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Tenants storing hazardous chemicals in the garden

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Comments

  • Eviesmummy
    Eviesmummy Posts: 167 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    If is conc HCl and it leaks it could mean that you have a huge treatment bill to get your garden back to a habitable state. Contaminated land testing (WAC analysis) is costly in itself but the disposal of such material in a hazardous landfill is £££££. Not to mention the impact on local wildlife. If I lived next door to that I'd be seriously worried. I think you need to contact the environmental health department of the local council for advice at the very least.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Eviesmummy wrote: »
    If is conc HCl and it leaks it could mean that you have a huge treatment bill to get your garden back to a habitable state. Contaminated land testing (WAC analysis) is costly in itself but the disposal of such material in a hazardous landfill is £££££. Not to mention the impact on local wildlife. If I lived next door to that I'd be seriously worried. I think you need to contact the environmental health department of the local council for advice at the very least.
    Just out of interest... are you evi3000's mum....?
  • Eviesmummy
    Eviesmummy Posts: 167 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited 15 June 2014 at 9:14PM
    G_M wrote: »
    Just out of interest... are you evi3000's mum....?

    No, lol! unless my 6 yr old daughter is upstairs posting on the laptop ;)
  • Yorkie1
    Yorkie1 Posts: 12,259 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Have you actually tested the chemicals, or simply seen labels on containers ... ?
  • Yorkie1 wrote: »
    Have you actually tested the chemicals, or simply seen labels on containers ... ?
    on multiple containers I would expect the OP's presumption to be in with a good shout
  • Elsewhere
    Elsewhere Posts: 752 Forumite
    kinger101 wrote: »
    Perhaps OP can provide the address. The service they provide may come in useful one day.

    I always thought sulphuric acid was the chemical of choice, but having googled it I've found HCl will do nicely. Scary what the Internet will tell you... :eek:

    Anyhow, the only use I knew of (outside a lab) for HCl is removing rust. It does this fantastically well. However, I have also just discovered that it's used to keep the right pH in swimming pools. Maybe the tenants are in the pool or hot tub business?

    In any case it's an indication that the tenant may be running a business at the address, which I assume is against the terms of the tenancy and possibly grounds for termination?
  • evi3000
    evi3000 Posts: 162 Forumite
    Being abroad, there's not much I can do at the moment. Tempted to fly back but I'm in the UK in July so will try to dal with things then.
    I have emailed environmental health at the relevant council and will see what they have to say. I would love an excuse to end the tenancy but I suspect I will have to sit it out.
    I will have photographic evidence some time today of the chemical containers (if my handyman makes it out alive!)
    Thanks for your help (and the good laugh).
    If anyone has any idea how I could (easily) end the tenancy, please let me know. I want rid of the tenants and the useless agents.
  • Pixie5740
    Pixie5740 Posts: 14,515 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Eighth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Elsewhere wrote: »
    Anyhow, the only use I knew of (outside a lab) for HCl is removing rust. It does this fantastically well. However, I have also just discovered that it's used to keep the right pH in swimming pools. Maybe the tenants are in the pool or hot tub business?

    HCl can also be used to clean concrete and in b&w photography processing. Who knows if it's even HCl being stored at the property and if it is what the tenants are using it for.

    If the OP is paying the LA to carry out inspections every 3 months then that is what the LA should be doing so boot them up the backside and get them to do an inspection and send you the report.
  • evi3000
    evi3000 Posts: 162 Forumite
    Pixie5740 wrote: »
    HCl can also be used to clean concrete and in b&w photography processing. Who knows if it's even HCl being stored at the property and if it is what the tenants are using it for.

    If the OP is paying the LA to carry out inspections every 3 months then that is what the LA should be doing so boot them up the backside and get them to do an inspection and send you the report.

    Unfortunately, I don't trust them at all.
    :(
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    evi3000 wrote: »
    Unfortunately, I don't trust them at all.
    :(
    Letting Agents (Tips for selecting, and tips for sacking them)
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