Landlord ignoring me

[NotAllowed]

I’m about to lose it with my landlord and need a sounding board to see if my anger is justified.

I moved into this property since June. The garage, a major selling point, has an old roof which is leaking badly. I did not know this when I viewed and took on the property as it was early summer. It’s been a very wet year as we all know and my belongings in the garage are soaked, so much so that I’ve had to cover everything with tarp. I reported this as soon as I noticed it back in July. A roofer has been out to try and fix the issue on two occasions, which has only made things worse. It needs a new roof. There’s been no progress and it’s only getting worse, despite being reported 6 months ago. I call and text and largely get ignored.

The chimney breast is also leaking, there is a stream of water now pouring down one of the bedroom walls inside. There’s mould on all the windows and in the bathroom, and bad condensations for which I have requested a dehumidifier and been ignored. I open the windows and ventilate the house as much as possible given it’s winter and wet outside.

I’ve tried to call and text with other questions and concerns, as is understandable when moving into a new property. Lots of empty promises upon moving in such as replacing broken fencing panels which at this point I’m not even bothered about. I am constantly ignored. Calls go unreturned. Texts don’t get replied to. He replies on occasion. If he does pick up the phone there’s no acknowledgement of that fact I’m ignored, I find it weird and awkward. I’m 9 months pregnant and due any moment. I’m tired and irritable. The room that the water is now pouring in through is my baby’s nursery. I know that when I do eventually get through to him, I’m going to explode. Would an explosion be justified? I’m so angry. I’ve never experienced this level of rudeness and ignorance with a landlord.

The fact remains wherever you live, if you dry all your washing indoors then you need a dehumidifier. Some properties will cope better with this than others.

Either buy a tumble dryer or a dehumidifier.

Then go for your landlord for the leaks.

You need to report this to the council. It doesn't matter if it's a private rental, they will still inspect and issue an improvement notice on the landlord.

I dry my washing indoors in winter and have done in every property I have lived in with no issues. Surely most people do. If water is running down the walls I am not sure why anyone would leap to drying washing indoors as the cause of a damp problem!

The fact is you can't MAKE the LL do anything quickly (or even slowly) as it stands. It's wrong but it is what it is.

You aren't prepared to move, so it comes down to you to take steps to deal with the damp.

1. Stop drying clothes indoors. Take to launderette to dry or
2. Buy a tumble dryer or
3. Buy a dehumidifier

You can argue that the LL should fix or buy this stuff but that won't achieve anything.
It's your baby that'll be in this environment, not the LL.

Speak to your local council asap, you have given ample notice of the problems. We did this and the council were extremely helpful!
Good luck

This.

Where I live, this comes under the environmental health department, and they are very good. They come and inspect and then specify all the work that needs to be done, and take enforcement action if it's not.

It's also possible to get compensation for damage to your stuff caused by disrepair. I helped a friend do this through the small claims court, and it was surprisingly easy, as she had kept detailed notes of all the times she had reported leaks etc and had taken photos of the mould on her furniture and on the wallas.

I dry all my laundry indoors for most of the year. I don't have a dehumidifier and I have never had a problem with damp or mould, despite not having an extractor in the bathroom or kitchen. I don't think it should be necessary.

I do keep all the trickle vents in the windows open year round though.

Quite - that amount of water sounds like far too much to come from laundry drying, and may well be coming in from somewhere else.

A LL who is happy to ignore a leaking garage roof is likely to be generally slack on maintenance imo.

You don't want to buy yourself a dehumidifier nor move. You're choosing not to help yourself in any way.

If you complain to the council, which I would do, the chances are your landlord is going to end your tenancy as soon as he can, rather than do the work.

Can they do that? I thought so-called "revenge evictions" had been made illegal.

Also, I'd be worried not to keep on at your landlord too much, they could serve you notice.. do you want that with a newborn?

I'd move before that happens.

OP, your landlord sounds horrible. However, given your late-stage pregnancy and the health implications of mould, I would just buy the darn de-humidifier. It would give you some ease of mind while sorting this out. You are most probably not likely going to get one from your land-lord.

I really am very sorry that you are having to deal with this, especially as you are about to give birth. All the very best.

