A barrel of human poo in the back garden of sister's rented house.

[AvengingAngel]

My sister has been in a rented house for nearly two years and the last tenants left a barrel of human poo in the back garden. This is not a joke. Despite numerous attempts to get the Estate Agents to move it, it has not happened, even though promises have been made. I know she dearly wants to stay in the house, but come on! Any advice? Please??

I have almost chucked my crunchy nut cornflakes up. I am thinking all sorts here, I hope none of it comes true about previous tenants.

I know SoleSource! What the FUCK???

Yep I am sure, Shelter advice here.

I was just about to say exactly the same as Norbert regarding the programmes about hoarders etc.

I'm 99% sure that Environmental Health can go in and sort out something like that because human excrement carries a risk of contaminating ground/water supplies with parasites etc.

... but I could of course be wrong.

I'm just remembering a up here of a guy with tapeworms and his septic tank was leaching segments into the surrounding area (or something like that) so EH sorted it out.

a story up here

How do you know its human poo? Maybe they picked up theor dog poo from the garden and put it in there.

I mean, how does one shit in a barrel?

Great, thanks Zhen. Can you believe the Agents and EH would knowingly leave this situation, whilst happily taking rent?

It's definately sewage. You've never smelt anything like it. It makes dog poo smell tasty. You gag if you go within two feet of the thing.

I'm no lawyer but I'm fairly sure the landlord has broken the tenancy agreement - I'm assuming your sister has an assured shorthold tenancy agreement with him/her?

Hang on, I'll find the exact phrase...

i dont think i have ever gasped at something i've read on MN. That has now ceased to be the case.
Human poo...for the love of all that is decent!

I am still a bit open-mouthed that your sister loves living there, despite the smell in the garden making her gag, OP!

Hasn't it rotted after two years? There's certainly something whiffy about this thread.

She has been patient but needs to get firm now. She should write a letter to the EA saying that as, despite numerous requests over the 2 years she has lived there, the barrel of poo has not been removed. This constitutes a breach of contractual terms on the agent/ owners part and is unacceptable. Due to this, she will no longer be making rental payments. As soon as the poo is removed, payments will resume.

Bet you it's moved PDQ after that.

Ok, just checked with my sister and she has rang EH several times who have catagorically stated they CANNOT help.

I know Hexagonal. I know.

Maybe the shat in their hands and carried it out?

Or on a plate. I scrape of plate of kitchen waste into the compost bin. Maybe they shat on a plate, took it out and scrapped it in?

Holler, this isn't a wind up, I promise. I'm just at a loss.

This is the first time I have laughed until I cried thanks to a MN thread. On a more sombre note, I hope your sister gets it sorted out as that is foul. Maybe call a local paper and say EH aren't doing their job (focus it on them and not the LL/EA if she doesn't want to piss them off). Or her local MP/councillor?

She's scared of getting evicted, which is why she does not want to go down the legal route, if that can be avoided. Personally, I would have their sorry arses in court, sueing for damages, but hey ho.

this is a copy of what the Landlords responsibilities are with regards to health and safety

Oh yes do get the Papers!

WTAF?! Your poor sister.

Keep trying with the landlord and EH.

On page 8 of that document it says "The dwelling should not contain any deficiency that might give rise to a hazard
which interferes with, or puts at risk, the health or safety, or even the lives, of the occupants"

I think your sister would easily be able to claim that this is a health hazard. I'm afraid I think she will only get it resolved if she goes down the road of legal action. The landlord cannot legally evict her if she is suing him/her for breech of the tenancy agreement.

Ok, I'm going to send my sister the links. She's going to try EH again. I'll let you know what they say.

Agree with Headfairy, its been two years and they haven't done anything, she will need to get tough or it will stay. Must stink in this heat.