Environmental Health Inspection

cornishmum

We live in a private rented property and have had terrible problems with damp, mould, paint peeling, clothes & shoes ruined etc. For this reason we have given notice on our 6-month AST and will be leaving in mid-January. However, a while ago I got so annoyed with having to throw away kids shoes covered in mould, that I wrote a letter to the Environmental Health (cutting a long story short here - I had already spoken to, written to, taken photos, had an inspection with the Letting Agent etc who had apparently contacted the LL but not really had a resolution). The problem is rising damp/penetration in the kitchen. The backs of the cupboards are black, saucepans come out the cupboard with a layer of mould on. It is not condensation that is causing/has caused the problem.

So I just had a call from the EH and they are doing an inspection of the property next week. They have to call the LA as a matter of protocol, to inform them what is going on. I'm now nervous about what might happen.... We are leaving anyway, have about 5 weeks to go and references, credit checks etc have already been done for our new rental house. But I guess the LA could still be unhappy with me for contacting EH. Or will they be happy that finally this might kick their LL into doing something about this property (as I know they are fed up to the back teeth or me, the tenant, complaining about this house!)?

Anyone had any experience with EH and house inspections? All I am trying to get from this is acknowledgment that the house needs to be repaired as it's not in a fit state for tenants (with young children). I'm a bit worried about any other ramifications now....

Thank you ;-)

anselld

Dont see why the LA should be worried unless it is them being lax on maintenance. If there are enforceable repair issues you will be doing future tenants a favour and the LL deserves a kick. Don't worry.

Werdnal

If everything is signed and sealed on your new rental, there is nothing much that will affect that. The LA are not responsible for any repairs or authorising work on the property, so I doubt they would be bothered in the slightest - unless of course, they have not been passing on the reported problems to the LL.

EHO will assess the property and prepare a report for the LL. If there are issues he must address, they can enforce repairs, but it won't happen quickly, so nothing is likely to change in your short time left there. Unless of course, they feel the damp/mould etc is a potential health hazard, when they can step in and issue an order to re-house you immediately. However, it needs to be pretty extreme to require this.

The only thing which may affect you is the return of the deposit, if the EHO find that something you have done has contributed to the mould issues (condensation, drying clothes indoors etc), and LL claims from you for the damage, although in this case it seems to severe to be caused by you.

G_M

The potential negatives for you are:

1) deposit. The LL/agent might retaliate by trying to retain some/all by claiming damage. Is your depsoit protected? Which scheme? Have you checked? Do you know how the scheme arbitration system works? Is there a duel-signed check-in inventory recording the state of the property when you moved in? Was it accurate?

2) references - you say these have been taken up by your new landlord already, but do you actually have a signed tenancy agreement? There is a (slight) possibility that your current LL/agent might re-contact new one with a reference 'update', and if your tenancy is not actually signed, there is a (slight) possibility the new LL might change his mind.

Otherwise, good luck, and all credit to you for protecting future tenants in the property.

Rjessica

This is the EXACT issue with my flat. Can I ask, are you leaving our tenancy early or is it an AST that ends mid jan? We had environmental health round a couple of weeks ago confidentially to assess the property and see if it was just us being picky (as the LA was saying all damp and mould problems were down to us) but she said there are a number of issues they would enforce repair/updating should we choose to go ahead and ask for a report, that's as far as we got. They were REALLY helpful and as others have said, if it means future tenants aren't taken for a ride then good on you, don't worry about it!

cornishmum

Thanks for your replies.

G_M : Deposit is secure and the signed check-in condition report/inventory contains all the details (annotated by myself) of damp and paint etc. Bizarrely though, it is not a dual-signed agreement - just requires a tenant signature. I'm wondering if this is not so great now.... although this is the ONLY signature that they have from the tenant on the condition of the property, so think I am covered.

Just to cover myself, I just rang the new LA and the p/wk is being prepared today to be posted this evening. Hopefully we'll be able to sign and return pretty swiftly before the ex-LA intervenes with a possible update to our reference! (I think there is only a slim chance of this anyway...).

OK I feel better about getting EH involved now.

cornishmum

Rjessica wrote: »

This is the EXACT issue with my flat. Can I ask, are you leaving our tenancy early or is it an AST that ends mid jan? We had environmental health round a couple of weeks ago confidentially to assess the property and see if it was just us being picky (as the LA was saying all damp and mould problems were down to us) but she said there are a number of issues they would enforce repair/updating should we choose to go ahead and ask for a report, that's as far as we got. They were REALLY helpful and as others have said, if it means future tenants aren't taken for a ride then good on you, don't worry about it!

Hello - the AST ends in mid-Jan so we're not leaving early.
Good luck to you. Damp and mould are NOT nice.

cornishmum

Just to help any others who may be thinking about getting the EH involved. The chap from the council visited the property this morning and spent 1 hour looking at the damp, assessing the humidity and damp in the walls, taking photos etc. He was extremely helpful. He will now prepare a report which will go to the LL (via the Agent) and it will state that the damp needs to be resolved BEFORE another tenancy can start (we move out in January).

He confirmed that the damp and mould are definitely due to circumstances beyond our control (i.e. not condensation), so we as tenants can't be blamed for anything. The LL will have 17 days to respond to the report and confirm that he will carry out any necessary work..... As we're moving out, it doesn't really effect us, but I'm happy at least that EH found enough problems to create a report and escalate it. Why should tenants pay (ridiculously over-priced) high rents to live in something that is not suitable?

I'm glad I got the EH involved. The Agent popped in too and I got the feeling they are almost a bit relieved that the EH will now escalate the problem and get the LL to deal with it. Their hands are a bit tied, as it's the LLs responsibility for maintaining the property, but they are the ones that get it in the neck from the tenants complaining about the condition (although you could argue that they shouldn't have taken the property onto their books in the first place...).

Thanks for all your support.

Werdnal

Great to hear you have a satisfactory outcome, if not for you, then atleast for future tenants. Hope your move goes well, and you have a more responsible LL next time!