers. Check batteries regularly!

Byatt

Werdnal wrote: »

I own and live in a house like that! The mould and damp issues are part of living in an older property, but were they noted on your inventory when you moved in? You need to make sure the LL is aware, so you are not charged for any remedial work when you leave. Older houses that are rendered with concrete and pointed with mortar do suffer damp problems as the original lime mortar would have let the house breathe - modern coatings don't. Make sure you keep the place well ventilated which helps.

As for the fire safety/wood burner issues. Chimney should be swept atleast once a year (more often if you burn mainly wood). Check with your LL/TA who is responsible for this. Woodburning stoves should be professionally installed and checked off under building regs. If you suspect yours is not, ask LL to see documentation from the installers. Even thought I have 2 woodburners in my home, I personally wouldn't recommend stoves in rentals, as they take a bit of practice to get the best from and can be temperamental.

Be careful what you burn - old painted wood can contain lead, tanalised timber and MDF give off toxic fumes.

Get yourself a good (or several) smoke detectors, and a carbon monoxide detector. These are not expensive and are livesavers. Check batteries regularly!

The LL or agent didn't do an inventory. I think if an inventory had been done I would have run!

I don't think it's rendered with concrete. It is a stone building with a white covering (not sure, plaster?) which is crumbling and falling off.

The log burner looks as though it was professionally installed and I have added another smoke alarm and a carbon monxide alarm. I haven't used it but after last winter when I was so cold and spent a fortune on electric heating, I thought this year I ought to be more prepared. The LL didn't recommend using it as it would be too hot. The cottage is VERY small.

The smell of damp was disguised before I saw it. And any mould painted over.

Thanks for your response. I have always lived in modern houses as an adult and it's taking a while to adjust!

princeofpounds

Is this acceptable in law?

Things that are genuine dangers to health and safety are not acceptable. This is generally defined by the housing health and safety rating system (google it) and enforced by environmental health. Cold and damp issues are covered, but not small issues.

Also I have a wood burner, and unlike gas it doesn't seem to need a safety certificate and I wondered if this was correct?

No certificate, I don't know about building regs - possibly it went in before regs applied anyway? As said, just make sure you have the right kit - smoke and CO alarms, gloves and pokers/brush/pan etc should you need to move logs or embers in a hurry, and a way to put it out if possible (maybe a kitchen-style small extinguisher? Not strictly necessary but not a bad precaution to have).

The gaps in floors/walls etc is just normal for an old property as long as they aren't actually dangerous.

G_M

Byatt wrote: »

I'm in a 200 yr old cottage.So that's the starting point. You can't expect it to be the same as a modern property built to current standards.

It's pretty run down, damp, mould etc How bad? If a genuine health hazard, speak to the (overworked) Environmental Health. But before that, put your concern clearly in writing to the landlord and see what happens.

and a fire risk. ...?meaning what exactly?

Gaps beneath doors and that's a problem because....? draught? Buy a draft excluder! ,

gaps in floorboards in bedroom so can see living room.big enough to fall through? H&S risk. Draughty? Old house!

Is this acceptable in law? Probobly except perhaps the damp. And the unspecified fire risk.

Also I have a wood burner, and unlike gas it doesn't seem to need a safety certificate and I wondered if this was correct?Yes. Nor do oil boilers. Or electric heaters.[/QUOTE]

On the plus side you get to enjoy living in a character property.