Damp basement - housing association

Sean1904

Looking for some advice we rent a 2 bedroom property from a housing association the property has a basement underneath the living room which is accessed by stairs in the kitchen the basement suffers from damp and mould having checked the humidity down there it’s constantly sitting at 90% and doesn’t get above 11 degrees Celsius this makes the floor above freezing cold as there is no insulation between the floorboards. 

We’ve contacted the housing association and they sent one of there surveyors round who stated it’s a basement it’s bound to be cold and damp when asked if they could do anything he said as you don’t pay rent on the room we don’t need to fix problems in it as it would cost too much.

is this right can they just get away with it like that as I need to go in the basement regularly as the electricity meter and fuse board is down there. 

marcia_

Sean1904 said:

Looking for some advice we rent a 2 bedroom property from a housing association the property has a basement underneath the living room which is accessed by stairs in the kitchen the basement suffers from damp and mould having checked the humidity down there it’s constantly sitting at 90% and doesn’t get above 11 degrees Celsius this makes the floor above freezing cold as there is no insulation between the floorboards. 

We’ve contacted the housing association and they sent one of there surveyors round who stated it’s a basement it’s bound to be cold and damp when asked if they could do anything he said as you don’t pay rent on the room we don’t need to fix problems in it as it would cost too much.

is this right can they just get away with it like that as I need to go in the basement regularly as the electricity meter and fuse board is down there. 

 Unless you were using it as living space the infrequent trips to read the meter are not going to harm you.
 Unless the damp is spreading to your living space the HA are probably within their rights to delay fixing the issue as they are right, basements are cold and damp. 

Emmia

Sean1904 said:

Looking for some advice we rent a 2 bedroom property from a housing association the property has a basement underneath the living room which is accessed by stairs in the kitchen the basement suffers from damp and mould having checked the humidity down there it’s constantly sitting at 90% and doesn’t get above 11 degrees Celsius this makes the floor above freezing cold as there is no insulation between the floorboards. 

We’ve contacted the housing association and they sent one of there surveyors round who stated it’s a basement it’s bound to be cold and damp when asked if they could do anything he said as you don’t pay rent on the room we don’t need to fix problems in it as it would cost too much.

is this right can they just get away with it like that as I need to go in the basement regularly as the electricity meter and fuse board is down there. 

You're not trying to get it upgraded so you can use it as living space?

HampshireH

Sean1904 said:

Looking for some advice we rent a 2 bedroom property from a housing association the property has a basement underneath the living room which is accessed by stairs in the kitchen the basement suffers from damp and mould having checked the humidity down there it’s constantly sitting at 90% and doesn’t get above 11 degrees Celsius this makes the floor above freezing cold as there is no insulation between the floorboards. 

We’ve contacted the housing association and they sent one of there surveyors round who stated it’s a basement it’s bound to be cold and damp when asked if they could do anything he said as you don’t pay rent on the room we don’t need to fix problems in it as it would cost too much.

is this right can they just get away with it like that as I need to go in the basement regularly as the electricity meter and fuse board is down there. 

The trades person who attended was incorrect by stating the bit in bold as that is irrelevant. You don't pay rent per room (or if you do it's an odd arrangement).

Basements are there for a reason and they tend to be damp and cold but they should have adequate ventilation.

What exactly are you asking the HA to do because they absolutely won't make a basement a usable room.

Do you have ceiling in there or just exposed floorboard with your carpet sat on top of it?

Reading your meter once in a blue moon isn't going to cause you any problems. If you are that concerned you can wear a face mask.

sammyjammy

It is a basement and not a habitable room but it shouldn't be mouldy! How mouldy?

user1977

Sean1904 said:

I need to go in the basement regularly as the electricity meter and fuse board is down there. 

How regularly?

It's pretty commonplace for meters to be in unheated places (whether that's under the stairs, in a communal hall or in a cupboard outside). There's no principle that you need to be nice and cosy in order to read the meter.

You might be able to improve the underfloor insulation, but obviously that isn't going to make the basement any warmer.

theartfullodger

Ask the housing association (in writing/email)  where in the tenancy agreement it says you don't pay rent on the basement. 

Does the tenancy agreement state anything about the basement?