Loft conversion (Merged)

lycane

Section62 said:

Doozergirl said:

Building Control is toothless after a year - I've even complained about ongoing work without approval and they'e said they can't check it without being invited in?! 

Unless it is a factory or other workplace 24 hours notice is required.  Alternatively a warrant can be obtained to permit entry without notice - and also in cases of unoccupied property, or where entry is refused etc etc.  Entry can then be by force if necessary.

I don't believe it was probably made a complaint though

user1977

lycane said:

Doozergirl said:

lycane said:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6299104/which-noise-

once again it is not about the tenancy and that shouldn't rather interest you, the post was about lack of planning permission and its effect on living conditions. This is it. If we had no neighbours above we would not have bad living conditions. If you write as a single person living alone don't expect others do the same if they are not single.

  

I have no idea what "If you write as a single person living alone don't expect others do the same if they are not single" means.  

Planning and Building Control are totally separate departments.     They will not render a place uninhabitable and make people
move out unless it is absolutely dangerous as building control would have to seek very expensive court injunctions.  They're certainly not going to do it for sound insulation.  

You may live underneath them, but you are a tenant and it is ultimately none of your business.   Make
your complaints and leave.    And stick to one thread on the same subject.  

I had no idea what ' vague question that isn't written in the first person is always difficult to answer ' means as well.

It means asking something like "How to verify if loft conversion is legal and how to deal with reporting to building control?" without telling us what your interest in the matter is  or any other context e.g. are you buying the property, selling it, a neighbouring owner, etc? It would have been obvious if you had just continued your previous thread.

lycane

Titus_Wadd said:

If the loft conversion is a boarded floor for designed for storage not habitation footsteps above you would be very loud.  I don't think a Building Regs complaint will get you any relief.  I'd be inclined to report it to the Housing Dept at your Council; you can mention the noise and express concerns that the loft tenants probably lack a safe electricity supply or fire escape route.

I'd also contact Shelter because your tenancy probably lacks the required safety checks, protected deposit etc which they can advise on.

Trying to claim back all the rent you have paid seems a very long shot but having some direct advice about your tenancy from Housing or Shelter might focus your expectations. 

My own experience of planning enforcement and noise abatement have massively lowered my expectation of these functions from my local council; by which I mean they have done absolutely nothing even when they have witnessed and recorded breaches themselves.  If the public cost to enforce outweighs the harm done they won't enforce.  Concentrate on improving your current living conditions now rather than storing up "a claim" for later, would be my advice.

Maybe you could ask a moderator to merge your threads so folk can read the context?  Since there's a link to the past thread, I'd just stick with this one for any supplementary questions you might have.

yes and this is very loud the reason we are gathering all these evidences, the flat above shoudn't be rented at all as you cant sleep underneath, each slight noise is like a bomb to a nervous system now and we sleep roughly 3 hours a night, more if lucky enough tenant above didnt make any move during the night.
We do concentrate on both searching for a flat.
Yes, I do have similar experience with Council in general as well however might have more power soon being involved in their operations.
Shelter provides information but after it you cant really do anything with it or enforce what is required by law. We do have protected deposit, the rest of safety checks are done rather as a way to harass you than protect you. He will instant fake fire alarms just to make you think he is  'legal'

-I can only 'thank' England for this cultural diversity-

UnsilentMinority

lycane said:

Doozergirl said:

lycane said:

I had no idea what ' vague question that isn't written in the first person is always difficult to answer ' means as well.
Sound insulation is dangerous factor as it affects our health.
I have no idea either what do you mean it is not my business. Its definitely our business as we are affected.

It's not your business to enforce it or take people to court about it, which is what you've said you want to do. 

You may not have understood what I said, but it was relevant and other people have understood and they've kindly explained.  

If anyone wants to explain the 'single person' reference, please do.  

I think you can just stop posting and 'helping' me on my posts as we apparently do not understand each other's messages and I am not seeking any advice to judge my plans and intentions

Would you like the answer you want to hear but which will be factually incorrect ?

Section62

lycane said:

Doozergirl said:

lycane said:

Doozergirl said:

lycane said:

ur business to enforce it or take people to court about it, which is what you've said you want to do. 

You may not have understood what I said, but it was relevant and other people have understood and they've kindly explained.  

If anyone wants to explain the 'single person' reference, please do.  

I think you can just stop posting and 'helping' me on my posts as we apparently do not understand each other's messages and I am not seeking any advice to judge my plans and intentions

It's a waste of energy.  I've been in the industry for 20 years and you've already been given a huge amount of advice, but you clearly know better, so that's fine with me.  

My landlord has been in the industry for more than 30 years and he still doesnt know how to comply with the law. Yes it is a waste of energy so please stop writing on my posts

You won't get better answers to your questions than the ones Doozergirl has previously posted.

(Section62: 32 years, on and off)

Doozergirl

lycane said:

Doozergirl said:

lycane said:

Doozergirl said:

lycane said:

ur business to enforce it or take people to court about it, which is what you've said you want to do. 

You may not have understood what I said, but it was relevant and other people have understood and they've kindly explained.  

If anyone wants to explain the 'single person' reference, please do.  

I think you can just stop posting and 'helping' me on my posts as we apparently do not understand each other's messages and I am not seeking any advice to judge my plans and intentions

It's a waste of energy.  I've been in the industry for 20 years and you've already been given a huge amount of advice, but you clearly know better, so that's fine with me.  

My landlord has been in the industry for more than 30 years and he still doesnt know how to comply with the law. Yes it is a waste of energy so please stop writing on my posts

Your landlord is in it for the money only, not the love.  They are incredibly common.  

 

I can bet your landlord hasn't spent 16 years on a forum helping people for free either, it doesn't mean that they don't get away with it.  The quality of rental stock in this country is hideous. 

One of my friends is even a housing enforcement officer.  It needs to be particularly bad before they can start bullying landlords, but all
you can do is complain. 

And move... 

mjm3346

What has the landlord done about your complaints?
Live somewhere for say 6 months and then complain and you have wasted 6 months - they cannot really deal with issues they have not been informed of..

lycane

mjm3346 said:

What has the landlord done about your complaints?
Live somewhere for say 6 months and then complain and you have wasted 6 months - they cannot really deal with issues they have not been informed of..

informed at the beginning also about other issues.
Also, will building control /others be more efficient if it comes to fire safety? No single fire alarm in the entire house.

anselld

lycane said:

mjm3346 said:

What has the landlord done about your complaints?
Live somewhere for say 6 months and then complain and you have wasted 6 months - they cannot really deal with issues they have not been informed of..

informed at the beginning also about other issues.
Also, will building control /others be more efficient if it comes to fire safety? No single fire alarm in the entire house.

I cant remember if it has been suggested elsewhere in the thread but request an HHSRS inspection by environmentl health at the Council.  They should deal swiftly with any blatant safety issues such as lack of adequate fire protection.  

lycane

anselld said:

lycane said:

mjm3346 said:

What has the landlord done about your complaints?
Live somewhere for say 6 months and then complain and you have wasted 6 months - they cannot really deal with issues they have not been informed of..

informed at the beginning also about other issues.
Also, will building control /others be more efficient if it comes to fire safety? No single fire alarm in the entire house.

I cant remember if it has been suggested elsewhere in the thread but request an HHSRS inspection by environmentl health at the Council.  They should deal swiftly with any blatant safety issues such as lack of adequate fire protection.  

thanks, will landlord be informed who requested it? I can only find that tenant can fill in report of disrepair form and it refers to repairs not to fire safety etc