Renting home- problem in kitchen

Clouds88

Hello,

I have been renting my current home for 7 ish years and have recently found the kitchen floor to be uneven. A year (or two?) can’t remember how long ago it was something was sticking out of the Lino so someone came and cut into it and said it was just some old metal and removed it. Since then the floor has coroded away from the middle, the floor is very uneven. Where the Lino has come up thr floor boards underneath look wet.

This was escalated to the agency who then went back and told the landlord and he said he will get a quote for new Lino.

But what I want to know is, is the wet floor boards an issue? The uneven floor? Can and should it be left like that, I feel like I don’t want to push the issue when it isn’t “my” house but also is it not dangerous in case they give way one day if they go on being more uneven and wet? Hope this makes sense

xylophone

Have you told the landlord that the floor is not only uneven but also wet?

If not, write and tell him - send the letter signed for and keep a copy.

AdrianC

Floorboards aren't just wet. Something makes them wet. And that something needs investigating sharpish, before the wood gives up the fight... Oh, you said it's "recently... uneven"? Ah.



If your current landlord gives so little toss about the structural integrity of his property, move. Sharpish.

pinkshoes

Take some pictures and send them to the agent and landlord, making sure you emphasise that the floorboards are wet.

We replaced our kitchen, and when we took up the floor boards to replace a radiator, we discovered all the joists underneath were wet caused by the heating pipe leaking. This explained the constant damp smell (we blamed the dogs!!) and constant air in heating system.

Floor boards don't just get wet!!

theartfullodger

xylophone wrote: »

Have you told the landlord that the floor is not only uneven but also wet?

If not, write and tell him - send the letter signed for and keep a copy.

follow advice here
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/how_to_report_repairs_to_a_private_landlord

- in particular draft letter here...
https://england.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/word_doc/0007/1154185/R1_Request_for_repair_sample_letter.docx

Clouds88

Thanks for your replies. The ‘uneven’ flooring is something that I’m not sure how long it’s felt like that, maybe a little uneven forever but deff worse recently. At our last inspection (new letting agent but same landlord) I told him about it and that was when the floor had just started to corrode in the middle.

A few weeks ago I sent pictures of the floor with the Lino all open, with the floorboards visibly wet. This is all kept via email and the estates management department sent the photos and this email as below to the landlord:

have found the pictures form the last home visit and can see the issue with the lino has been reported to the landlord already. If you provide me with a picture as just discussed, I can approach the landlord again to explain that this is getting worse. I understand that the flooring is very uneven and even more of the lino is coming away so you can now see the floorboards that are wet to touch.

I will wait for the photo from you and let you know then what the landlord said.

And his response was to get a quote for new flooring?!

mangog

If the landlord is aware of all this and still just thinks it's a case of new lino I might start looking for a new place to rent...that's obviously not an ideal solution though.

Is it worth writing to say you're going to start looking for a new place unless he gets someone to come and investigate the root cause of the issue? Might give him a kick up the bum.

Either way I'd definitely be sending a letter directly to the landlord (not an email) detailing the full issue and requesting that he investigate further.

G_M

Have you written to the "address for serving notices" on the landlord. Formally reporting and requesting a date for repair to the floorboards (not just the lino)?


A damp kitchen, plus damage to the structural integrity of the property, are matters that Environmental Health can help with if the landlord ignores.

Clouds88

Would it be okay if I took up the flooring myself, it’s got a long cut in one corner when someone came to remove something stuck in the middle of the floor and then I can see the extent of what’s going on underneath if he’s getting a new floor anyway and the old one is wrecked?

I just don’t want to do anything that I’m going to get in trouble for.

Ideally I don’t want to move, I’ve lived here 7 years and have decorated the rest of the house exactly how I want it and it’s in the most perfect area for us in terms of schools and communting to work. I want to buy a house in about 4 years so wanted to stay put until then the rest of the house is fine.

I really appreciate your advice though. I think I’ll do what you said above and write a letter asking for it to be investigated.

G_M

Do not cause any damage yourself.


Repairs are the LL's responsibility - by investigating further yoursel, or attempting repairs, you lay yourself open to a potential claim that you have caused damage.


Restrict yourself tofollowing the proper processes fo reporting, and enforcing, repairs.


If EH visit, and choose to lift the flooring themeselves, that is down to them.

hazyjo

Are you on a water meter? If you have a leak - you'll be paying for that water!


Never advisable to decorate a rental yourself - presume the LL gave permission.


The woman I sit with at work has had similar probs and they found leaks in pipes - two under the kitchen floor and another in the bathroom. Thankfully she had family to help as it would have been a pricey job. Your LL really ought to be far more concerned about this than he appears to be!