Weird reaction when living in the flat

aliens30586

Hi everyone, 
I wonder if I could get some advice on this.

I moved into a 2 bedroom flat at the beginning of October. After three weeks, I started to get really sick and noticed the symptoms were going away when outside. More or less one month ago, I was advised from my GP to leave the property as she suspected the source of my illness was within the flat. 

I have reported this issue to the letting agency around one month ago. After looking at some pictures of some black patches in the big stone wall of the flat, the letting agency concluded the cause of the problem is condensation and didn’t offer me any further support.  

I had someone from the council to look at the property and his conclusion was that there is no evidence of condensation in the flat. He was not able to identy the patches in the stone wall to be mould but he agreed the property is not safe for me anymore (he witnessed me getting sick again when being in the flat).  He also identified some other risks:  property becoming dangerously cold and also the dangerous positioning of the main lights in the living room.

The letting agency provided me with the landlord’s address because I was not satisfied with the poor support received by the agents, but the address is wrong (the letter sent to the landlord came back because the landlord doesn’t live there).  

In addition to this, when reporting the health problems to the agency I also reported two other problems: four defective window frames which allow rainwater to leak into the property and the moving toilet (bolts at the base of the toilet don’t tighten up). Unfortunately, nothing has been done so far. 

I am now living in another flat and I will have to stay here until the problem is solved. This situation is having a very negative impact on my work and caused me a severe distress (especially when I felt really sick). It is also having a big impact on my financial situation because I am paying two rents at the moment.

Do you think I can write a complaint to the letting agengy to claim compensation for any periods it can be shown that the property didn’t meet the standard of ‘fitness’ and to agree for me to leave early?

Thank you all for your help.

C

dimbo61

Who was the person from the council ?
Environmental health by any chance ?
Did you check the EPC register to see what the EPC rating was for the property ? A,B,C, D or E as they can't rent a property with a F or G. 
Did you receive an EPC and an EICR, GSC from the lettings agents ,( LA) / Landlord ( LL) when you moved in ?
Has the property got double glazing ? Gas central heating ? loft insulation ? Energy saving lighting ?

theoretica

I think you would be sensible to assume that flat will not be safe for you to move back in, especially as it isn't an identified fault to be fixed.  I suggest you leave early and concentrate on minimising that financial hit.

pinkteapot

Does the flat have gas or is it all-electric? If there are any gas appliances, does it have a (working) carbon monoxide alarm?! 

elsien

How did the council person, as a non medical worker, manage to not only work out what your illness is but also that there is a causal relationship with the property? 

AnotherJoe

If its a really quick reaction I think its highly unlikely to be mould. Even if there is no gas in the flat (great suggestion by pinkteapot) get a CO detector and have someone else take it round the flat?

Did anyone else who went report report similar symptoms?

My other thought is could it be an allergy? Maybe the previous occupant had a  pet you are allergic to?

Norman_Castle

aliens30586 said:

I am now living in another flat and I will have to stay here until the problem is solved.

Presumably an allergy to something in the flat. I wouldn't be waiting for the problem to be solved, just move out. Its highly unlikely a landlord will accommodate you reaction to an unknown irritant. If you can identify the source of problem to show the property is uninhabitable you may have grounds to ask for compensation and end the tenancy early.

aliens30586

Hi all, thank for your replies. 
To answer your questions:
- the flat is fully electric.
- the person from the council is an Housing Solutions Officer
- the EPC rating is C-D. However, one weird thing is that the document I was provided with states "Dwelling type: Top-floor maisonette", which is obviously wrong. The one registered and checked by the Housing Solutions Officer describes the flat as a ‘ground floor maisonette’, which is obviously wrong.
- the property hasn't got double glazing
I cannot leave early until the landlord doesn't agree to a surrender but I cannot contact him as the letting agency has given me the wrong address.

So I don't know if a complaint to the letting agency would help the situation and negotiate a surrender.

macman

Your contract is with the LL, not the agency, and they are obliged to provide the correct address-so get it. The agent has no say in whether to grant a surrender.

Angela_D_3

elsien said:

How did the council person, as a non medical worker, manage to not only work out what your illness is but also that there is a causal relationship with the property? 

The GP made the connection not the council person 

[Deleted User]

aliens30586 said:

Hi everyone, 
I wonder if I could get some advice on this.

I moved into a 2 bedroom flat at the beginning of October. After three weeks, I started to get really sick and noticed the symptoms were going away when outside. More or less one month ago, I was advised from my GP to leave the property as she suspected the source of my illness was within the flat. 

I have reported this issue to the letting agency around one month ago. After looking at some pictures of some black patches in the big stone wall of the flat, the letting agency concluded the cause of the problem is condensation and didn’t offer me any further support.  

I had someone from the council to look at the property and his conclusion was that there is no evidence of condensation in the flat. He was not able to identy the patches in the stone wall to be mould but he agreed the property is not safe for me anymore (he witnessed me getting sick again when being in the flat).  He also identified some other risks:  property becoming dangerously cold and also the dangerous positioning of the main lights in the living room.

The letting agency provided me with the landlord’s address because I was not satisfied with the poor support received by the agents, but the address is wrong (the letter sent to the landlord came back because the landlord doesn’t live there).  

In addition to this, when reporting the health problems to the agency I also reported two other problems: four defective window frames which allow rainwater to leak into the property and the moving toilet (bolts at the base of the toilet don’t tighten up). Unfortunately, nothing has been done so far. 

I am now living in another flat and I will have to stay here until the problem is solved. This situation is having a very negative impact on my work and caused me a severe distress (especially when I felt really sick). It is also having a big impact on my financial situation because I am paying two rents at the moment.

Do you think I can write a complaint to the letting agengy to claim compensation for any periods it can be shown that the property didn’t meet the standard of ‘fitness’ and to agree for me to leave early?

Thank you all for your help.

C

The letting agency should supply the landlord’s contact details by law if you request them. That said you just need to serve any notices to the address for the serving of notices given in your tenancy agreement which may well be c/o the letting agent. 

What do the council deem as dangerously cold? Presumably this means the heating in the flat is insufficient to heat the property...? What is dangerous about the positioning of the lights in the living room? Did the council give you a report detailing these defects and some advice on what to do next? 

Assuming that you’re in England you can take your landlord to court using the Homes Act. You might wish to consider contact Shelter for advice and support on how to do this. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018/guide-for-tenants-homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018