Councils responsibility for suspected Subsidence

Trixvix

So I have just moved into a 3 bedroom house, rented through the council. Upon viewing the property I did not notice anything untoward but then I wasn't in very long. I accepted the offer and soon began spending time onside decorating. Very quickly i noticed that all the floors slope towards the front of the property and there is about and inch and a half difference from one end the room to the other. I quickly raised this with the council who said that it would have been inspected when it was a void so didn't think there was anything wrong but they would get clarification from the building manager. The building manager went on to say that it was normal and nothing could be done. I believe the house was built sometime in the 1940s/50s so not too old yet not new. Since raising this, wallpaper was stripped and large cracks in the plaster were found near some door frames and approx 1.5/2cm crack down a wall that adjoined an external wall. These have since been filled by ourselves. I have also noticed that there are some cracks to the external brickwork particularly around around the exterior of the property around doors and windows. Also some door frames are wonky particularly to the back of the property inside. I don't know how long this has been like this given I have just moved in although since moving in 1 door has started being quite difficult to close at the back of the property and where a door stop was on the floor that did initially stop the door slamming into wall now is useless and the bottom of the door goes straight over it. Also doors have a habit of closing themselves all in the direction of the front of the property. I also raised this with my environmental department at the council but they have said to redirect my concerns to the landlord. As having already raised I don't believe they would be willing to do anything and can't afford to pay for my own structural survey. What can I do to get my council to inspect my property to rule out subsidence and what are my rights?

theartfullodger

Why on earth are you repairing landlord's property at your expense, presumably without his agreement in writing? That's his job, his responsibility, his problem

Just to check, is the council named as your landlord or is it "rented through council" but landlord named as a private landlord on an at least 12 month tenancy, please?

Trixvix

Yeah sorry. Newcastle city council own the property but the general management is done through Your Homes Newcastle on behalf of the council.

theartfullodger

I ask, again, calmly & politely, who is named as your landlord, please?

Suggest you follow the advice on Shelter's website about writing (yes, WRITING, keep copy) to your landlord (various choices..) about repair issues.

Trixvix

Probably Newcastle City Council I presume but as I said the day to day management of the tenancy is dealt with Your Homes Newcastle which would be the one I would probably write to.
What im worried about is being fobbed off without even a survey carried and what steps I can take. I raised it with the environmental department following guidance from Shelter.
I may just add that the area I live in used to be a mining village back in the day.

theartfullodger

Read the tenancy agreement, see who your landlord is named as and write to them.... as per Shelter's guidance eg
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/how_to_report_repairs_to_a_social_landlord

Cakeguts

Houses move. Not having flat floors doesn't mean that it is going to fall down. There are houses that are 100s of years old that have sloping floors. There is no need to worry about this unless it gets worse.

The building manager has said that there is nothing for you to worry about. The door stop had probably moved position. A house with subsidence sinks it doesn't go upwards in order for the door to go over the door stop it would have had to move upwards in relation to the rest of the house in which case you would now have a sunken floor with the associated cracks round the bottom of the walls where the floor has gone down. You haven't said that there are cracks round the bottom of the walls.

I assmue that you are not a building inspector? The building manager has looked at this house and told you it is normal and nothing can be done? Why don't you believe them?

lincroft1710

You have no financial interest in the property so why are you worried about subsidence or possibly heave.

Norman_Castle

Trixvix wrote: »

What can I do to get my council to inspect my property to rule out subsidence and what are my rights?

Exactly why are you concerned about potential subsidence?

How old was the wallpaper over the 2cm crack?

As a tenant your property should be safe to live in. Any subsidence may be historic or slow moving. Monitor cracks such as the one you have just filled and if they continue to move show the ongoing movement to the landlord.

It took 10 years for my HA landlord to do anything about the subsidence in my home.

G_M

Trixvix wrote: »

Probably Newcastle City Council I presume but as I said the day to day management of the tenancy is dealt with Your Homes Newcastle which would be the one I would probably write to.
.

.... "probably...." :huh:

artful asked a simple and sensible question. To get advice, get out your tenancy agreement and check, then post the answer.

Money_saving_maniac

Just raise any issues as they arise. It's not like the house is suddenly going to fall down around your ears.