I don’t like my new house! AIBU to take it further with agent?

[Realitea]

We had to move as our previous landlord was selling and we didn’t have long left after notice was given. We couldn’t find anything in the area, nothing came up, so we chose nearby instead. All the new builds were too small/too far away/too expensive so we came across this house which is quite large and has a lot of land. Bargain! We thought. We had a look round with the agency and that was it, we paid up. So far it’s cost us all of our savings (to me £3k is a lot! It’s all we had)
Once moved in I realised how run down it actually was. Black mould on the inside of curtains, single glazed windows which fill up with condensation, slugs in the kitchen, woodlice everywhere, a wet wall from the damp, filthy cupboards inside, big gaps between the units and appliances which stink of damp.
I feel awful about this. I’ve sent pictures and emailed the agent to say I had no idea it was this bad. I’ve bought with my credit card, a big dehumidifier which fills up to full every day.
The dc’s love it, they’re playing outside every day and it is very scenic here at least. Dh loves it too, he thinks it’s his dream house!
I just feel gutted. I am constantly worrying about the problems the house has and I’ve already booked a plumber myself to fix the kitchen tap as it’s like something from the 60’s and actually hurts to turn the bloody taps as the handles are so short and stiff ?!!
I’m just thinking how we can’t move again as there’s no money left and if I complain too much we’ll get turfed out. The landlord obviously doesn’t give a stuff about maintaining the house or bringing it up to standard.
The energy rating somehow got a D. I’d say it should be more like an F.
What on Earth do I do?

I’ve just sent a pretty strong email to the agent listing everything and all the work the landlord needs to do to bring it up to a healthy standard. I don’t know what a lawyer could do? It would be environmental health first I expect.

Because we had to leave or we’d be homeless TrickyD

In your OP you say you looked around before taking up the lease but didn't realise how run down the place was, but then you go on to say

I’ve met the landlord, he came out to say hello the day we moved in. He definitely does know about the house’s problems, it was highlighted in the inventory and it’s quite obvious by just looking at the place.

But if it's that obvious by just looking at the place then why didn't you see it when you looked round? Genuine question.

Maybe spell it out to him and you'll find out for sure whether he knows or not. We had a tenant who didn't tell us when some damp formed as they didn't want to be a pest, they only told us when it became a mould problem. My DH fixed it straight away but had they told us to start with it would have been a small job whereas he had to replaster a whole wall in the end.

To be fair you LL could just be shot, but until you approach him you'll never know. We now always stress to our tenants we would rather know about all problems (big or small) asap as then we can fix them asap

specialsubject

I might have missed something but seems a lot of people are trying to give some good advice.

I'm pleased to see the OP has sent a detailed note to the agent/LL now as there could be a genuine case of LL not knowing here.

I remember watching one of those channel 4 things where a woman hadn't told her LL about Burning going wrong as she didn't want to be booted out the flat she was in, when the LL was approached about the state of the property he was devastated to find out the place had fallen into such disrepair as he would have fixed it had he known sooner and now it would cost him a fortune to do up.

We have no idea at all if that's the case here or if the LL is a proper fit who doesn't give a shit.

There is a disconnect between the state of the property being 'obvious' and the OP having seen it and not actually realising it was that bad (which could be the way the LL has also seen it since he's not living in it).

OP- I hope you get the resolution you need now you've highlighted the issues- fingers crossed for you.

I live in Cornwall and we often have very damp winters here. There are companies that fit air circulation units to take damp out of the air.

Windows: You can buy foam sprays to fill in gaps in woodwork and paint over. Use thermal blinds from somewhere like Dunelm and don't draw curtains. Get a Karcher window cleaner for condensation on Windows, bathroom etc In the winter my dm wiped down windows daily (London Victorian house).

Kitchen cupboards and wardrobes: Waitrose do an essential mould remover. Put those little plastic dehumidifiers in cupboards and wardrobes. Tumble dry clothes.

Try and negotiate an allowance for fuel costs to run additional heating and dehumidifier. There's some good advice from people here 're your legal rights

Condensation happens when warm air with high water content hits a cold surface. Cold air can't hold as much water, so as the air hitting the cold surface cools down, it sheds its water as condensation. So the thermal blinds mentioned by someone above sound worth while, as the cooling effect of the window would be less. Not quite sure why not drawing curtains is a good idea - drawn curtains would be another way of stopping warm wet air hitting the windows.

Tackle it from the other end too - try to avoid putting any extra water into the inside air. Make sure the tumble dryer doesn't add water to the atmosphere, and don't use an airer or hang clothes over radiators. Keep a lid on your pans when you're boiling water. Close the bathroom door after you've had a bath or shower and air it to the outside by opening the window.

Kitchen roll or newspaper strips make a reasonable draught excluder for cracks between floorboards and round windows. But you need some air exchange with the outside to keep a handle on the condensation.

Don't despair. You've not been there long, and it will slowly get better with the measures you're already taking.

I don't understand this. You moved into a house which is a dump which you knew was, and now you don't want to be evicted but want to take legal action against your landlord.?

I'd have gone for a too small new build if I had to make such a decision.

You will get your deposit back, I'd negotiate to leave asap.

