Landlord inspection making me anxious.

[MotherofBingo]

I know I am being unreasonable because it's not my home and I just have to get to used to it because I can't afford my own home but the flat I live in is apparently due another inspection (only feels like a few months ago since the last one) and the thought of it is making me more anxious by the day. My mental health is bad at the moment, to the point that I can barely function, I don't even like having my own relatives come to the flat because its my safe space.

On top of that there is damage to the property that they're going to blame us for but it's not our fault - things like bad damp around the windows because the windows need replacing (which they are aware off) and now a huge chunk of wood has ripped off one of the windows from when the workmen came to look at them. The woman last time took pictures of everything and had a really nasty look on her face the whole time as well. If we get evicted then I have nowhere to go, there are no other flats in the area and we don't have a deposit.

I must admit it's not the tidiest at the moment either but I should be able to sort that out, it's just hard to clean when your minds constantly battling with other thoughts. I don't get any help from my crisis team when this happens and my psychiatrist still hasn't rescheduled the appointment she cancelled back in November so I'm not going to be any better mentally by next week when the inspection is. I am just feeling sick about it. Can I refuse the inspection? The email just said they'd let themselves in if I wasn't home.

I hate inspections too. I have them every three months and it does feel like a massive invasion of your privacy so I understand that.

Try to clean up as much as you can but remember unless your mess is causing damage to the property, they can't use it as a means to evict you. Do little bits of cleaning where you can. Make sure you hoover at least so carpets are clean.

The damage to the window, you need to explain was caused by workmen and directly outside of your control.

I do feel for you though as inspections raise my stress levels and I don't have an underlying mental health condition

Sorry you can't refuse the inspection if it was part of your contract and they have given you sufficient notice.

I'm not sure it is part of the contract, we had a different landlord before this one who never inspected the property (admittedly also never sorted out any of the problems either) but then someone else took over and that's when the inspections suddenly started.

Make sure it is clean and tidy , see if someone will help you maybe ? Damp and window problems are not your fault . If in doubt check with citizens advice or housing charity and take a look at your contract. I'm sure it is routine and just to check that you haven't trashed the place

The flat isn't in a disgusting state like you see on social media posts but there are toys scattered around, a mountain of washing, a pile of washing up on the side (from yesterday not days ago) and just general mess. I have 2 young children I wouldn't let it turn into a health hazard/tripping zone but I am ashamed of how it is at the moment.

The washing is a nightmare because I don't want to turn the tumble dryer on due to the cost but I don't want to dry it inside and contribute to the damp and there isn't a balcony to dry it outside.

Do you have close friend who you don't mind being in the flat? They can help you clean and tidy. Unfortunately a LL will gauge how you are looking after the place from that alone.

In future if anything is broken either by yourself or contractors you must let them know. You want them to have no surprises. You must also report damp or mould.

It may be a quick return visit to see if things have improved. If you are able, please enlist in some help to get it freshened up.

It's not pleasant no, and of course I don't want my children growing up like this. They'd be far better off without me but unfortunately they're stuck with me. It's not pleasant having suicidal thoughts and being so depressed that you disassociate for hours either. I'm sorry that comes across as harsh but that's my reality at the moment. I'm not living like this because I'm lazy, I'm living like this because I'm ill.

I don’t think you can refuse, and if you do there’s every chance the LL might want to evict you and get a tenant that will accept inspections. I know it’s hard for you but LL’s often have properties that are ruined by tenants so they have a right to check it’s ok. I was told I had to clean the windows once, the black stuff off even though the windows needed replacing, just get a weak bleach solution and clean up what you can. If the workmen have damaged something that’s not your fault, but in future I’d report anything like that to the LL immediately so it can be dealt with rather than risking your deposit. Hopefully all will be fine

Ok, I can hear your anxiety.

I was y til just before Xmas a landlady myself, it's pretty standard to have regular inspections, when I get the report, what I wanted to know was, is there anything I need to do to the property, after all this is my investment. If I don't maintain it, then it will be worth less, see it also as an opportunity to draw attention to any maintenance or repairs that need doing, there is no shame or reason to feel lesser as someone renting. I've been in my rented apartment for almost 11 years because I can't afford to buy where we live.

Landlords are t looking for a reason to evict you, they want to see that you are taking care of the place which it sounds like you are (toys and laundry aren't neglect) and to see if there are any problems they need to keep on top of to maintain it themselves.

I understand some people have had bad experiences but it's really not about your unwashed dishes and more that there's a damp issue which need's resolved before it causes more damage and in turn greater expense to fix.

How bad is the damp around the windows? Are your windows thick with mould? The landlord might be aware that the windows need replacing (maybe they don't have the money to do it l now) but you could help keep any mould levels down by cleaning it with bleach. We live in a new build and get black mould around our windows - a wipe with a damp cloth sprayed with bleach on a regular basis keeps it down until the spring when we hardly get any.

So the plaster around the windows is wet and soft because the rain literally comes in through the windows and not just a little bit - it pours through the windows. The three different workmen have come to give a quotation have all said the same thing and that they are dangerous as they are. The problem is the mould is under the wallpaper and it's falling off around the windows and I can't really scrub the wallpaper. I do remove it from the window frames and sills though.

How bad is it, exactly?

Do it in 10 minute blasts if you can't do it in one go.

Start at one corner of a room and work your way round and dont move on to a different task until you've completed each area.

Hey OP, I understand where you’re coming from. LL inspections can feel like an invasion of privacy but unfortunately it’s part of the rental agreement (usually) We have one every 6 months and I’m always caught out by it and then a frenzy ensues while I try to clean up. Our house isn’t a mess, but we have a toddler and in all honesty I haven’t managed to get on top of the washing since he was born!! You have until next week, do little things at a time, tackle one room and then onto the next.
Mention the damage done by the workmen and the damp before they even see it, ask what they intend to do regarding the damp. You have two young children, it is their duty to sort damp out as soon as possible.

If it makes you feel any less anxious, our cats absolutely destroyed the corners of our carpets, almost through the entire house within weeks of moving in. We’re still here 3 years later and the landlord has accepted that we will replace them prior to moving out.

They won’t just kick you and your young children out for a bit of damp- they may suggest it’s your fault, but let them know you air the house as much as possible, given it’s winter and you try not to let clothes dry indoors. Also as a PP suggested, try and get a dehumidifier. We got a 30 litre one for around 60 quid for our old flat and it was a total game changer!!

If it's just some black around windows will some mould spray get rid? Buy some of those disposable humidifiers you can get from b&m etc and put one on every window sil . Also open your windows a short space of time every day for ventilation. Things like the damaged wood you need to report to landlord as soon as it happens. Send photos as evidence. Do you have a airer? Use that in the bathroom ideally, open the window slightly to rid moisture and put heating on. (You can isolate to that room if worries about cost but will be cheaper than dryer. )

@Sublimeursula I technically have a crisis team and I'm under a psychiatrist and on a fairly high dose of antidepressants. In reality though no, I don't get much support I haven't seen or heard from anyone in months. There just isn't the support available.

Most landlord insurance policies dictate that you document inspections, it’s not like they are doing them for no reason.

tidy up as best you can and go out when they visit.

Hi, I rent out a house you need to see the inspection as a good thing, your landlord needs to make sure repairs, living conditions are up to standard, there is many strict rules around renting and inhabitable living conditions . The damp needs to be repaired by the landlord. Make sure the flat is clean and tidy, waste disposed . Landlords will want to make sure their property is being looked after, first impressions count , they can’t just evict for reporting property repairs.