Private renting - advice needed

diystarter7

Malibu83 said:

Thanks for the comments. Yes I've been wiping off the mould and drying windows to get rid of condensation. Obviously as it's winter, the windows aren't open often. I regularly use a dehumidifier and I dry laundry indoors for obvious reasons. There are no extractors which doesn't help. I hardly use central heating as it does hardly anything to the temperature and costs too much. Condensation problems were evident before we moved in as no redecorating had been done by the landlord. There was a leak coming from the roof which the estate agent (when they managed the property) fixed. I have been told that the conservatory hasn't been built properly - windows are blown, plastic roofing is not hardy enough and top layer is broken in places (holes), one of the walls has lumps on it from being constantly wet (there is a very slim gap between the conservatory wall and neighbour's house and I guess water collects there), it is built on a drain, the roof is covered in moss.  I know its my responsibility to protect my furniture and to clean off mould and condensation for mine and my family's health and for looking after the property but it is majorly the landlord's problem to sort as there is a structural problem but he doesn't do house inspections.  However I don't want to make things worse for me and my family by reporting the problems and then the landlord increasing the rent.  We are not in a fixed contract as the landlord is thinking of selling.  I know I need to make contact but its not an easy solution as there may be implications.

Hi

Have you considered using a laudry outlet, drier?

About possible "implications," so what do you want to happen if the LL is not made aware and advised, and it is part of your tenancy to report leaks etc, what do you want to happen?

Belwo is a link to the main repsposiblites of a LL &T  - it may help you decide - but if you dont tell the LL, not sure what else .

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/landlord_and_tenant_responsibilities_for_repairs



Either way, good luck

macman

So the 'implications' of a potentially lethal boiler fault harming you or your family does not concern you then?
Failure to provide an annual GSC is a criminal offence: it can result in a custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine.
It also gives you some considerable leverage over your LL to get the damp issues resolved, but if you are not heating the property adequately then it's not really surprising that damp is an issue. Reporting such issues is not 'bothering' the LL: they may be totally unaware of the problem and be grateful to you for reporting a fault that will cause long-term structural damage if not resolved. How do you make the assumption that they will then try to increase the rent in some form of retaliation?
The possibility of the LL selling the property is not relevant, as this does not end your tenancy.
I'm also going to hazard a guess that if your incompetent LL has not supplied a GSC in over 2 years, then they've  also not protected your deposit? if so, that's even more leverage to sort the damp issue out, as you can sue for up to 3x the deposit, and you will win: since there is no defence against non-protection.

Malibu83

I've left it for a week to highlight how bad it is before I clean/wipe it off again. I can't do anything about the condensation marks on the walls without redecorating but even then it won't fix the problem.

macman

Looks like classic rising damp to me, not condensation damage. That's why it's at floor level.

diystarter7

macman said:

So the 'implications' of a potentially lethal boiler fault harming you or your family does not concern you then?
Failure to provide an annual GSC is a criminal offence: it can result in a custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine.
It also gives you some considerable leverage over your LL to get the damp issues resolved, but if you are not heating the property adequately then it's not really surprising that damp is an issue. Reporting such issues is not 'bothering' the LL: they may be totally unaware of the problem and be grateful to you for reporting a fault that will cause long-term structural damage if not resolved. How do you make the assumption that they will then try to increase the rent in some form of retaliation?
The possibility of the LL selling the property is not relevant, as this does not end your tenancy.

Hi

100% agree with that.

I think I will just read from here on as its the OP's choice.

OP, the pics, one appears to be condensation and the others is damp and most likley playing a part in the condensation

May I ask you why you are asking here if you don't want to tell the LL?


Good luck.

Malibu83

Obviously we have the central heating on when its freezing but what I mean is that we don't have it on a lot of the time. You shouldn't imply that is it the tenant's fault when the landlord's house isn't properly insulated and that energy prices are ridiculously high.  We do all that we can to keep heat in but ultimately there is a structural problem which is not our fault.

macman

To state the obvious, if the OP doesn't report it to the LL, nothing will get done, as the LL does not inspect. 
In theory, the LL could claim from the OP at end of tenancy for at least some of the remedial costs, as the tenant has a duty to report any defects, and this would normally be a T&C of the tenancy.

Malibu83

I will have to report the problems but I do forsee problems with the landlord because he is very distant. If he cared about the property and well being of his tenants then he would've kept in contact and arranged inspections.

macman

Correct, but equally you have failed in over 2 years to report the issues. And the GSC was due within 30 days of the start of tenancy, but you have not reported it.
Distance is not the issue, it's incompetence. Many LL's manage their properties at a distance perfectly well. Inspections and maintenance are generally done by third parties.
If they are intending to sell then the obvious rising damp issue will need to be addressed before they market it.

diystarter7

macman said:

Correct, but equally you have failed in over 2 years to report the issues. And the GSC was due within 30 days of the start of tenancy, but you have not reported it.
Distance is not the issue, it's incompetence. Many LL's manage their properties at a distance perfectly well. Inspections and maintenance are generally done by third parties.
If they are intending to sell then the obvious rising damp issue will need to be addressed before they market it.

Hi
I agree othe than the damp issue as it does not have to be resolved before selling. It's the seller's choice.
Thanks