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Saddened by finding so much damp

Ratita_Presumida
Posts: 66 Forumite

I’m very lucky to be now housed by social housing, I’m disabled so I’m unable to carry out a lot of daily activities.
I moved into a ground floor flat. The day I signed my tendency agreement I notice a damp smell but was told it needed airing.
I moved into a ground floor flat. The day I signed my tendency agreement I notice a damp smell but was told it needed airing.
I found the source of the leak. The maintenance company used by the council almost needed an award for hiding/disguising a leak that could of been so easily fixed.
A bracket that seals two pipes together under the sink was missing. The woman before me I guess wasn’t bothered about the slugs that come out at night in the kitchen nor the silver fish taking over the floor
This leak must of been dripping like this for years as the damp that I’ve found, hidden by the council is now going to be looked at
This leak must of been dripping like this for years as the damp that I’ve found, hidden by the council is now going to be looked at
*All the cemented flooring throughout the tiles are damp
*Skirting all blistered and plaster on the walls above them is black underneath 4 layers of lining paper.
*The lip that sits above the large lounge window outside has been repaired and instead of the water dripping off the sill it is now running down brickwork and is penetrating through the walls and emulsion Easily wipes off where the lintel is.
*The lip that sits above the large lounge window outside has been repaired and instead of the water dripping off the sill it is now running down brickwork and is penetrating through the walls and emulsion Easily wipes off where the lintel is.
*Every corner in flat is showing damp under lining paper that’s been removed. ! My father has never seen such a flat that has been neglected *Decorating was done by a company use by the council that has absolutely no standard in place of workmanship and has deliberately hidden water damage, leaks and thrown paint on with no care at all
*The kitchen is very water damaged And black mould growing on mastic that is sealing anything that isn’t moving!!!!!
*The damp course outside is Only a quarter inch above floor level and bricks very green with moss growing on them. Brick weave built below 3 cm’s of damp course in one corner
* I had a surveyor look at damp. I wasn’t happy when I saw he was from the same company that bodged the decorating and hid the damp with either mastic or new wooden boarding
*Lounge door painted with white mat emulsions leaving a 2” gap the whole length of door where the brackets sit.
I guess the roller ran out of paint!
*Bathroom paint work touched up with Vinyl silk paint on Matt emulsion paint
i have to say being told “they only decorate to a certain standard“ I am shocked to see how people like myself have to put up with companies who are milking the council allowing appalling workmanship “just because it’s council housing”
Im now told they will put a new kitchen in but it’s going to be done before the damp test
I feel they want to just put a plaster over a bleeding wound??
i am very lucky but I feel more people need to complain who are disabled
*The kitchen is very water damaged And black mould growing on mastic that is sealing anything that isn’t moving!!!!!
*The damp course outside is Only a quarter inch above floor level and bricks very green with moss growing on them. Brick weave built below 3 cm’s of damp course in one corner
* I had a surveyor look at damp. I wasn’t happy when I saw he was from the same company that bodged the decorating and hid the damp with either mastic or new wooden boarding
*Lounge door painted with white mat emulsions leaving a 2” gap the whole length of door where the brackets sit.
I guess the roller ran out of paint!
*Bathroom paint work touched up with Vinyl silk paint on Matt emulsion paint
i have to say being told “they only decorate to a certain standard“ I am shocked to see how people like myself have to put up with companies who are milking the council allowing appalling workmanship “just because it’s council housing”
Im now told they will put a new kitchen in but it’s going to be done before the damp test
I feel they want to just put a plaster over a bleeding wound??
i am very lucky but I feel more people need to complain who are disabled
What should I expect with a damp test
How can I dry out damp cementEd flooring quickly. I have all new carpets and now this!!! I have mental health and this is tipping me further into depression! The place is damp everywhere! Why couldn’t I have a place to live in that doesn’t have slugs crawling around on the kitchen floor leaving there poop everywhere!!
