Landlord potentially put our health at risk

studentguy

Hi,

I'm furious, so please bear with me.

A very quick background, for the past year or so our shower was leaking into the downstairs flat. After tons of nagging, after about a year they fixed it. However the floorboards are soaking wet, mushrooms often pop up out of the floor, and they've attracted flies (we think fungus flies). I told the Landlord we've fumigated the bathroom on several occasions and they keep coming back (however, something that's relevant to this story, when we fumigate we move our toothbrushes out, and make sure the room is fully aired afterwards)

We've reported to the landlord. They came round last Tuesday to inspect the situation. We heard nothing for days. I kept harassing the estate agent for an update on their findings, and then finally today (the next Monday), I get a response that when they came on the Tuesday, they fumigated the bathroom (the email goes on to not be helpful, but that's not the purpose of this post). It took them a WEEK to tell me that. In that week I've been brushing my teeth with toothbrushes that haven't been changed in that week. I've also not been airing out the bathroom because I didn't realise there was a need to do so. Also relevant is that in the past week I've had a constant headache. I'm now starting to believe that this is because I've been brushing my teeth with insecticide.

I'm absolutely furious. What are my rights? What can I do? Do I need to worry about my health now (obviously I'm going to be chucking out the toothbrushes)?

Thanks, from a very worried guy.

HappyMJ

Do you not wash your toothbrushes with hot water before every use?

The amount that may have fallen onto the brush head will be very minimal and would have been washed off with the next use.

theartfullodger

Rights?? Oh yes, you have the right to sue him for your actually financial losses suffered. What would those losses be??

A more powerful weapon is to invite council round for a HHSRS inspection...

studentguy

I was thinking the right to not be posioned by your landlord...

Dan83

If you have damp/wet floor boards, wouldn't it be a good idea to leave Windows/doors open anyway?

studentguy

Not when it's minus degrees outside

theartfullodger

studentguy wrote: »

.... ... I kept harassing the estate agent for an update on their findings, and then finally today (the next Monday), I get a response.......

Careful Sir!I appreciate you are unhappy (I would be..) but harassment is a CRIMINAL offence that landlords can (& sometimes do) go to jail for & so could you. Next time calm, polite - but firm - emails & 'phone-calls, nothing bordering on "harassment", not too often

Serious point - and I do realise you have a serious issue.

Best regards

studentguy

Well by harassing I mean emailing the estate agent every day. Hardly the criminal definition of harassment

studentguy

I always use the extractor fan... And I leave the door open to disperse the steam, but there's only a skylight in the bathroom which I can't use as the glass is broken (which they're meant to be fixing)

missbiggles1

studentguy wrote: »

I always use the extractor fan... And I leave the door open to disperse the steam, but there's only a skylight in the bathroom which I can't use as the glass is broken (which they're meant to be fixing)

Dispersing the steam into the rest of the house isn't a particularly good idea.

studentguy

It's the best I can do when the window is un usable.