Help! New home is filthy beyond belief

Teapot55

So sorry to hear. 

Here’s my suggestions on priorities:

• check that there are smoke alarms - one at the bottom of the stairs and one at the top and that they’re both working 


• check that there’s a CO2 (carbon monoxide) alarm/ monitor 

(Both the above are legal requirements and should be checked annually when the gas inspection is done and a copy of this inspection has to be given to the tenant). 

• check that all the door locks work and that the windows close properly and, preferably, that they can be locked 

• check that you know how to turn the water off for if there was a leak (under the sink or just outside the front door or front gate?)

• run a 90º hot wash without clothes in the washing machine, which will help get rid of bad smells and check it’s working 

• check that there’s no brambles in the garden - they grow quickly this time of year - if so, you’ll need a pair of thick gloves (builder-type ones) & some secateurs 

anselld

Teapot55 said:

So sorry to hear. 


• check that there’s a CO2 (carbon monoxide) alarm/ monitor 

Advisable to have one but not a legal requirement unless there is a solid fuel burner.

Teapot55

On the ‘other people’s bad experiences’ front two of my close neighbours found filthy houses when they moved in apparently. 

The first one was purchased but had been rented out needed cleaning and renovating. 

The second one was purchased from an existing owner-occupier who was a very pleasant and quite well spoken chap who apparently had not ever done any cleaning and there was still food in the cupboards and there were mice. 

Teapot55

On the ‘Bank Holiday’ thing, I didn’t realise that it was a BH when I was originally offered a covid jab appointment for today. It’s still not showing as a BH in my iPhone calendar and neither is the August BH on 30/8. 

Teapot55

One more thing: you need to have your own copy of the inventory to check if it’s accurate. For instance, what will you do if it says

• all the light fittings have energy-saving bulbs (but they don’t) 

• there’s smoke alarms fitted (but you can’t find them)

• there’s a microwave (but there isn’t)? 

AdrianC

Teapot55 said:

On the ‘Bank Holiday’ thing, I didn’t realise that it was a BH when I was originally offered a covid jab appointment for today. It’s still not showing as a BH in my iPhone calendar and neither is the August BH on 30/8. 

The first Monday in May is normally the bank holiday. No reason for it not to be the same this year.

All three mid-year BHs in the UK are this kind of fixed day - first and last Monday in May, last Monday in Aug.
Xmas and NY are, obvs, fairly fixed.
Easter is the only BH in the year that's relatively mobile - it's based on the lunar calendar... the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21st March... And if you can explain the logic behind that...

Teapot55

anselld said:

Teapot55 said:

So sorry to hear. 


• check that there’s a CO2 (carbon monoxide) alarm/ monitor 

Advisable to have one but not a legal requirement unless there is a solid fuel burner.

Yes. If you were all-electric you wouldn’t need one. If there’s a gas cooker in the place you do have to have a carbon-monoxide alarm however. 

Teapot55

AdrianC said:

Teapot55 said:

On the ‘Bank Holiday’ thing, I didn’t realise that it was a BH when I was originally offered a covid jab appointment for today. It’s still not showing as a BH in my iPhone calendar and neither is the August BH on 30/8. 

The first Monday in May is normally the bank holiday. No reason for it not to be the same this year.

All three mid-year BHs in the UK are this kind of fixed day - first and last Monday in May, last Monday in Aug.
Xmas and NY are, obvs, fairly fixed.
Easter is the only BH in the year that's relatively mobile - it's based on the lunar calendar... the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21st March... And if you can explain the logic behind that...

I was only saying to my oh today that the timing of Easter is something to do with the moon (as is Ramadan apparently?)

But my point was that two of the Bank Holidays are missing from the iPhone calendar this year, which might be why the op didn’t know it’s a BH today, especially if she runs her life from her iPhone like many do (including me!). 

But interesting all the same. 

AdrianC

Teapot55 said:

AdrianC said:

Teapot55 said:

On the ‘Bank Holiday’ thing, I didn’t realise that it was a BH when I was originally offered a covid jab appointment for today. It’s still not showing as a BH in my iPhone calendar and neither is the August BH on 30/8. 

The first Monday in May is normally the bank holiday. No reason for it not to be the same this year.

All three mid-year BHs in the UK are this kind of fixed day - first and last Monday in May, last Monday in Aug.
Xmas and NY are, obvs, fairly fixed.
Easter is the only BH in the year that's relatively mobile - it's based on the lunar calendar... the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21st March... And if you can explain the logic behind that...

I was only saying to my oh today that the timing of Easter is something to do with the moon (as is Ramadan apparently?)

Yes, ninth month of the lunar year.

The Jewish year is lunar, too. As with so many things (dietary restrictions are the best known), it's the middle stop on the Abrahamic timeline which is the one that's diverged away from what used to be common to all three.

But my point was that two of the Bank Holidays are missing from the iPhone calendar this year, which might be why the op didn’t know it’s a BH today, especially if she runs her life from her iPhone like many do (including me!). 

But interesting all the same. 

Sure. But the first and last Mondays in May are always the BHs, along with the last Friday in August. A grown adult who's been in this country for more than a few years shouldn't need a phone to tell them that...

coffeehound

Teapot55 said:

But my point was that two of the Bank Holidays are missing from the iPhone calendar this year, which might be why the op didn’t know it’s a BH today, especially if she runs her life from her iPhone like many do (including me!). 

The BH is on iphone calendar, but it's only marked by a small grey dot under the number.  Click on the day and it then states the BH