Uninterested landlord.

Impromptu

I come seeking advice!

Long (4 years in fact!) story short- We have mould ALL OVER the house. Its all around the window frames and on the skirting boards of the outer walls.
The master bedroom is the worst affected, mould all around the window and on the two outer facing walls. The mould has also infiltrated the bedroom furniture, in fact all that is left is one bedside table and the wardrobe- the rest had to be chucked after collapsing with the damp.
As you can imagine I spend most of my time scrubbing walls and re-washing clothes from the wardrobe.

I contacted the landlord about this a few months ago, I explained the problem and sent pictures but then didn't hear anything further.
Fast forward to last week when we received a contract renewal, we didn't sign it straight away as we were discussing what to do with our very limited options. Yesterday I got a very snotty text message from the LL demanding to know why we hadn't returned the contract yet.

I've been looking for another house but as we have pets it's hard to find anything in our price range.

It looks like we have no option but to renew (and I think LL knows this :mad:). I really want to get this resolved but after the text (and poorly disguised insults on Facebook btw) I just don't think I can speak to the LL without loosing my rag!

I intend to send a letter with the contract but I'm looking for suggestions or previous experiences before I shoot myself in the foot!

Congratulations, you've made it through my ramblings! :T

MentalMinnie

Are you certain you can't find anywhere to rent with having pets? What have you got? It's always worth calling the local agencies and actually ask them what they have on their books that would accept pets. That's what we did, plus we offer an additional bond to cover any damage caused by our dog at the time.

With regards to the mould, have you contacted Environmental Health?

Impromptu

As the contract is due for renewal now- Im quite certain I can't find somewhere over the weekend. On the plus side it's a6 month contract so I've got time to find an alternative.

We've got two dogs. As soon as you mention dogs to agents it seems all they can picture is child eating snarling beasts!

What would/could Environmental Health do?

Thanks.

DRP

Impromptu wrote: »

As the contract is due for renewal now- Im quite certain I can't find somewhere over the weekend. On the plus side it's a6 month contract so I've got time to find an alternative.

We've got two dogs. As soon as you mention dogs to agents it seems all they can picture is child eating snarling beasts!

What would/could Environmental Health do?

Thanks.

what does 'due for renewal' mean?

you don't have to sign a new contract (your fixed term tenancy automatically goes on to periodic tenancy) and you will have at least 2 months (the LL's notice period) to find a new place...

ps. why are you still there after 4 years!!?!

newbutold

Impromptu wrote: »

As the contract is due for renewal now- Im quite certain I can't find somewhere over the weekend. On the plus side it's a6 month contract so I've got time to find an alternative.

We've got two dogs. As soon as you mention dogs to agents it seems all they can picture is child eating snarling beasts!

What would/could Environmental Health do?

Thanks.

Please do not rush in signing this contract committing yourself for another 6 months. Mould can have serious health implications.

If you do not renew the contract I believe it will automatically become a periodic contract - Hopefully one of the very knowledge people on here can explain this (better than I would able to.)

Personally I would not renew the contract until after the mould problem was addressed. A letter with the returned signed contract will be next to useless and will not enable you to be released from the 6 month contract should you need to be if the mould is not dealt with.

Also do call environmental health at your local council, they will assist and ultimately can force a landlord to sort out problems like this.

Impromptu

DRP wrote: »

what does 'due for renewal' mean?

From the said contract:
"this contract will be reviewed and renewed every six months....."

Thought it was self- explanatory myself

edwardw

As above, if you dont sign for 6 months, you go onto a one month rolling contract

Thrugelmir

Impromptu wrote: »

the rest had to be chucked after collapsing with the damp.

That seems quite extreme. As if you did little to tackle the problem yourselves. As would have taken a long time to reach that state.

saverbuyer

4 years and you only told him about the problem a few months ago.

Impromptu

saverbuyer wrote: »

4 years and you only told him about the problem a few months ago.

No the last conversation about it was a few months ago.

Impromptu

Thrugelmir wrote: »

That seems quite extreme. As if you did little to tackle the problem yourselves. As would have taken a long time to reach that state.

Well thank you for implying I'm a slob. Unfortunately I'm not blessed with your ability to see damp inside wood :doh:

So who's next to insult? Or maybe you could read the line that states I'm asking for advice...