Bought a flat, very bad smell please help im struggling

martindow

OP, how are you communicating with various people involved in this? If you are phoning, you need to follow up with a summary of what was discussed or agreed in an email or letter so that you build up a paper trail. Phone calls without any written record are easily denied or ignored if you need to rely on them in the future.

I really don't think acting as a caretaker tidying up after other tenants is the answer here. If there are holes in the structure that should be a firebreak, remedying that is what is needed to ensure safety and make living conditions in the flat pleasanter. Taking steps however laudable to reduce the smell could cause a surveyor sent to check on the issue to decide there is no problem to resolve!

OP I can understand how stressful this must be - it is difficult when you want to help but live far away. You have had some good advice in this thread - hope it can be sorted soon.

billiepiper14

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089325#Comment_82089325

Thankyou so much for your advise i will make sure im following up with emails

Slinky

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089325#Comment_82089325

I agree with this. Don't be doing anything that reduces the problem before inviting anyone along to look at the issue.

How old is the block of flats? Would current building regulations even allow bin stores to be below habitable space? It might be the case that a fire assessment would recommend that bins be removed to an external storage space. I'm no expert, just speculating.

billiepiper14

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82089346#Comment_82089346

I thinks it’s 1990 thanks for this

ComicGeek

Drainage pipework between the flat and the bin store below should have fire collars installed, and holes sealed. There shouldn't be any air gaps in the fire compartment, particularly in a higher risk area like a bin store.

If it was me, I would raise it as an urgent email/letter to the management company with a couple of photos, confirming that there is a concern about the fire stopping in this area. The smell itself is a secondary issue at the moment, keep the correspondence focused on fire safety and concise.

If you don't get any response in a couple of days, I would contact the local fire brigade and raise your concerns with them, as they are able to review fire strategies and inspect properties -

'I've just moved into a new flat. It's above a bin store which is constantly overflowing, and there doesn't to be anything to stop any fire coming through holes in the bin store ceiling and into my flat above. In fact, the smell is pretty overwhelming in the flat, so I'm really worried about smoke coming through. I've raised it with the management company but they don't seem to be taking this seriously. I live by myself and am feeling very unsafe at the moment - could someone come and take a look?'

My advice is to focus only on the fire/smoke aspect. Not only does this focus the minds of the management company and parties involved, as there are criminal offences associated with failure to follow fire safety legislation, but solving that issue is also likely to solve (most) of the smell issue.

billiepiper14

thankyou thats really helpful

ExEstateAgent

If the flat was left in the state you mention, rotting food, maggots etc., maybe the smell is from a dead rodent/rodents somewhere under the flooring?

But if it's a purpose built flat the floors are most likely concrete and the smell being from the bathroom could possibly be drains?

It seems you need to start there and try to confirm/eliminate any possible causes.

otb666

I have read whole thread over a few days but cannot remember if these have been suggested. Contact insurance company if you have Legal advise and second suggestion Run the taps for 30mins as ubend may have evaporated whilst it was empty.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82096624#Comment_82096624

Legal protection was mentioned, but somewhat unusually not until page 4.

Running the taps for 30mins is just a waste of water (and money if metered). If the water in the traps had evaporated then it wouldn't need more than a cup or two of water to refill each of them.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82090929#Comment_82090929

I commented similarly up thread but the OP has chosen not to comment on these possibilities.