Need advice - Neglected rental property.

[ItsCorn89]

I’ve posted in here for traffic but really could use some advice.

I’ll try and keep it concise but essentially we have frequent problems with damp and mould (among other things) in our house that we rent. We report these to the letting agency and they just don’t respond. Like absolute radio silence.

I can spend days trying to get through to them and eventually someone will answer the phone and says they’ll get back to me. We currently have water dripping through our ceiling and the damp has caused mould to grow down the wall and in our kitchen cupboards. It’s just really unpleasant and means I’m disinfecting constantly.

I want to take this further now. I’ve spoken to environmental health in the past about a different issue with the house but stopped short of asking them to intervene. My worry is that the landlord will just decide it’s easier to evict us than undertake repairs so will just give us notice to leave.

Our rent is low for the area and we would really, really struggle to find somewhere else suitable.

But as I said water is literally coming through our ceiling right now and I don’t think we should have to live like this. This is the latest in a long, long line of problems that are just being completely ignored.

Has anyone reported a landlord to environmental health before? What happened next? We want to stay here, we’ve been extremely patient and understanding but this is not fair.

Where is the water coming from?

can you speak to shelter for advice?

I reported a landlord to the council once and they were really helpful, actually came round and mentioned a few other violations I hadn't known. The issue was fixed after their intervention. My theory was it was dangerous enough to be worth doing but then I didn't mind if I got evicted as only needed to be there 6 months anyway.

@aniamana I’ve been trying to get through to them today but must be very busy! Will try again tomorrow.

@Brigante9 its a flat roof, it’s rain water collecting on this and leaking through.

I’ve spoken to environmental health today and they’ve offered to send someone out to have a look but I’m really worried about how the landlord would take this.

I think they banned revenge evictions but anyway even if he does the council have a duty to help you. Although that may well be temp accommodation for a while but once you get that golden goose of a council house you’ll be much better off stable housing with repairs.

Just to update, today we were told the landlord intends to sell the house as the repairs are too costly. We are devastated and have no idea what we’ll do. Rental prices have gone up so much we don’t know how we’ll afford to find somewhere else and the average wait for a council house is several years. We’re just devastated.

I’m so sorry.
Flat roofs are an absolute pain.
Whoever installs them must beca glutton for punishment.

Would moving to a cheaper part of the country and buying be an option??
I know people who have done just that.

It’s an upheaval- But means you are more in control.