Landlord Help: Garden Wall Falling Down

quailpower

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the Landlords responsibility is regarding a garden wall that is dangerous?

In our garden we have an 8 foot brick wall, three bricks thick, in the corner of the garden, the bricks at the bottom of the wall have completely disintegrated. So the bottom foot of my wall has dissapeared, about 6 foot along I can very nearly see into my neighbours back garden.

I am very worried as I have a two year old who loves being outside, all I ever hear is "outside, outside" because he wants to play. I am disabled so I cant take him to the park all the time, I can barely walk to the park so my garden is my one haven.
I cant move very fast so I know if something did happen I couldn't do anything and sometimes, like tonight, I cant sleep because I'm trying to work out out to fix it.

I have severely limited funds, as I am in that awkward position where I cannot claim ESA or JSA so surviving on my partners income.

I told the landlord I needed to wall fixing, she had a contractor out who said the whole wall needs replacing as it was badly built with incorrect mortar on old crumbling brick foundations. She refused to replace it, and now I'm stuck.

What do I do?


Will post a pic once the sun comes up.

EDIT pics

fishpond

You need the wall rebuilding for your sons safety, the LL refuses to have it done.
Move out at your earliest opportunity.

martindow

Could you put up some sort of temporary fence a few feet from the wall so your two year old can still play in the garden?

Rosemary7391

Did you write to her? Pen and paper? There is a procedure you can follow to get the repair done, or as the wall is a health risk environmental health might be interested. Presumably the wall is also a risk to whoever might be on the other side of it - have you spoken to your neighbour? They'd probably be willing to help you get it sorted, perhaps by raising the issue with the LL themselves, or the council.

See this for some information:
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets

quailpower

I couldnt move out if I wanted to.

I have a nil income until I have my operation (been on the waiting list since Dec 2013 and it was supposed to be an 18 week waiting list). I have exhausted my savings and I am in no condition medically to move. Plus it would be really hard to get a new place as my credit it !!!!ed from an accident in 2010 when (yet again) I wasnt eligable for a cent dispite working 100 hour weeks since I was 18 and working since I was 15.

quailpower

martindow wrote: »

Could you put up some sort of temporary fence a few feet from the wall so your two year old can still play in the garden?

The floor is flagged, my partner is a fencer so could fit a fence but we have been forbidden from lifting up the flags.

I originally asked to lift them up to reset them as they are all wonky and wobbly. Which is a serious trip hazard when you have cacky legs like me.

quailpower

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

Did you write to her? Pen and paper? There is a procedure you can follow to get the repair done, or as the wall is a health risk environmental health might be interested. Presumably the wall is also a risk to whoever might be on the other side of it - have you spoken to your neighbour? They'd probably be willing to help you get it sorted, perhaps by raising the issue with the LL themselves, or the council.

See this for some information:
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets

I will look into that now, the neighbour on the other side doesnt give a flying ****. They never use their garden, and are renters. They didnt care that my car got damaged from slates flying off their roof and they dont care about the wall

DTDfanBoy

quailpower wrote: »

The floor is flagged, my partner is a fencer so could fit a fence but we have been forbidden from lifting up the flags.

I originally asked to lift them up to reset them as they are all wonky and wobbly. Which is a serious trip hazard when you have cacky legs like me.

It would have to be one hell of a fence to protect someone from an eight foot high brick wall falling on them.

You should contact your local Council and report the wall as a dangerous structure.

https://www.gov.uk/report-dangerous-building-structure

quailpower

Updated with Pics, Bump.

quailpower

Thanks! I will report it now

DTDfanBoy

Just be aware that your landlord may retaliate by evicting you.