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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Had sister in tears about damp flat.

32 replies

Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:25

Ok first time poster to AIBU.

Just had my youngest sister crying her eyes out, because the cheap nasty landlady won't pay for roof repairs and tried to blame it on my sister!

How bloody dare she!!

My sister who has asthma, is going to the dampest flat I have EVER seen.
My sisters health is suffering and now my sister can't fight anymore.

She is leaving that damp, but there is no suitable flats out there for her. Yes I've already said she can stay with me, but she is so down she is going to stay with mum and dad.

Should I sue that landlady? So cross........ Please mumsnet help me do the right thing. Before I do something I will reget.

EW

OP posts:
Alambil · 07/12/2011 21:28

has she asked the Citizen's Advice or suchlike to take her case on?

troisgarcons · 07/12/2011 21:29

How can you sue the land lady for your sisters flat?

Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:31

I didn't ask she was so upset, I've never seen her like this! Even when she had hear major spine operation she was never this upset.

Curses....... Yes curses.
Oh what about a letter to the lawyers?

EW

OP posts:
Xroads · 07/12/2011 21:32

She could ring environmental health, I was advised to do that baout 10 years ago when the damp in the flat was so bad there was green, furry mould from the floor to about 2 ft below the ceiling, as it was I had PND, was looking after my 2yr old and finding us somewhere new to live, I had no fight left and I wasn't asthmatic Sad

Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:32

Trios, how? I don't know but NO one should be treated like this.

OP posts:
poppy283 · 07/12/2011 21:33

The landlady isn't holding up her side of the contract - so your sister should stop paying the rent. That'll make her (the landlady) start living up to her obligations.
How can it be your sister's fault?

Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:34

X roads- fantasic!! environmental health!!!!
I'm going to nail this person tree and wish she had never........Angry

OP posts:
Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:36

Poppy- not having the only gas heater on day and night, for drying her washing indoors, for not wiping off the glass that has condensation. Oh and the best one having the hedge 6 inches too tall.....

Oh someone pissed off the wrong person.

OP posts:
NotJustForClassic · 07/12/2011 21:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:37

She had a man come and see the roof, the membrane it letting the water in! Infact he said the water was running down the rafters!

OP posts:
poppy283 · 07/12/2011 21:38

So the landlady's going to pay your sister's gas bill then ...? Sock it to her Evilwater!

Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:39

Not just- they won't pay out for a dehumidifier. But they want wants her to use hers all the time.

OP posts:
LemonDifficult · 07/12/2011 21:39

What kind of damp? Is it condensation?

Condensation should be quite easy to fix, although the solution might involve not drying clothes indoors.

If it's to do with the roof then that's a more serious type of damp.

Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:40

Poppy, pay! My sister should be paid for staying in that dump!
The only reason she went for it was because is was a safe place.

OP posts:
Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:43

Oh and she wanted my sis to clean out the guttering! Hmmm she has had a major back injury and surgery!

So cross....... So not happy.

OP posts:
Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 21:50

Ok so I go to environmental health so what do I say/ do.

OP posts:
NotJustForClassic · 07/12/2011 22:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HollyGhost · 07/12/2011 22:11

She should certainly stop paying rent until the roof is fixed and report to environmental health.

Shelter are very good for advice on problems like this, as are CAB.

Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 22:17

Holly ghost thanks for the heads up.

OP posts:
ddubsgirl · 07/12/2011 22:55

my friends daughter is going through same thing,council put her in a private flat she has 7mth old dd who is disabled,she works full time after ending m/l the boiler has been broken for over 3 months now,no hot water or heating,flat is riddled with damp,she cant afford to move and landlord refuses to replace the boiler as housing benefit owe him rent,council dont want to know told her its not thier problem :(

PastGrace · 07/12/2011 23:10

I did a property law module a few years ago and there was something about if the landlord is refusing to pay for essential repairs then you can basically pay to have it done yourself and then deduct it from your rent. I can't remember the precise details, but might be worth looking into?

The problem is you have to have the money to actually pay for it - might be more helpful for your friend's daughter ddubs. I don't think I'd be able to afford roof repairs.

Original poster
Evilwater · 07/12/2011 23:12

AIBU for the landlady to be torn apart by rebid dogs?

OP posts:
ddubsgirl · 07/12/2011 23:13

hes says he is kicking her out in jan so she doesnt want to pay for it to be fixed and then booted out,he called her work and told her boss if there was any damage he would have her nicked and sent to court and then she couldnt work with kids,lucky her boss is lovely and told him to f off(in a polite way)

Jellabella · 07/12/2011 23:30

I'm having a similar problem with my landlord. 2nd year in a row I've reported a damp problem to my landlord. He finally came to look at it and when I got home after a 12 hour day last week I discovered he'd left windows open in every room of my flat, it was 3c outside!!! He said same sorts of things. Some landlords are just so rubbish!!! I'm 32 weeks pg and getting paranoid about the damp :-(. He's said he will get the property manager to look at the roof but they did that last year and I've still got a damp flat which is apparently my fault for putting the heating on during winter, drying clothes indoors (am 3rd floor with no outdoor area), and breathing (tho he did say the last one was unavoidable, ha!). Never mind the giant damp patch on my ceiling. Might try that environmental health thing too, let me know if it works for you!!