Tenants rights regarding damp/mould

wrightk

we had this exact issue a couple of years ago and the damp was penetrating and very very bad.

first step write formally to landlord/agent requesting something to be done. try to resolve amicably with the landlord in the first instance as your next step could see you with a notice to quit being delivered.

second step. if all else has failed get environmental health in. they use their own health and safety ratings system and will go through the house with you and your landlord if they wish to be present. they will assess the damp, try to find out whats going on and come to a conclusion on what needs to be done. they will rate certain areas according to the severity and risk to the occupants health. they will informally ask the landlord to complete whatever repairs or remedial work that needs to be done. if your landlord refuses they can as a last resort order your landlord to complete the repairs within atimeframe and/or take court action.

i cant stress enough though the fact that you need to be amicable about this. the landlord could decide to serve you notice

HollySeeker

The letting agency is with the student union, and we have to go through them in the first instances. They do get things done but they seem to take forever, which is why we keep going back.

There are no problems in the bedrooms, just the communal areas. We do try everything we can to keep the condensation low, but most of the problems are not due to this. The only condensation problems would be in the bathroom because no matter how much we ventilate the room during and after a shower, it just takes ages for it to clear up. We have a tumble dryer to dry clothes and rarely do we put clothes around the house to dry, because they simply wont dry. The house is far too cold, even with the heating on.

I'm hoping it will be sorted this week, but we have to wait for our LL to get back in touch with the letting agency before they're allowed to find out where it's coming from.

Fire_Fox

You do not have to go through the agency, your contract is with the landlord and he has the repairing obligation to you. Write to the letting agency requesting your landlord's address. http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/landlord's_address.htm

"Next write to the landlord reporting the problem and any associated health problems. If you don't get relatively swift action contact Environmental Health and explain your asthmatic status - thereafter you will be lead by what they recommend. EH could deem the property uninhabitable in which case the landlord MUST rehouse you or supply alternative accommodation, or they may enforce repairing obligations on the landlord. Understand the letting agency have no powers, no responsibility to you and probably little interest."

MissyD_2

Hi All,
I just wondered if the same rules apply to tenants of Social Housing?

I have had an on-going issue with a neighbour's bath/shower flooding my bathroom and hall every time they have a bath/shower for the last 3 years, where the water comes from and the amount varies greatly every time it happens furthermore I am not at home for 12 hours a day as I work full time, so if they do this after I have left for work @ 06:30 the wet and damp remains when I get home 12 hours later.

Worse still, my landlord was clearly aware of this on-going issue with the property above as they replaced the Kitchen and bathroom (with new walls too) due to flooding, however they still proceeded to rehouse me into this property, which clearly is not fit for purpose.

I am now at my wits end and seem unable to make any progress for last 3 years with my landlord or the leaseholder (LB council) who own both properties.

I have requested to be re-housed due to the affect this is having on my quality of life and health, however I have been told they don't

Any advice/guidance would much appreciated.

Many thanks & Regards,