Getting out of contract as living here is risking my job??

teddysmum

Explain your problem to the landlord and see if he will let you go because of it.


Could you get advice about the legal aspect from the ex ? If so you could use this to push the landlord if the initial request fails .

nnb

FBaby wrote: »

You could tell the landlord, but as you should know, the LL has to announce a visit. So it would be very easy to them to make sure they don't smoke 24 hours in advance and hide any evidence. Nothing the LL can then do.

Hmm, out of the box idea here - what if the landlord or letting agent visited MY property (with 24 hours notice) - they don't have to tell neighbours they are coming to my property. They can then smell my problem and identify the culprits (it's quite obvious.) This might not get the smokers in trouble or booted out, but might give me room for negotiation as they can't deny what it smelled like?? Or is this a stupid idea?

EachPenny

nnb wrote: »

Thanks for your well worded response. Much appreciated

I am trying to put up with it and happily work around situations but now work has noticed it, I am trying to just escape if I can as losing my job and possibly not finding a new one asap will be a massive problem.

As for police... That's hilarious as I used to be engaged to a CID drugs expert! Useful as a chocolate teapot when it came to ANY legal issues near where we lived as he didn't want any locals knowing what he was!

No problem, the important thing is to keep positive about your situation, and sometimes making light of it helps a little bit. There is little worse than living on your own next to problem neighbours.

This would be your problem - you don't want CID you need uniform

PasturesNew is correct in law, but you also make valid points about the effectiveness of making reports. TBH the last thing I would want to do is to report my neighbours while still living there... after you've moved out is a different situation altogether.

FBaby's point about dealing with it on the work side could also be good advice, but it depends on the attitude of your employer(s). As you work through an agency you would need to be confident of their support, rather than finding work placements 'dry up' because they consider it too much hassle to explain your situation to anyone who complains. You can see the headlines in the local paper "My careworker smelt of weed and the company did nothing about it" (not assuming that is what you actually do for work). Innocence, even if you can prove it through blood tests, doesn't always help.

Hope you get things fixed

EachPenny

nnb wrote: »

Hmm, out of the box idea here - what if the landlord or letting agent visited MY property (with 24 hours notice) - they don't have to tell neighbours they are coming to my property. They can then smell my problem and identify the culprits (it's quite obvious.) This might not get the smokers in trouble or booted out, but might give me room for negotiation as they can't deny what it smelled like?? Or is this a stupid idea?

In a totally hypothetical example... what if the landlord is the supplier?

iammumtoone

You main focus needs to be keeping your work clothes free of smell for 4 months.

Do you have a locker at work? could you leave work clothes in there and change before and after work?

Any friends or family nearby that would let you get changed at their house and store work clothes for you?

Its not ideal but its only for 4 months.

nnb

EachPenny wrote: »

No problem, the important thing is to keep positive about your situation, and sometimes making light of it helps a little bit. There is little worse than living on your own next to problem neighbours.

This would be your problem - you don't want CID you need uniform

PasturesNew is correct in law, but you also make valid points about the effectiveness of making reports. TBH the last thing I would want to do is to report my neighbours while still living there... after you've moved out is a different situation altogether.

FBaby's point about dealing with it on the work side could also be good advice, but it depends on the attitude of your employer(s). As you work through an agency you would need to be confident of their support, rather than finding work placements 'dry up' because they consider it too much hassle to explain your situation to anyone who complains. You can see the headlines in the local paper "My careworker smelt of weed and the company did nothing about it" (not assuming that is what you actually do for work). Innocence, even if you can prove it through blood tests, doesn't always help.

Hope you get things fixed

I am trying to stay positive, and it work around it but two reports isn't boding well. The first response on here didn't exactly help. I actually work in sales. I do a day here or a week there but always in shops. I work for everyone from your higher end clients selling items worth £500+ to lower end clients selling 69p items. Very varied!! The higher end clients are my main income as they book longer periods and I get repeat bookings on other campaigns with them if I do well. Annoyingly / typically, these are the ones who have mentioned my life outside work. My agency was supportive on the first one but that was because said client has complained about everyone the agency sends - but the second doesn't seem to have reported me... Yet. And I don't know how a second report will really go down. I doubt I would get a third chance. I have done my job for nearly 15 years and worked purely for this agency for 3. It's a little soul destroying knowing my life is in the hands of my neighbours

EachPenny wrote: »

In a totally hypothetical example... what if the landlord is the supplier?

I hadn't even thought of that. You never know!!!

iammumtoone wrote: »

You main focus needs to be keeping your work clothes free of smell for 4 months.

Do you have a locker at work? could you leave work clothes in there and change before and after work?

Any friends or family nearby that would let you get changed at their house and store work clothes for you?

Its not ideal but its only for 4 months.

I am similar to a temp - I only do 1 day here or 5 days there at most jobs. I only get a locker once I get there. So doesn't help with first impressions. I don't live near family and I don't drive so getting to my friends houses before a job is difficult as they are in the wrong direction.

EachPenny

nnb wrote: »

I am trying to stay positive, and it work around it but two reports isn't boding well. The first response on here didn't exactly help. I actually work in sales.
...
I am similar to a temp - I only do 1 day here or 5 days there at most jobs. I only get a locker once I get there. So doesn't help with first impressions. I don't live near family and I don't drive so getting to my friends houses before a job is difficult as they are in the wrong direction.

You'll always get some people on a public forum who are less sympathetic. Don't let that concern you.

Is there anywhere on-route you could use to change - a fast food restaurant, or somewhere else with toilets? I'd suggest a phone box like Superman, but these days you need to be Superman to actually find a phonebox

If the agency already know of the first complaint then it might be worth speaking to them and saying it is playing on your mind - explain you are concerned about the impact it is having on your reputation and that you are taking steps to move home as soon as possible once your initial contract is up. If they have valued your work over the last three years then they should understand. But there is a chance they won't and if that's the case you may find yourself needing to find a different agency to work for.

You need to think of it as only a temporary thing, don't let the day-to-day frustration and concerns cloud your vision that there will be an end point - in four months you can move elsewhere and start a new life in fresh air.

oystercatcher

You mentioned students in your first post. Is this most of the other occupants? If so there may be good news as most students will be finishing and going home in two or three weeks. So the problem may improve over the summer months.

iammumtoone

nnb wrote: »

I am similar to a temp - I only do 1 day here or 5 days there at most jobs. I only get a locker once I get there. So doesn't help with first impressions. I don't live near family and I don't drive so getting to my friends houses before a job is difficult as they are in the wrong direction.

Do you have a tumble drier? Can you wash the following mornings clothes the evening before, put into tumble drier to run overnight. iron first thing, put on and leave. No chance for any smoke to get onto them.

If no tumble drier you could still wash in the late evening (quick was they are not dirty you just need to get the smell of smoke out), hang inside overnight (leave a window open in the room). Iron just before you leave. I don't think they will get much chance to absorb the smoke in one night.

Again I appreciate its a hassle and extra costs but if it means keeping your job then its worth it. Weekends you can relax a bit and wear whatever has been hanging in the wardrobe and count down the days till you can leave the flat.

patman99

If the culprits are students, see if you can find out their names (try the electoral roll). You could then contact all the local Colleges and Universities with a list of the students names, asking whether any of said students were on a their course books as you wished to complain about the students use of class a drugs.

Many FE and HE providers take a dim view of their students bringing the college or university into disrepute with drugs use, and will boot them off the course.

Do this now, and any that are students may find themselves being kicked before their finals. Just think, all that hard work down the drain for breaking the rules.

Also, every time you smell weed being used, make an anonymous call to the Police. Eventually they will get fed up and do something about it.