The level of decorating is far too much for me even if it was redone by the council I just don’t want to live upside done with my medical problems
Where do I go now? Can I ask to be housed somewhere else???
How can I dry out damp cementEd flooring quickly. I have all new carpets and now this!!! I have mental health and this is tipping me further into depression! The place is damp everywhere! Why couldn’t I have a place to live in that doesn’t have slugs crawling around on the kitchen floor leaving there poop everywhere!!
The level of decorating is far too much for me even if it was redone by the council I just don’t want to live upside done with my medical problems
Where do I go now? Can I ask to be housed somewhere else???
0
Comments
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Ratita_Presumida said: Where do I go now?First port of call would be your local Councillor - You should find their names & contact details on the local council web site.Any language construct that forces such insanity in this case should be abandoned without regrets. –
Erik Aronesty, 2014
Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.3 -
First point is follow your landlord's repair process and complaint process. In writing/email. Usually already advised to you or on their website.
Sorry to read your story, hope things get better.1 -
theartfullodger said:First point is follow your landlord's repair process and complaint process. In writing/email. Usually already advised to you or on their website.
Sorry to read your story, hope things get better.
thanks again
Adèle0 -
I have a carer who is receiving contribution JSA!Having googled so much about over lapping benefits etc I’m totally lost?
is it income related where your Carer’s allowance is effected and contribution JSA being non means tested and can receive the full amount
Advice needed
Thank you0 -
Ratita you need to start your own thread in the right section of the forum i.e. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits
This is a thread started by someone else on a different topic and your post will cause confusion. Good luck.2 -
I totally sympathise. The recommendation to speak to your local councillor is a good one, and your MP. You could also try calling Shelter to see if they will advise on whether you can ask for a move because the disruption of a long list of repairs will affect you too much. I know when I had a social worker, however, she was just trying to negotiate I stay in short stay housing (might have been B&B) when I had a similar situation. I refused this as it would actually cause more disruption - the repairs weren't carried out anyway (hence my sympathy).
Has the kitchen leak been fixed? You could try getting a dehumidifier to help dry the kitchen out but I gather you are saying the whole flat is damp (so there could be more problems elsewhere possibly). I have had a partly adapted kitchen installed by the council (the one present when I moved in was literally falling apart). It was an expensive Howdens kitchen.., but oh dear the contractors were awful. So many mistakes and the layout was unworkable, leaving me with a lot of work to do. They even managed to install a double drainage system when I only needed one and left the second one uncapped. Yep it leaked. I still don't have hot water coming from the tap.
So I'd advise getting advice from Shelter but also get the MP/counsellor involved.
1 -
Thank you I will keep u updated0
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deannatrois said:Ratita you need to start your own thread in the right section of the forum i.e. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits
This is a thread started by someone else on a different topic and your post will cause confusion. Good luck.
Maybe it’s me!! Thank you anyway0 -
they only decorate to a certain standard“ I am shocked to see how people like myself have to put up with companies who are milking the council allowing appalling workmanship “just because it’s council housing”
You are lucky they decorated at all. Many councils do not and the tenancy agreement almost always makes it tenant responsibility regardless of capability. I.e if you can't do it you get someone too.
Not an excuse for poor workmanship but they do what they are told. At the end of the day the landlord deemed it acceptable & signed it off.
The first port of call as above is follow the repairs process and complaints process not your councillor. You are best saving the councillor for if nothing gets done ..... But it sounds like they are acting on the concerns you have raised.
I'm surprised you weren't offered tenancy support when you signed up. The council will have this service available in or links with an organisation who do. I would speak to your housing officer about this too.
Unlikely they will rehouse you.
Have you balanced the heating/air flow etc to reduce moisture (empty properties do get damp due to this and as you had a leak this would have compounded the issue)
A basic damp test will probably consist of someone testing walls and floors with a damp meter.
Ask the council for a dehum to dry it out and do not dry washing etc indoors as this will create problems.0
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