Bought a flat, very bad smell please help im struggling

TroubledTarts

I suggest your daughter takes control of the bin area, keeping it clear, bin lids down and perhaps when emptied using bin odour measures and cleaning out bins.

It's in her best interests to take this on.

Skiddaw1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089240#Comment_82089240

I wouldn't. It'll be her responsibility forever.

Grumpy_chap

I was thinking along the lines of what TT has suggested.

Actually get down to the bin store area, wheel the bins out into the car park, sweep the area clean (it would not be surprising if there is not various spilt refuse that has been spilt and remained in one place for months), mop it through with a bleach solution. As well as the floors, mop the ceiling if necessary.

Wipe down the outside of the wheely bins with strong bleach solution. When the bins are empty, find a way to clean the inside of the actual wheely bins. I have no idea if it works as I have never used it, but there used to be a product whose name escapes me that advertised / sponsored The Bill with the catch-line "There is an S T I N K in the B I N, there is an S T I N K in the B I N". In the scenario the OP finds themselves, this has to be worth trying if they can track the product (or an equivalent) down.

Be sure if wheeling the wheely bins outside to lock the wheels / chock the bins so they cannot roll away and hit anything.

In fact, brush down the ceiling as well.

The take a good look up at any services passing through the ceiling of the bin store, take photos if necessary, and try to understand how much gaps there are around the service ducts to allow odour to rise up as is suspected to be the case.

While doing this, try (if possible without jeopardising security) to have the flat ventilating.

If you ventilate the flat and the bin store for a good day, and clean the bin store thoroughly you might be able to prove that the odour is (or is not) originating from the bin store.

I accept this won't be a fun job but this is a problem affecting the OP / OP's daughter so they have a vested interest in getting together and taking direct action. It might be said it is down to the Management Co to sort out, but they are not directly impacted, will probably see this as low priority plus the costs for the work will, quite likely, end up being met by the OP's daughter plus other flat owners.

I am not sure that I fully agree with the contact the FB, EH, BC departments. Particularly as contact has been made with the Management Co., they will probably determine that it was the OP's daughter that dobbed them in. That might not be great for future relationships with the Management Co staff / other leaseholders. Any remedial works the official departments determine will also be passed on in one way or another to the leaseholders.

billiepiper14

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089264#Comment_82089264

Thankyou but what if it’s a fire risk and management company are saying there is nothing to address here ?

billiepiper14

I don’t think she could tackle the bin store she has full time job with seriously long hours and is studying for a degree alongside it

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089272#Comment_82089272

Well, you had the information before purchase recommending a Fire Stopping Survey but chose not to get that survey done.

You now need to get that survey done and use it, if necessary, to approach the Management Company with firm facts.

The better time to get that survey would have been prior to Exchange of Contracts as that would have given you the opportunity to withdraw from the purchase or negotiate for the vendor to resolve. That did not happen, so you need to deal with the here and now.

billiepiper14

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089276#Comment_82089276

that isn’t quite right. It was a report directed at the management company. It’s said so many things about all the buildings and im guessing it’s some kind of maintenance schedule that they need to be following

TroubledTarts

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089252#Comment_82089252

Fair enough but then I am guessing you don't live above a bin store.

TroubledTarts

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089275#Comment_82089275

She may have to buy a nose peg then or some Vicks on the top lip.

It may take an hour a week, if the smell is that bad and someone can't dedicate an hour a week then the smell isn't that bad.

Some picture of the bin store and the roof of the store would be good as it may just all need sealing properly and again maybe worth just getting done.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089300#Comment_82089300

Plus, if it is in a bad state now but someone tidies it all up, it might mean that other users of the bin store are more attentive and pick things up if they miss the bins when depositing their waste.

This bin store seem like the sort of thing that anybody could do and everybody will think it is somebody else's job so in the end nobody will do it.