To think a house can impact your mental health?

[LookingForAlaskas]

I hade so many issues with my flat

• hot water constantly being turned off. I then have to venture into a very scary cellar every time to turn it back on (straight out of a horror film.) this happens a lot.
• internet is awful. Only works in 1 room (again I live in a flat not a 10 bedroom mansion)
• mould constantly grows on the ceiling (old building)
• Exceptionally difficult to heat (again old building)
• No privacy (neighbours can and do look into my property, especially the bedroom)
• people can never find it (I live at 12 and there’s a building next door which is 12A)

I can have severe depression and anxiety and struggle in life anyway but the above issues that shouldn’t even be there just make me want to say fuck this shit.

Am I being a sensitive snowflake?

Also paint anything which looks tatty. I lived in a house with chronic mould with a small baby in a property which didn't belong to us years ago. It was horrendous so I know how you feel.

Are your neighbours who won’t change management company just one family or more than one? Ie why is your opinion not carrying any weight? Do they get a secret discount or something, is it their mate?

You need to get the hell out of dodge. Good luck I hope you get a better place instead.

Absolutely it can, my last house on paper was great, but I was never truly happy there.

Keep on with trying to sell. I can only help with the internet but if it is broadband consider an extender. Around £20 but hopefully should improve things.

HG mould spray made a hugee difference for me, it's the only product I found to work. Also a dehumidifier would be a really good idea.

It might be worth trying thermilite insulation paint. It can help to reduce cold spots. A dehumidifier might not only dry out the air but also make it feel warmer. Powerline boosters use your electric circuit to boost the internet signal. It might not solve all of your problems but a couple of hundred pounds could make the flat more liveable until you can sell.

Honestly the place is well presented and cleaned thoroughly before any viewings. I got good feedback on the interior.

There was 7 flats, and the split was very much 50/50 of wanting to change. But there are 2 directors who live here and they didn’t want to change so it would have to go to a vote and I would have been overruled.

(The 7th flat is empty)

YANBU at all. Living environment is underrated as far as good mental health is concerned. For me, it’s proven a vital part of staying mentally well. I hope your issues can be resolved soon.

Yanbu at all
I hated my old house-it was worth £300,000 but it needed ripping apart and starting again
It was falling to bits in my hands
The landlord didn’t give a fuck-then he died and his son gave even less of a fuck
We bought the house we’re in now and I love it-it’s home
Only problem is we wanted to paint the hall sage green and we bought and painted it snot green so that’s depressing (simply don’t have time to redo it) and our bedroom windows go mouldy if we don’t wipe them daily in cold weather

I completely see why this is getting you down and I sympathise

Re the hot water, how does this happen and does it affect other flats?

Can you get contact details for the owner of the 7th flat?

Re the mould, I used to live somewhere like that and after I left I heard the landlord had the walls treated with something, have you checked your options there? I have asthma and it was a big problem, I got a dehumidifier as well.

Totally agree with you. My mental health has deteriorated considerably since we had to move 2 years ago from one reasonably good rented house that was being sold to another much smaller one. It was all that was available in the area within our price range. Full of mould and very damp, which wasn't made clear of course before we moved in (it had been painted over). Horrible agent who has gone out of her way to try and fuck things up for us for no valid reason. Just hanging on for an affordable rental property to become available so we can move but no idea how long we'll have to wait... So my heart goes out to you - I really hope you can sell your flat soon

I second the dehumidifier!
I had to make sure in one of the flats I lived in that drying clothes was done only in one room with window being periodically opened.
I have no idea what you can do about the hot water, but you could help some of the other things for the flat to feel better.

Wash of the mould as pp suggested, get dehumidifier and run it whenever needed. Whenever you cook make sure your extractor is on qnd leave it running for a bit even after you finish cooking.
Windows open every day for at least 15 min. Heat and air, heat and air.
Make sure bathroom is properly ventilated. I have no fan so I leave window open and door closed until the dump is gone. Tbh I often keep it open all day no matter what weather.
Wifi booster? It sounds like you have proper thick walls.
Net curtains? Some are really nice and simple and help privacy without making the room dark.

YANBU though. Living situation obviously impacts mental state.

Yes so much and the people in it. Renting a room from a mother with two daughters, the youngest who battled bathing and screamed and cried constantly? HELL. My depression rocketed, and I grew resentful of being treated like one of the children by my landlady.