Replying as a landlord

For water pouring down the walls you should be contacting environmental health dept at council. They will come and review the property and tell the landlord what they need to fix and when
Your landlord should never be ignoring this and ones that do really annoy me. It's wrong of them and also stupid - their asset will be getting more damaged!

Garage roof - definitely landlord's responsibility. Keep a record of emails and photos and let him know you have been advised to go through small claims court - or would he like to sort direct?

Drying your clothes indoors without a humidifier though is on you, and I would get one asap to prove you are doing everything you can to mitigate
Different houses react differently and even if you (or others) have been lucky with it not causing an issue previously, it doesn't negate the fact it is contributing to the issue now

Sorry your landlord is one of the crap ones. Next time, if possible, go through an agency so they can take some of the stress from you

From Shelter's website:

Your landlord cannot use the section 21 notice to evict you as long as all these things have happened:

1. you complained to your landlord about your housing conditions before the section 21
2. your landlord did not properly deal with your complaint within 14 days
3. you then complained to the council's environmental health team about the problem
4. the council gave your landlord an improvement or emergency works notice

I'd get onto the council pdq, so that condition 3 is met and in the hope that the landlord sorts the problems and/or the council issue a notice.

"Revenge" evictions

A Google search finds the advice to go to Citizens Advice, 2nd step they advise is complaining to the council.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-privately/during-your-tenancy/complaining-about-your-landlord/

If the council serve an improvement notice your landlord can't serve a section 21 notice on you for 6 months.

Talk about spot the landlord. Water running down the walls when it rains is not a condensation issue. Its a leak. 🙄🙄

Some of you sound so stupid! Honestly. You clearly haven't lived in a mould ridden place! It's not OPs fault. Trust me. I've been there. If a property has mould it has mould! There's nothing that she can do at her end

What a ridiculous statement!! I've worked in housing and property for 25 years!!

Yes it's not always the persons fault, but it is alot of the time. If there is no water ingress and the property is ventilated and heated correctly and humidity kept below 60% you should not get mould.

I've seen families moved from property to property and had damp and mould follow them wherever they go and these are properties that never had issues with mould with previous families.

The house I live in, will easily get mould if I don't keep my windows open and heating on. Others on my road suffer terribly but they are houses where you never see a window open. I like fresh air and I am lucky to be able to afford heating.

I don't think that anyone has said that the leak isn't an issue. The leak needs sorting. It won't be the sole reason for the condensation/mould.

Oh my goodness I’m so sorry you’re living with this. When does your tenancy end? If I was you I’d be asking to end your tenancy immediately, if your landlord is difficult about that report him to your local council/local MP.

Find yourself a home through an agency, you are much better protected that way (I say this as a landlord myself)

You can’t bring a newborn into this situation, and your mental and physical health with suffer

I’m just going to leave this here for everyone blaming OP for the mould problems. New government legislation.

Report him to council with detailed list of issues and attempted contact. The exterior issues (garage)is less of an issue H&S wise, council will probably only be concerned with habitability of house. Copy letter/list to him recorded delivery. I can assure you stuff in garage will be wrecked, tarp or not, if it's cold and damp there will be mould spots on everything - had this joy before. The water ingress from chimney breast is a health and safety issue and must be dealt with - baby cannot go in that room or will end up with respiratory illness. Shut that door and don't use room until sorted if possible.

A small dehumidifier is a cheap win if drying clothes I put them on a rack at night with dehumidifier on overnight and dry/mostly dry in morning - ten mins in dryer finishes them. Cheaper to run than dryer and less of the lovely laundry decor! Will definitely help with mould/condensation issues, and you can take it with you when you move. They are cheap to run, and if you run it constantly for a while you will be amazed at how quickly it fills. You are likely to need to do this few a few weeks also help prove mould not due to your behaviours if you have one. Good luck.

If you can afford to, move out ASAP OP. It's not going to get any better and this anger and stress is no good for you or the baby.

How is exploding at him going to help, especially as you find it hard to get in touch anyway?

Imagine how you would feel if he had the cheek to give you notice for complaining too, if you're already this angry...

Sometimes you have to cut your losses even knowing you're 💯 in the right.

The fact remains wherever you live, if you dry all your washing indoors then you need a dehumidifier.

Not true. My old apartment was very old and had numerous issues, mould and damp was never one of them. I run a humidifier for my Calathea’s in my new apartment and still no mould/ damp issues.