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Higher education

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Original poster

Room in student house without a window

399 replies

Evalina · 05/10/2016 22:59

DD's in her second year and has moved into what is otherwise a nice student house. However her room has no window. It has 2 doors, one into the hall and the other into a kitchen/lounge. So she has no natural light and no direct ventilation. She does get some light (and reduced privacy) through the frosted glazed door between her and the kitchen, but if she opens it to get air, then she gets cooking fumes and noise too.

We have raised it with local council HMO office who are not being very responsive, although they have spoken to landlord who has put in a brighter lightbulb! Landlord has said to DD's housemates that he knows loads of people at the council, and that if he's told to do anything it won't happen until next summer, so DD is wasting her time complaining about it. He's also said his wife is having a baby and is stressed at the thought they might have to pay to sort it out. As a result DD's housemates, who all have nice rooms with proper windows, are telling her to drop it, even though they have all declined to swap rooms with her.

I believe the problem could be fixed for less than £5k, which given collectively they are paying £38k in rent for the year is not too shocking.

Not sure what else to do really. Anyone got any advice?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Evalina · 05/10/2016 23:27

As the room has 2 doors, a second one goes into the hallway, the council guy said it was not a fire risk, even though the door between her and the kitchen is made of glass.

I also rang council building controls who first of all said that it wasn't legal as it needed proper ventilation, but then said they'd look into it, and came back to me to say that actually their surveyor had signed it off so there was nothing they could do. I rang my own council to ask if it was allowed and they said not at all, but when I said it was an existing property in another council they said it was down to each council to interpret the guidelines as they saw fit.

OP posts:
whogrewoutoftheterribletwos · 05/10/2016 23:27

Why would it not pass fire regulations? It had a door into the hall, presumably like all the other rooms do. If it's hmo licenced then it will have a fire alarm in the room, which will be wired into the mains, have a door closer and all the rest. Personally I like box rooms - mind you I'm a night owl and don't like morning light coming through my window when I've crap curtains

BennyTheBall · 05/10/2016 23:28

How would she get out of that room if there was a fire? Is there enhanced fire detection and warning? Is there a sprinkler system?

It sounds like it's a contravention of the building regs for a HMO.

NonnoMum · 05/10/2016 23:28

A shame but it seems one of those things that happen in shared houses at uni.
She has a couple of choices: deal with the room (it's only for a few months and she will probably come home in the holidays?), use the library more and maintain the friendships?
Or, keep on complaining with the possible loss of friendships?
Or, move out?
Sounds fairly standard university shared house woes to me... sadly.

Somerville · 05/10/2016 23:28

Who from the council came? HMO officer?

If so try calling environmental health officer next.

When I was a LL a bedroom had to have a direct source of natural light and adequate ventilation but this goes back a few years. I'd be surprised if it wasn't now the case as I thought the rules had got stricter, not more lenient.

Also, bedroom only separated from kitchen by 1 door used to be deemed a no-no due to fire risk.

TrishanFlips · 05/10/2016 23:29

What would the landlord have to do to sort it ou for £5k ? It does seem a bit grim.

BennyTheBall · 05/10/2016 23:29

Sorry, didn't see that it has a door leading to the hallway.

Somerville · 05/10/2016 23:30

C post but honestly, try environmental health at council.

Original poster
Evalina · 05/10/2016 23:34

Yes the HMO officer came out. There are fire alarms but no sensor in DD's room, and fire doors, but neither of her doors are. I thought the glass one might be as it is quite heavy, but the council guy advised her to keep it open to get more air and light in, and I queried it and he said it wasn't a fire door so it was fine. I can't understand how it is fine for her to prop open a door to a kitchen overnight.

The solution, whilst not great, would be to extend the room slightly, so that a skylight in the flat roof extension of the kitchen, which is the other side of her door, could be incorporated into her room. It's not a big skylight and can't really be left open in the rain, but it would be better than nothing.

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pontificationcentral · 05/10/2016 23:34

It's possible that she might be being a bit precious, tbh. Get her a pedestal fan, a standard lamp and a decent desk lamp, plus make sure she has bedside lamps etc. She can leave the door ajar to the hall for air flow. Once their electricity bill goes up they might realize the problem and be a bit more amenable.
Or tell her to post an ad looking for a new house share and leave them all to it. I don't think it's worth the stress of trying to force the council to do anything tbh. And it will just piss off the landlord and her friends.