Sorry that turned into a selfish MeMeMe rant! You’re absolutely not being a snowflake, and as it’s so important to practice self care is moving an option at all? Or something to aim for within a few months?

I rent and my last house depressed the fuck out of me. When I moved I enrolled at university and gave up my dangerous alcohol habit. I really do blame the house for my lack of drive.

No, you're not wrong. These aren't even spooky reasons some people blame for a house making them feel bad- they are numerous tangible reasons.

Hope you find a buyer soon- hugs and best wishes xxxxx

We used to have a dehumidifier in our mouldy old house. It would be full to the brim at the end of just one day - shocking but oddly satisfying.

You can hire an industrial one for couple of days and then keep it in check with smaller domestic one

• Who’s turning the hot water off? Or is it a problem with the boiler that needs fixing?

• Why not find some alternative management companies that charge less, have great reviews, etc... And get everyone together one night for wine and snacks in your flat to discuss it? Surely everyone would benefit from a lower service charge?

• Dehumidifier ASAP, or just leave a window open. Never heard of mould on the ceiling though. Is the empty fiat directly above yours?

• Could you get a quote from one of those companies who buy any house, and see if you’d get enough money to buy a different flat?

• Could you do anything to less-horror-film-ify the basement? Install a super bright light bulb?

I’m sorry you’re living somewhere you hate.

Re: the internet, does your router need replacing? Your ISP can tell you this if you call them. Have you done any troubleshooting? The solution is usually fairly simple.

Yep you need a dehumidifier! Do you dry washing inside? If so, that won’t help.

And old fashioned nets or opaque film on the bedroom window is the way to go.

Broadband booster?

Hot water probably not worth investing in if you are hoping to move soon.

Hope some of this helps you feel better; it’s awful when your home brings you down rather than lifts you up. 💐

Oh and I also agree with PPs who suggested a signal booster. We have one upstairs in our flat and it works brilliantly.

I second the hg mould spray seriously that shit eats the mold. Make sure you are well ventilated when using it use goggles and a mask.
www.amazon.co.uk/HG-186050106-Mould-Spray/dp/B000IU40HQ/ref=asc_df_B000IU40HQ/?hvlocphy&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=226559429649&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos=1o1&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-432399317735&hvrand=7938277220176819042
Its been close to three years since I used it upstairs and it has not come back some supermarkets carry it as well as lakeland.

Internet is awful you can either try a different company or you can get boosters that help with the signal.

Whats going on with the water why does it keep turning off can you get management company to look into that. Also about making the cellar a bit brighter adding in some of those stick on press lights might make a difference

Difficult to heat, make your living space as cosy as possible with blankets and cushions wear thick socks and keep all doors shut. Concentrate on heating the one room you are in. Can you install a heated towel rail to warm the bathroom 10 mins or so before you are going to have a bath shower etc.? When we were on holiday (early spring) the heated towel rail in the caravan dam near heated the whole place.
Extra blankets on bed with hot water bottle

Paint your front door or front fence/gate an out there colour then when you have deliveries etc its the one with the purple gate

Half nets or film to stop lookers in.

Sounds twee but bung up strings of fairy lights and get lamps from charity shops lighting can help

I understand that where you live can and will make you feel shit especially as it gets colder and darker but as you are stuck for a bit at least this is about damage control and getting through it whilst feeling as good as possible about it.

And old fashioned nets or opaque film on the bedroom window is the way to go.

Ikea have all sorts, you can go for the classic net curtains if you like but they’ve got lots of modern options too.

Re the hot water, how does this happen and does it affect other flats?

The gas is on a prepaid meter and the hot water will just suddenly cut out. I go down to the cellar and put the card in to top up and it already has money on it (?)

It’s run out before when I’m in the bath half way through washing my hair.

Also that’s another point. I have a free standing bath and so the overhead shower just floods the bathroom if it’s used. So I can only ever have a bath which tbh is just shit.

Can you get contact details for the owner of the 7th flat?

I’ve contacted him by email, he said he would consult his business partner and then never got back to me - despite me chasing it up a few times after.

They sell shower curtains for free standing baths.

You might want to call the gas company if your meter is shutting down before money run out. That means it's faulty and frankly can be dangerous