Can I change my mind after signing a tenancy?

[MalibuNights]

I have been bidding for a house for me and DD for over a year with a local housing association.

I finally won a bid last week and went to view a property today. It needed a lot of work doing but I wasnt expecting miracles - it looked like it could be done with some help and I felt quite rushed, I had to decide there and then if I wanted the property. Fearing I would be waiting a lot longer I signed the tenancy and the keys were handed over.

A couple of hours later I took my dad to have a look around and noticed some things wrong - damp on some walls and tin foil in the hinges of a cupboard and back of it which I think suggests that drugs have been grown there.

The worst thing was finding a used syringe in the garden. DD is a toddler and I now feel the house is unsafe for her.

Am I within my rights to change my mind or am I tied now because I have signed the tenancy?

Greatful for any advice.

depends on the detail in what you signed.

but if the junkies are gone, with a good clean up it is fine. Your issue may be if there are junkie neighbours.

You should be able too but don't expect to get offered anything else any time soon if you do.

What about getting a company in to deep clean before you move in? Hire a metal detector for the garden?
If it were usd for growing drugs then the dampness is probably due to that, it has to be really hot a humid for growing I think.

Neighbours either way look quite decent to be honest so will think its probably previous occupants.

Would a deep clean company be willing to pick up dirty needles? Theres a lot of debris in the garden, think we may come across a lot more.

Contact the HA and they will come out and sort it for you. Where I live, if you are offered a property through the HA and turn it down, you drop massively down the priority list so would be waiting a minimum of 12 months to be offered somewhere else.

Well I think I have been very lucky, HA was horrified at what I found and agreed I can hand the keys back over with no effect on my priority in the list.

Thanks for advice.