When we looked around it was absolutely full of the tenants belongings. Things were piled up high in every room and it was summer. It’s now very different seeing empty with the rain and damp air. That’s why I didn’t notice when I looked around.
I like the look of the window vac. That would help.
It isn’t really an absolute dump, it’s a beautiful characterful cottage it just needs a few things done. As I said to the agent, if the windows and doors (cracks and condensation) can be fixed I’ll be very happy here. Thank you to everyone for their advice!

Have you contacted Shelter? Please do, they are the experts and will give you appropriate and current legal advice.

i think some of it is just what older properties are like. The damp you can ask to be sorted out, or for landlord to pay for dehumidifier, which is in their interests to do

I had millions of issues with mould in a rented place - would advise to wash all fabrics now, such as curtains, before they contaminate your fabrics and clothes.
Don't keep anything precious in boxes where you can't see it as it may grow mould.
Check drawers and cupboards and scrub these in case the damp has got in.
Keep silica bags in drawers.
Special mould spray for where the problem is especially bad, and demand the agent pay for anti-mould paint everywhere.
Open the windows as much as you can while the weather is still bearable, and wipe down damp windowsills etc.
Appliances which smell damp can sometimes be helped by running them empty with vinegar.

Thank you RandomObject. I love the silica idea for the kitchen cupboards. The dehumidifier we have running is doing a good job. I’d love one downstairs too though. I’m wiping down the single glazed windows a few times a day while I’m off work at the moment. They dry out in the day.
The agent has replied saying they’re putting forward the points raised so we’ll see what happens next!

Are you opening your windows? Condensation collects on the coldest parts of the house (ie single glazed windows) and to prevent that you need plenty of interchange from inside to out. 'Average' household use can produce up to 4 pints of condensation per person per day (boiling kettles/drying clothes/expiration/showers, etc) and it needs somewhere to go. The general suggestion is to fling open all your windows and internal doors for half an hour a day to get air going through the property and make sure that your air vents aren't blocked. Dettol mould spray will remove the black marks in the first instance (its amazing but probably super toxic) and that should help prevent them from coming back. Make sure you open your curtains - keeping them closed traps condensation between the window and the inner of the curtain and makes mould much more likely. Ensure that furniture isn't pushed up against walls so that there's some airflow there, and yes - make sure your gutters are all cleared (window cleaners will often do this as part of their service).

You need to find out what the source of the damp is as well as treating the symptoms. Check guttering and roof. Any external cracks in outside walls?
Condensation can be a major cause of damp. As others have said you need ventilation, have old fireplaces been blocked up? Make sure you leave bedroom windows open a crack at night as we breathe out loads of water vapour. If you have a gas cooker make sure you use extractor fan as they generate lots of water vapour. Don't dry clothes inside on radiators etc if possible. Make sure all windows are opened in the day where possible.
If it's an old house whats under the floors ? Is damp coming up from there?
Be very careful about how you store any treasured possessions as we got mildew in lots of things stored out of sight in cupboards :( and keep a careful eye on your curtains as it's easy for them to go mouldy if they keep getting damp. I have all old photos, keepsakes and paperwork stored in lidded plastic crates with silica gel sachets in now.

OP This is heartbreaking. Landlords are obliged to keep it in good repair and healthy to live in and the agent should be reporting problems back to the landlord. You've had decent advice from people. Remember bleach kills mould but ventilation is key to not getting it back so you need to allow a small current of air through a window as well as keeping it dry.

If you look like good responsible tenants the landlord will hopefully sort things out to keep you happy but - yes single glazing.. you need to start looking for a new place!

Have you asked them to look at the condition of the flat roof and make any necessary repairs. They're notorious for leaking.

Surely you looked around the house before renting it so its down to you that you didn't spot all these things. They sound like they would be quite obvious.

I am afraid with single pane windows comes a lot of condensation at this time of year. I have a Karcher window vac and I vacuum the water off every morning with it.

I donhave mould spots on my curtains from where they touch the wet windows at night. They just need running through the washing machine when this happens.

It sounds like it is an old house with the single pane windows. With an old house comes issues.

I would ask the landlord to look into the damp wall and suggest a few changes to them that you would appreciate being made to the house.

I would also catalogue all the issues and photograph them and send them over to them on email and keep a hard copy.

Honestly when you get used to living in an old house with a few quirks it gets easier.

I love our old quirky house.

If you already bought the house, I am not sure what your estate agent or you, in fact, can do now but look to redecorate and sort out all the things that need doing. I believe English law operates on the buyer beware principle and as such there is no real comeback. But, perhaps, someone will correct me if I am wrong.

OP, do try to keep everything as dry as possible as PP have suggested (crates with silica sachets), I lived in a rented Victorian terrace house with rising damp, condensation and black bloody mould everywhere (looked at in the summer of course).

Clothing and other things were ruined by the mould including a camera...

And the annoying night cough I developed was diagnosed with asthma about a year after we moved out. So get ventilating and wiping away the mildew.

The house sounds great to me, but I would be concerned about the damp / mould, which as well as being grim is something of a health hazard. Even I'd have to get that sorted, especially with children around. I hope you can work something out that keeps you all happy.

Diagnosed AS asthma, my cough wasn't diagnosed with it...

Withold your rent (but do not spend it) until repairs are seen to.