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Help and advice needed regarding housing

10 replies

Tjt1710 · 08/08/2014 19:36

Hi there, I have quite a long winded problem but would appreciate any advice from anyone who will be willing to offer it! The problems with My house started in November. We had noticed that the entire house had started getting damp and I don't just mean a few black spots of condensation, I mean every room had fur on the walls and the paper had began to peel off! We reported it several times but never got any reply. My final straw came when at 11.30pm 2 weeks before Christmas the damp had gotten so bad that it had gotten into a plug socket and set my sons room on fire! Even then we were left without gas and electric for 6 days whilst the landlord ignored our pleas. So eventually I refused to pay my rent and contacted environmental health who deemed our house unfit to live in, with category 1 and 2 hazards and gave the landlord a month to is the problems. As a result we were served with a section 21 notice of eviction. However, we were advised by the local housing to pay the arrears so that we would qualify for a council property. Upon paying the arrears the landlord revoked the notice and the council as a result decided we didn't qualify anymore as we were not at risk of becoming homeless. By now it was march! My son gets really poorly due to his asthma and has been admitted into hospital and even intensive care on more than one occasion so after begging and pleading (and the threat of prosecution from environmental health) the landlord sent people out to survey the property. In the mean time, my sons ill health and the constant battle with housing and the fact I am studying for my degree and working full time took it's toll and I collapsed in work and have been diagnosed with stress and anxiety. I contacted my landlord again to inform him of my change in circumstances and was served yet another section 21. However he now wants to start work on the property ready for the next tenants! I have expressed my concern over my sons health whilst they are ripping up floorboards and stripping the walls back to the plaster and also that we will need time to pack our belongings and therefore it is unsuitable for them to do the work before we leave in 4 weeks time. They have responded by saying I can not prevent them from doing the work and they only have to give me 24 hours notice to enter the property. Does anybody know if I could contest this due to health reasons? I know it seems petty not letting them do the work but the state of the house has already made my son poorly and caused me so much stress I have lost earnings by not being at work! Please help xxx

OP posts:
Tjt1710 · 08/08/2014 19:44

Just posting a few pics to show how bad it has been!

Help and advice needed regarding housing
Help and advice needed regarding housing
Help and advice needed regarding housing
OP posts:
LadySybilLikesCake · 08/08/2014 19:48

You need to get in touch with Shelter, here's the number "free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444 (calls are free from UK landlines and main mobile networks)."

england.shelter.org.uk/about_us/contact_us

It will be dangerous for him to start working on the house until it's empty, but these are the guys who can help you.

Tjt1710 · 08/08/2014 19:50

Thank you so much! Really feel like I've been fighting a losing battle x

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tshirtsuntan · 08/08/2014 19:51

Oh my Goodness! You poor thing, that is horrendous. I have no real experience or solid advice but my friend is a health visitor and sometimes helps in situations when environment is affecting children's health, maybe if your son is of an age which means you have a health visitor they may be able to help you with council housing?

Tjt1710 · 08/08/2014 19:53

No, he is nearly 8. I got the specialist at the hospital to write a letter to the council but nothing came of it x

OP posts:
tshirtsuntan · 08/08/2014 20:00

What a bummer, I thought medical needs still had some sway. I guess as ladysybill said shelter may help or try citizens advice bureau?

tiredoutgran · 08/08/2014 20:26

You do not have to let them in regardless of anything it says on the contract, unless it is something to do with safety! Tell them that you absolutely refuse permission for them to enter your home whilst your son is ill and that you will let them know when it is convenient. If needs be you can change the locks, as long as you put the original ones back in when you leave. Make sure to put the access refusal (and your very specific reasons, ie your son's ill health with regards to the work they want to do) in writing. You have a right to peaceful enjoyment of the property and they weren't interested in doing work whilst you were needing it done. Stand firm, look on the landlordzone forum too, they can give you expert advice on there.

Tjt1710 · 08/08/2014 20:28

I will have a look on the forum now thank you!

OP posts:
Tjt1710 · 08/08/2014 20:38

Thank you tiredoutgran! That forum has a discussion already in progress about rights of access and it states that they have to go to court to enforce these rules! Clearly beneficial to me as I will have been evicted long before this case was looked at! :) wish I had signed up to here months ago!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 09/08/2014 11:14

what a nightmare, and this kind of crook really makes me angry.

it is your home. No-one else has ANY right of access except in emergency (same as if you owned it). 24 hours is a suggested time but it is not enforceable, if you say no he doesn't come in.

very glad that you are leaving. None too soon.

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