Bought a flat, very bad smell please help im struggling

sheramber

Has she asked other flat occupants if they have the smell invading their flats?

Lorian

Make sure she's not using a single hose portable Aircon unit as that would suck the smell in.

Also using the bathroom extractor fan without a window or door open would have a similar but lesser sucking effect.

Also if the store is getting hot the air will tend to rise and if there is a window open anywhere in the flat with those holes in the floor it will be ventilating the store.

billiepiper14

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82088079#Comment_82088079

Thank you yes it’s only hers directly above

billiepiper14

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82088092#Comment_82088092

no air con unit but used bathroom extractor is it better not to do that ?

Lorian

When they use the extractor make sure the bathroom window or bathroom door is open (ideally window) or it will be sucking air up the holes until they are sealed.

I wouldn't despair this sounds fixable.

You might want to take a look at a photo in the store looking up at ceiling, presumably it will show the bathroom pipe work.

jimbog

fill in all holes and cracks and the problem should be solved

sammyjammy

Get the panel off the side of the bath and see what you can do with a can of spray foam as a short term measure, you might be pleasantly surprised at the difference.

eddddy

Report the issue to the building's Management Company / freeholder and ask them to investigate how and where the smell is getting from the bin store into your daughter's flat.

It sounds like it could be a defect in the design or construction of the bin store or some other part of the building. If so, it would probably be the Management Company's responsibility to put it right.

Or if it's a defect in your daughter's flat, it would probably be your daughter's responsibility to put it right.

You could suggest that your daughter goes into the bin store and takes a look at the ceiling, walls etc, to see if she can spot the problem.

Some Management Companies would be very responsive and get people to investigate the problem straight away.

Other Management Companies might 'make excuses' and try to avoid doing anything. In that case, your daughter might have to instruct a 'professional' (probably a building surveyor) to investigate and write a report on what needs to be done, which your daughter can pass on to the Management Company.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82088132#Comment_82088132

did you read the first post?

as we had contacted the management company believing that they would come to see what was happening and would offer help so left them open so they would know what the issue is. On the contrary, they have said, never had complaint in decades, we knew bin store was there when we purchased and this is a case of caveat emptor. They have said there is nothing to address here as they can’t stop smells entering through the windows but we really don’t feel that’s where they are coming from at all.

Skiddaw1

I imagine that as has been said, the current warm weather is making things worse (that's probably why she didn't notice the smell when she viewed the flat back in March). It may well settle down anyway once we move into autumn. Don't despair OP- it sounds fixable to me.