Is this my fault as a tenant?

[Lovvy67]

For years I've had issues with damp and severe mould around the windows in my flat, the bedroom window ledge is awful in winter and the pladter literally rots.

Twice during heavy rain I've had leaks that cause water to come into the flat. The last one was bad and flooded my bedroom, I have a mild one going on at the minute with this downpour.

Last time the conclusion was a leaking gutter above the window. The property manager had somebody come out and clear out the gutter. No further issues with water coming in for a while - but then there was no heavy rain until now..

I've woken up this morning and the window ledge is soaked and water is dripping down the wall. On closer inspection I found this, a gap between the window and the frame, and I'm guessing it has been there all along which would explain why I have so many issues around the windows. You have to stand at a certain angle to see it so it's easy to miss if you're looking straight on.

Anyway, I've sent a video to my landlord who said he can't see how a window would be liked that unless it was 'pulled down' which makes me think he's blaming me for it..

So can you tell me what you think? Is this something a tenant is responsible for? Why would a window be like this?

The window is completely closed, clicked shut.

The landlord is responsible for repairing it. There is no way you could cause that sort of damage to a window yourself, it looks like it hasn't been properly sealed.

not your fault,landlords can just be wankers. We had one who charged us for mould on walls-it was in noway our fault but he just used it as a chance to keep our deposits. Mould is down to the building work, not the tenants.

Another house I stayed on the toilet came loose just by sitting on it. Landlord took out 100 quid of my deposit when it wasn't my fault, it was just a rubbish toilet.

What a dump, just move. Mould is so bad for your health and he's already already started to argue and blame you.

Thank you, I have been raising the question whether there's something wrong with the windows for years.

Landlord does have photos I sent him years ago where the plaster had completely rotted away on the window ledge and had loads of white fluffy mould and black spores everywhere.

I'm baffled how he can reach the conclusion that the window must have been "pulled down" when there is years of documented issues.

Mould can certainly be down to the tenants but not in this case. If tenants never open windows or clean enough then mould can occur.

How long do you intend to put up with this?

I've been trying to save up for a deposit/rent in advance for a long time. I've saved £400 so far but it has taken me a year.

I'm a carer for my disabled child and on UC which adds another layer of issues as most private landlords and estate agents won't rent to me "no DSS"

The council won't help me as I'm "adequately housed" but there is nothing available with them anyway. The council temporary accommodation in this area is even worse than my flat.

My landlord does tend to get jobs done but there has been that much go wrong with this flat it's never ending.

You could try going to Environmental Health if you don’t get anywhere with your landlord. They can force the landlord to do something about it.

Not your fault you couldn't cause that damage without further damage.

Professional workmen didn't notice the gap so how would you.

It could have moved from the damp walls and surrounds softening too.

I hate when rentals aren't fit for purpose it is very unfair.

You don't have to disclose to your landlord that you're on any benefits.

There's nothing I can do unfortunately, short of reporting the issues.

I've gone to the council 3 separate times asking for help to move and they've been useless.

I've called around endless estate agents and private landlords and they won't take me on as I'm on UC.

Get straight on to environmental health, report the fucker. He knows its going to cost and is trying to dodge it.

I live in london and the rental market is really difficult here. They want bank statements, proof of employment etc.

Is that the side of the hinges? it might be they need replacing.

Definitely call environmental health.
Let them notify the council.
I wonder could you take a civil case against the landlord?
There was a recent case on Ireland where the tenants brought in environmental health and then sued the council for not taking sufficient action to reduce the damp.
They got 1000's.
I'm sorry you and your disabled DS are forced to live like this.

In the past 3 months I've had another leak coming in through the bathroom spotlights on the ceiling. Roofer, electrician and plumber came round. The roofer found a hole in the roof above and repaired that and so far no further water coming in from the bathroom but the paint work is fucked and the laminate flooring all bubbled up.

As it stands landlord is waiting for confirmation from the property manager that the roof issue is sorted and then he's going to replace the flooring, repaint etc.

My kitchen is falling to bits and that's on a list to be redone too.

There is literally a never ending list of problems with this place and whenever one gets sorted there's another that crops up.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.thejournal.ie/dcc-pay-court-damp-5762133-May2022/%3famp=1

Do you have family under a different council? You can apply to their council if so.

It's not the hinges from what I can tell. I think PP was right about it not being sealed properly.

So many corners were cut when refurbishing this flat, which used to be a taxi office. I'm on the ground floor with 3 or 4 flats above me.

Landlord has essentially bought a shit investment which is just burning money.

It looked lovely when I moved in but it quickly became obvious that it was bodged and rushed in numerous ways.

Unfortunately not, the family I have are under this council and live nearby.

Keep on at the landlord, there are companies that fix double glazing units so he has no excuse.
In the interim is there anyway you can keep on top of that mould? Wipe it down every morning and leave a rolled up towel on the window ledge to soak up any water? I’d personally look at some kind of flexible sealing strip for that gap as well.
I appreciate this isn’t something you should have to do, but at the end of the day it’s potentially impacting on your health and doesn’t sound like it’s going to get fixed any time soon.

I've been outside and looked at the guttering/flat roof above my bedroom window and it looks like there's a leak in the gutter piping which is causing water to pool down onto my bedroom window.

That wouldn't be an issue if it was properly installed though surely?

I've been CC'd into the landlords email to the property managers and he has told them that there's a leak in the guttering plus my window is "hanging" and won't close which isn't the case. There's never been an issue with the window closing which I've explained.

I dread having to get in touch about the constant stream of issues with the flat. It must be a PITA for him aswell but several tradesmen (one of which is his friend) has said the place is shit and there's so much wrong with it.

I've noted the advice about the council and environmental health thank you

I'm going to go out shortly and get some mould and mildew spray for around the windows. It gets so much worse in winter so I need to keep ontop of it as the weather changes.

I'm baffled how he can reach the conclusion that the window must have been "pulled down" when there is years of documented issues.

Because the alternative is to acknowledge he's knowingly renting out substandard accommodation and to a tenant with a disabled child.

It's a well known get out with environmental health, along with claims of lack of access by tenant.

It can miraculously explain rising damp meeting falling damp, repeat sewage flooding, massively out of date electrics, you name it, you can get away with it as a landlord if you play the system, and especially if you're a multiple landlord with certain London councils, housing tenants in difficult circumstances.

The only surprise is he hasn't tried to claim it's intentional ventilation.

Either the window wasn't sealed properly in the first place, or things have shifted. Given the evenness of the gap, I'd suspect the former.

Keep your emails logical and unemotional and preferably backed up with professional opinions if you can find any.

(Sending the pictures to large double glazing companies asking their opinion on what you're looking at here, without saying why, might just get you them.)

Do attack the mold with bleach and stay on top of it. Doesn't need to be daily, ime weekly or twice weekly will keep it at bay.

Don't try and seal it with expanding foam or similar without permission.

It really does look like the hinges are out of whack and need fixing.. it's a quick and easy job.
Look for a local window repair place like

Window doctor get a quote and ask the landlord to okay it.

As I say a quick fix