House inspection (renting).. what to expect?

robots_2

My OH and I have lived in our private rented house for almost two years but have put in an application for another house due to damp and location problems. Our current letting agents are coming over to inspect or house before putting a reference in to the other letting agent.
Our house has never been inspected before while we have lived here so I have no idea what to expect. I'm currently on a crazed cleaning mission but I'm close to a breakdown trying to clean every single nook and cranny. We don't mind losing our deposit for this house due to our desperation to move because we hate this house and have put up with it for this long but we need that reference.
What do I need to do? What should I expect when they come over to inspect the house? I'm losing my mind with worry that they'll find a speck of dust in a corner and either not give a reference or tell the other agents something bad about us. I have severe mental health problems and the stress is starting to make me ill.
Also, I was in a rush when I spoke to the letting agents on the phone and only managed to tell them about the damp when asked about the reason for leaving (there's a hundred and one reasons for leaving but the damp is a huge one) and they told my landlord. My landlord is coming over to check the damp and I'm pretty sure that he's going to try to convince us to stay. How can I explain nicely that we don't want the house anymore and nothing will make us stay?
Thank you x

BitterAndTwisted

How long has this damp issue been ongoing?

Generally, a landlords inspection is usually to identify any repair issues which the tenant may not have reported and needs attention. Expect someone to turn up with a clipboard, very likely with a copy of your check-in inventory to make a comparison with. If the property is as clean now as it was when you moved in and you haven't damaged anything then you should be fine.

What do you think the cause is of the damp you are experiencing?

G_M

Treat it as your opportunity as a paying tenant to point out the problems and request repairs/maintenance. That's what 'inspections' are for - o let the landlord find out what he needs to do...

However in this case it seems linked to your request for a reference, so I guess the LL/agent will be looking to see if you are worthy of becoming someone else's tenant....

McKneff

just stop, and relax, it really isn't worth making yourself ill over.
Use your eyes, see what needs doing, do it and everything will be fine.


Good luck

robots_2

Bitterandtwisted, the cause of damp in at least two rooms is rising damp. I've compared images online and it looks exactly the same. The other rooms have condensation which now has turned into mold, and there could be other types but these are the main problems. There is damp right by my bed and is making my asthma awful, I've had countless chest infections. Other tenants have left because of the damp. We put the heating on when it's cold and it's off during the summer. We use extractor fans and open the windows when appropriate but it still won't let up.
I'm worried I'll get pneumonia and end up in hospital again. My mental health team have advised me to move house because of the effects it's having on my physical and mental health.
I'm gonna try and chill out a little, I've asked for some help and my parents are coming over to help point us in the right direction with the cleaning and help with a couple of very minor repairs.
Thank everyone x