Am I stuck in this hellhole forever?

[Stressedafff]

I’m currently going through hell with my housing association

Ground floor flat 2 bed. Wet room

Wet room is flooding, rotting, stinking and laden with mould. I’ve stopped showering as often to stop it but it’s still vile. Property infested with cellar spiders, slugs and woodlice due to damp.

Space in here is a massive issue, I’ve got 3 kitchen cupboards and 15cm x 15cm of worktop space.

Damp and mould being put down to lifestyle and no repairs by the HA. Was told to paint in the summer in future to prevent damp
Walls and ceiling full of holes and cracks, I’ve used caulk but they just reopen. Tenant responsibility

I’ve been in my neighbours today for the first time and I’ve realised my property is fully adapted. Cupboards have been taken out, my worktop is low and obviously the wet room.

I was never made aware that this property was fully adapted, no one told me. I wouldn’t by choice live in an adapted property as I have no need to. I can’t exchange the property as I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a disabled or vulnerable person living in such a stinking damp hovel. Can anyone advise what I do next please? This house isn’t suitable. Repairs aren’t being carried out efficiently.

An adapted property will be desirable

So arrange a swap! Be truthful about issues, they may have money available to fix or family members in the trade

It’s mouldy, damp and smelly. The property smells like a train toilet due to damp. No one would take this off me

Talk to your local MP, get them to write to your housing association explaining the issues and asking for the necessary repairs.

Some repairs are tenants responsibility

It's in your contract

Yes I tried filling in the holes myself. I used the caulk advised by the inspector. They opened again within 10 days and some are really deep

Follow your landlords complaints process then go to the Housing Ombudsman if not resolved

Contact Environmental Health via your council. Years ago I was in a private rented ground floor flat absolutely thick with damp and mould, had orange mushrooms growing in the windowless bathroom. We contacted Environment health and an officer came out to assess the property and he sent a strongly worded letter to the landlord from there. I'd just found out I was pregnant at that point so we moved out shortly after the landlord sent idiots in to strip away all the skirting boards but do nothing else. Woodlice everywhere. Landlord got very aggressive and threatened us with well known local thugs. We left with our full deposit. Damp, crawling flat was soon listed again on right move.

Omg that sounds awful! I’m glad you managed to get out of there especially whilst pregnant

This is apparently condensation caused by lifestyle. What my fucking lifestyle is I don’t know considering I have all windows open where appropriate and don’t air dry washing or have pots and pans on

I’ve just had enough. I raised my complaints to stage 2 of the procedure. I’d rather be in temporary accommodation than this house I cannot stand it

Lifestyle is a bollocks excuse. Could you imagine encouraging damp and mould just for the sake of it
Do contact environmental health, they will be able to provide evidence that it's not caused by you, it's the state of the property and they can intercede with the HA.

thats what I thought too. I spoke with shelter today and apparently I need to ask why this property cannot cope with everyday use

i will be phoning environmental health tomorrow

Could you either ask HA for a dehumidifier or buy one yourself. They suck damp out of the air then the walls. You have a water tray and you'd be surprised to see how much water can be collected in 24 hours, 6 inches of it. Putting decorators caulk onto damp walls is pointless. The first task is to suck the water out of the damp environment and make it dry out. Then you could do the caulking and use special paint to block out damp. Once you've got it dry you could put in for a swap.

I’ve got one, it makes 0 difference x

Okay so if you've complained over 3 months ago and you're not getting anywhere you can sue the housing association for not carrying out the repairs.
You could go through the housing ombudsman but as you've mentioned that the other issue is that you're in an adapted home and this is causing issues, I would suggest going through a solicitors as they can argue this on your behalf.

You can do a no win no fee claim (which means they only take fees from the compensation payout and never out of your pocket). The solicitor will send a letter of complaint to the housing association and they will argue your case until they get a settlement figure for you to accept or reject.

https://courmacslegal.co.uk/services/housing-disrepair-claims/ if you read this page it sets it all out and explains the fees. If you give them a call and ask for Luis Moragues (the team leader) he will go through everything on the phone with you, he's really friendly and helpful.

If your claim is accepted and eventually settled you will receive a lump sum and that will help with paying for repairs.

I hope this helps!! I'm sorry you're going through this, it's absolutely awful that companies can let their tenants live in such bad conditions.