Original poster
Evalina · 05/10/2016 23:38

The problem is that if she has the door open then she has no privacy at all, plus she has noise from her friends in the communal kitchen/living room.

The library is difficult to use due to the large number of books she needs to use, but I have suggested that.

She has ear plugs as well. The rent is inclusive of bills. Her room is stuffy, so having loads of lights on is just going to make it hotter.

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Original poster
Evalina · 05/10/2016 23:42

I will try environmental health again tomorrow, but I called them originally and they told me to speak to the HMO office.

Older DD's room last year was full of mould, and wasn't much cheaper. I really think it's shocking that student accommodation is so poor - no wonder there are high rates of student depression.

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GardenGeek · 05/10/2016 23:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FoxesSitOnBoxes · 05/10/2016 23:43

Honestly... I'd drop it. Presumably she saw the room before she moved in? I think that was the time to say no. It sounds like the LL has had all the appropriate checks done and the council are happy.
Someone has to have the shit room.

They could have agreed among the group of friends that they would give the person with that room a bit of money off the rent but, again, the time for this has passed.
her flat mates will get really pissed off if you don't drop it

Original poster
Evalina · 05/10/2016 23:49

No she didn't see the room before she moved in, as far as she can remember. I don't think it's legal as my own council said that I would not be able to do the same to a house here.

I think the HMO officer is either a mate of the LL and approved it originally, or made a mistake originally and now is finding it difficult to not approve it given that he did last time.

The HMO licence is for 6 bedrooms, but expires in a few days time - so will have to see whether the council have or will renew it.

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Bridge2387 · 05/10/2016 23:51

Housemates are being selfish but that's understandable, no one wants the shit room, the time for negotiating rent and room swaps has passed and as she's only there for a few months, I wouldn't bother with the council, by the time anything actually gets done, she'll be gone.

Best thing in my opinion is to start looking for other places and make her housemates aware, the fear of having to cough up her part of the rent may make them take this seriously and more willing to swap, or she may find a new place.

Original poster
Evalina · 05/10/2016 23:51

I don't get why her house mates are pissed off. I really thought they would be supportive given that she has a room that none of them will swap with her.

OP posts:
a7mints · 05/10/2016 23:52

In my Dcs experience the norm has been first come first served ,the last one in gets the crappest room.

Original poster
Evalina · 05/10/2016 23:54

It's not a few months though - it's round to the end of June. If she leaves, then as guarantors the LL will come to us to pay the rent.

Plus of course, DD doesn't want to leave her friends and go and rent with people she doesn't know in a house that might end up being even worse.

Thank you for the advice and support - it has been helpful. I will try a couple of other people at the council and see what they say. At the end of the day if the Council issue a new HMO then I suspect there is nothing we can do.

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whyistherumgone · 05/10/2016 23:55

it's not great. Is she more upset about the lack of window or the upset it's causing with her friends? if the latter it might be worth investing in a daylight lamp which isn't the same but might help, and just get on with it. The fire hazard side of it would worry me more.

Uni is a tricky time, it's not ideal but if it's going to really piss off her flat mates and cause a divide between them, stressing her out in the process I guess you both have to weigh up if it's worth it? Especially since it doesn't sound like you're going to get anywhere with the council and landlord. Uni accommodation is really shocking and so expensive. It amazes me what they are allowed to get away with.

Original poster
Evalina · 05/10/2016 23:55

She was second one in the house, and wouldn't just move her stuff into another room as it was 'all agreed'.

OP posts:
Original poster
Evalina · 05/10/2016 23:57

It's the lack of air in the room. She has always been slightly claustrophobic - at home sleeps with 2 windows open usually.

A daylight lamp is a good idea, I will get her one of those anyway.

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Phaedra11 · 06/10/2016 07:56

Do watch your DD's mood whilst in this room. One of my DC suffers from SAD and a dark bedroom in winter would affect their mental wellbeing. I definitely second the recommendation for a daylight lamp.

SolomanDaisy · 06/10/2016 08:06

If you suspect the licensing officer isn't being reasonable, try contacting your DD's councillor. They'll probably look into it for you.

Realitybitesyourbum · 06/10/2016 08:11

No one forced her to take it! If she doesn't like it, then she moves. Maybe she can find someone to take over the room for her. She is learning a valuable life lesson, never take a room unless you've seen it first!!

You expecting a landlord to do building works that the council don't say is necessary is pointless. He is doing this to make money!