Unidentified bad smell in new build house

neilio

I moved into my new build house three years ago. My partner and I are the only two occupants. We are extremely clean and tidy with very little clutter. One of our bedrooms upstairs (set up as a study, so only includes a computer desk and chair) seems to have a strange smell, like rotting vegetables. It started between six and nine months ago, it’s very subtle, but has been very gradually getting worse. We’ve emptied the room and cleaned it, but cannot identify the source of the smell. It is strongest in a specific corner of the room which is where the external wall (front of the house) adjoins the party wall with the neighbour. It’s close to the window. The window is usually kept closed at all times. Opening the window and airing the room makes no difference. There is nothing obvious outside of the window causing the smell. I’ve asked my neighbour if they can smell anything or if they have anything in their room, but they can’t and they don’t.

No other rooms are affected. The affected room itself is the smallest room in the house, a box room, and the smell cannot be smelt in the hallway, only upon walking into the room and it gets stronger as you approach the corner. I've also checked in the loft, nothing there either. My fear is that something got trapped in that corner during the construction and is now only becoming evident. I don’t believe it’s a mouldy or damp smell.

I don’t know what to do next. I’m considering reaching out to the housebuilder despite being outside the 2-year warranty as they’ve generally been quite good at rectifying other neighbours’ snags after two years. Should they not help me, I have no idea what type of service I’m seeking out? Any ideas?

Ebe_Scrooge

It might be worth lifting the carpet in the corner, see if there's any evidence of damp on the floorboards (or, more likely, chipboard if it's a new-build house). The next thing I'd try would be to lift up one of the flooring panels and have a look in the void underneath. Have a good look round as best you can with a torch - I suppose it's possible there's a dead mouse or something under there.

It's a bit of a faff - lifting a sheet of chipboard (assuming that's what the floor is made of) isn't too bad, but it does mean you'll have to get the carpet laid back neatly. But it might be worth it if you've exhausted all the other logical ideas, which it sounds like you have done.

neilio

Thanks. Although I have laminate flooring in the room rather than carpet, which is likely even more of a faff to do!

vw100

Might be a dead rodent on your side of the cavity wall.

coffeehound

How long does it take a dead mouse to stop smelling? I guess at some point it will stop. I'd be inclined to wait it out!

neilio

I'm not confident doing any laminate floor- and floorboard-lifting myself. What type of service do I need to search for to do this?

Ebe_Scrooge

neilio wrote: »

I'm not confident doing any laminate floor- and floorboard-lifting myself. What type of service do I need to search for to do this?

A carpet-fitter (any half-decent carpet-fitter will usually do laminate as well), or a general handy-man would be able to help.

But I only suggested it on the assumption that you had carpet, and it would be relatively easy to take a look yourself. If you're going to need to remove laminate it's rather more involved - and that may not be the cause anyway, it was just a thought. Having said that, I can't think of many other logical causes that you haven't already explored.

Davesnave

coffeehound wrote: »

How long does it take a dead mouse to stop smelling? I guess at some point it will stop. I'd be inclined to wait it out!

Not that long. We had one in the kitchen somewhere. It must've escaped the cat and gone up behind the dot & dab or the units because I was able to access everywhere else.


After about 2 weeks the smell gradually faded away.

Mojisola

neilio wrote: »

One of our bedrooms upstairs seems to have a strange smell, like rotting vegetables. It started between six and nine months ago

My fear is that something got trapped in that corner during the construction and is now only becoming evident.

I don't think a dead rat or similar would still be smelling after nine months.

Jakg

No chance of this?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40655163