Rent includes water, but water is infected

Turnbull2000

Aren't you just inviting retaliatory eviction by contacting environmental health?

Werdnal

Turnbull2000 wrote: »

Aren't you just inviting retaliatory eviction by contacting environmental health?

Surely lesser of 2 evils if water is poisoning your kids!

Are you suggesting OP should be a "good little tenant" and put up with it?

Werdnal

Itismehonest wrote: »

Before everyone with their own private supply to their home panics.

"If the house you and your family live in is the only property supplied by a water source, and only your family drink the water, the local authority will only take a sample if you ask them to."

Compulsory testing does not apply in this sort of case, whereas for the OP who rents it does.

Thanks

I should have clarified the "supplied to private dwellings" with "by a third party". Our supply comes from the farm next door, and also supplies the house across the lane, so in our case it was compulsory tested as several parties are involved!

Itismehonest

Werdnal wrote: »

Thanks

I should have clarified the "supplied to private dwellings" with "by a third party". Our supply comes from the farm next door, and also supplies the house across the lane, so in our case it was compulsory tested as several parties are involved!

They did try to bring it in for everyone in the UK - blaming EU regs but somewhere (I think it was one of the southern counties like Dorset but won't swear to it) found that wasn't actually what the law said. Rather like the straight banana commotion
I've no doubt they'll eventually find a way for everyone to have to pay but, so far, that's not the case.

just_trying

I had a private water supply for years, sometimes it was a nightmare when it ran dry. Phone the council ask for the enviromental health explain the situation, please remember that either you or your landlord will be responsible foe the cost of testing the water if you decide to get it tested, when i was going to get my water tested a couple of years ago it was over £100. If your child is ill and you suspect the water is to blame please get it tested soon a friend of mines children were very ill due to the water being being infected with cow *HIT the way it was flowing small amounts were getting into the water supply, i remember her saying at the time the kids sick and burps smelt of eggs. Please get your water checked but try not to worry, it may just be low water levels.

ACon

Thanks Ive had an email response, they took it very seriously and wanted more details but after asking if it would be confidential they basically said if anything wasn't right theyd have to obviously act. Being the only tenants it wouldn't be hard to work out.
Scared me and hubby off a bit as if we lost this house it would mean moving schools for our children for the third time in as many years, so we've decided not to take it further so far.
We'll stick to bottled water and just put up and shut up I guess.

And yes the kids being ill could have just been a bug, I'm just not willing to risk it. Seemed very coincidental with the water running low and dirt coming out the taps..
I will try and approach them re testing and see what they say. I will however stand my ground over extra charges for water, when they told me water was included, hence the price of the property. Their animals are using more water than me being inside calving and lambing.
Thanks for all your help.

Beckyy

I can understand you are worried about being evicted, but if I'm honest if it comes to that then it's probably saved you a whole lot of hassle in the future when another dispute arises. If there is a problem and they think they can walk all over then they'll just do it again and again. Surely there will be other properties in your schools catchment area if it really does come to that.

Speak to them, but please do stand your ground and don't let them walk all over you for fear of causing bother. If they aren't helpful then contnue down the EH/Council route - and make it clear to them that you will!

thegirlintheattic

ACon wrote: »

Thanks Ive had an email response, they took it very seriously and wanted more details but after asking if it would be confidential they basically said if anything wasn't right theyd have to obviously act. Being the only tenants it wouldn't be hard to work out.
Scared me and hubby off a bit as if we lost this house it would mean moving schools for our children for the third time in as many years, so we've decided not to take it further so far.
We'll stick to bottled water and just put up and shut up I guess.

And yes the kids being ill could have just been a bug, I'm just not willing to risk it. Seemed very coincidental with the water running low and dirt coming out the taps..
I will try and approach them re testing and see what they say. I will however stand my ground over extra charges for water, when they told me water was included, hence the price of the property. Their animals are using more water than me being inside calving and lambing.
Thanks for all your help.

Why not offer to pay for the testing yourself? Then you'll have your answer and no eviction.

Werdnal

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Why not offer to pay for the testing yourself? Then you'll have your answer and no eviction.

The testing may be just the start.

If the water has contamination, it will require treatment, and I do not think that legally or morally the tenant should foot the bill for this. They could pay for the test, but then have to face their LL to tell them the water failed and it needs a treatment system installed, and annually maintained. I tend to think it much better if the tenant got an agency (either EHO or whoever) involved, as they can advise on the work required and enforce it!

If test comes back fine, then all well and good, but this might be the tip of a very expensive iceberg!

marcowil

ACon wrote: »

Thanks Ive had an email response, they took it very seriously and wanted more details but after asking if it would be confidential they basically said if anything wasn't right theyd have to obviously act. Being the only tenants it wouldn't be hard to work out.
Scared me and hubby off a bit as if we lost this house it would mean moving schools for our children for the third time in as many years, so we've decided not to take it further so far.
We'll stick to bottled water and just put up and shut up I guess.

And yes the kids being ill could have just been a bug, I'm just not willing to risk it. Seemed very coincidental with the water running low and dirt coming out the taps..
I will try and approach them re testing and see what they say. I will however stand my ground over extra charges for water, when they told me water was included, hence the price of the property. Their animals are using more water than me being inside calving and lambing.
Thanks for all your help.

Acon, I dont mean to be rude but why come on here and ask for advice for what could be a very serious problem and then just ignore the advice given.

Yes you will be rocking the boat and could potentially be evicted (which will of course take some time to actually happen) but surely this is better than risking your families health?

Let Env Health do their job and get your water supply tested. In the end everyone will benefit if there is a contamination problem