Living above a nail bar - problem with fumes

lazy_girl

Looking for a bit of advice for sorting this out....

I moved into a flat with my partner 2 weeks ago - the day we signed the contract & got the keys we went for a final view and there was a really strong paint-like smell throughout. the LA suggested the previous tenant might have painted the walls, he only moved out that morning so it seemed reasonable. the next day we moved in & there was no smell whatsoever and we only then connected it to the fact that the flat was above a nail bar and this was the day it was shut.

anyway, we have complained to the LA & they really haven't done anything apart from speak to the owners of the nail bar who said their extractor fan had broken and they were getting a new one in. well, they've done this and it's made no difference - it turns out that the ceiling of the nail bar isn't sealed and there's nothing shielding our flat from the fumes other than plastic ceiling tiles and our floorboards!

I've been in touch with environmental services, but they're so busy and it's going to be a few days before they'll get back to me.

this is really spoiling the enjoyment of our new flat - the smell of acetone is appalling from the first customer of the day to an hour after they shut.

who else can we contact to get this moving? are there any laws we can use to write a strongly-worded letter to the LA?

i am going to look at our contract this evening and see if there's anything in there we can use. the LA are very helpful on the surface, but in reality they do very little - i don't think they've even contacted the landlord who owns both our flat and the nail bar.

any advice appreciated.

Alan_M_2

This is a Health & Safety issue and should be dealt with immediately.

The regulations for the extraction of chemical fumes are quite steep, don't beat about the bush - get onto the phone and suggest it's giving you health problems.

prutter

Agree with above. I'm sure headache, nausea and vomiting could all be symptons of excessive acetone fume inhalation

kissingthepink

Your local HSE (Health & Safety Executive) office should be able to help, or at least investigate the situation.

mrs_baggins

Interesting one this. I work for LA and we have had a similar complaint. what you should do is to go back and make a complaint of nuisance (odour) to whichever section. Here it would be environmental protection but other councils it varies. If we had it for instance possibly plannign would also be involved. Dont be fobbed off. If ness write in to get it formallt recognised. The first thing which should be looked at should be the extraction unit. Is it the right one for the job? are the fumes being directed away to the correct place? Is it big enough? located correctly? you should ask all these questions. If the LA doesnt think these have been addressed they can serve a notice on the shop requiring the work to be done. However, the shop could come back with a 'best practicable method' answer. which means that the best way of doing it would be too costly etc but then you could argue the toss. If its possibly a structural thing then its a bit more difficult. Look at things like- are there holes/gaps under your carpet which could be put right. things of this nature.
anyway best of luck and dont give up on your LA. they are there for things like this and they should be looking into the matter seriously. Ok the bar was there before you bought it but in the case of nuisnce this is not taken into account. Its the same principal as buying a house next to a pub. just because its there would you put up with high volume kareoke every night? no, because there are measures that can be taken

epz_2

acetone is a bit different to the smell of fish and chips from a chip shop etc, its flamable, hazadous to your health and if i remember can cause you to pass out.

this isnt a nucance odor, its a chemical leak, i would phone health and safty, first advise them of your probs and then sudgest they investiate the premises below as its likely their workers are also endangering thier health without adiquate ventilation.

dont mess about, if it doesnt get resolved fast make it know to all parties that the will be held civial and criminally liable should you suffer any ill effects. all to often people think its ok to pump all sorts of nasty stuff into the air/ground with long term health consiquences for their employees and neighbors.

if it were me and it took over a week to fix i would be handing the keys back, there is no way a landlord can hold you to a contact in an unsafe home.

Jonny_B_3

My health and safety stuff at work (I work in a lab) says Propanone (used to be called acetone) is a highly flammable irritant. It causes irritation to the eyes, degreases the skin and the vapour can cause dizziness and drowsiness. If inhaled, remove the victim to fresh air, keep warm and seek medical attention if breathing is difficult. Use in a well ventilated room or fume cupboard.

lazy_girl

thanks for the help everyone. i'm going to phone the council in a bit and see what they say.

meanwhile, i've written the LA's a letter:

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Dear Sirs,

Further to our verbal complaint on XXXX regarding acetone/solvent fumes entering the flat at XXXX from the nail bar and tanning salon, we would like to inform you that the installation of an extraction unit at the front of the salon has not rectified the situation.

We would like you to deal with this complaint as a matter of priority as the fumes are causing us headaches and nausea and the flat is not in a habitable condition during the salon’s opening hours.


Yours sincerely

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Is this ok? Do i need to add in anything else?