To report landlord/letting agency to the council?

[fashiondevotee]

Having lived here for two months, it's becoming rapidly apparent there's a mouse infestation and the drains overflow filth all over the patio. The whole house stinks of sewage.

Landlord / letting agent could not be less interested and said it was our fault. Neighbour told me the last tenants complained about the same problem.

What can I do?!

Yes I would report to the council.

Report

echo

Report!

Definitely get Environmental Health round to assess. They will look at everything, not just those two issues and will request that it be sorted by the landlord. The landlord then legally has to rectify any issues that the EH deem make the property unfit for habitation.

Straight to Environmental Health

Depending on who lives in your property the council will take over a month to come out.

I suggest you find out why the patio is overflowing and keep the place spotless plus keep having a go at the landlord in writing.

Your drains could be connected to your neighbours and if they have a blockage, your drains could overflow. If your house was built before WW2 the water company will come and unblock it if that is the case.

With the mouse infestation if you don't keep some properties spotless they move in.

BlueBug45 I've got landlord comms in writing - he just blamed us and didn't offer any help. As did the agency.

It sounds like the mice were already there, according to my neighbour. Nonetheless I've got all food boxed away and a cleaner round twice a week. No food left out ever. Think they just like the sewage!

Depending on the Council, they could be out same day, mine would be...

With the sewage; I had a sewage leak in my rental, poo toilet roll wee all spilling out onto my garden. Reported to Thames water they legally have to be with you within 2 hours, they were amazing, the blockage was much further down the road.

It most importantly it didn’t cost anything, it was their responsibility

From Thames water

Report to private sector housing at the council, at least then if you leave after 4 months and the next people complain the LL can’t says it’s the tenants

The blockage we had was caused by the house 2 up. We asked to look at her sewer-last feed up the main drains cover, it was almost totally blocked with fat deposits. She’d been pouring the roast fat down the sink and blocked the rest of the row, as she was first. It didn’t help that the sewer did a 90 degree turn after 4 houses.