Is my rented property safe? Any surveyors or similar able to help?

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Hi all, I'm in a rented flat. One of the bedroom windows outside area partially collapsed a few weeks ago (outside of window where plaster overhangs the window at the top collapsed) and a load of plaster and rotten wood collapsed into the street below. The remains of the wood look like dry rot or something (see pics). Luckily nobody was hurt and the window itself and the inside of the property was not affected.

The agency sent a builder to patch up the outside with a wooden plank or two held up by struts to hold the underside of the window overhang up and stop further wood / plaster from collapsing into the street.

They have suggested scaffolding and a surveyor will be round in due course to check the extent of the damage. However it has been close to three weeks now and no scaffolding has gone up nor has a surveyor visited.

I am particularly concerned because my sons bed is in the corner by the window that collapsed. The wall above the window has brown marks on it so I believe it to be affected at least in some way. I have not let him sleep in there since.

The agency / landlord appear to be dragging their heels over getting scaffolding and a surveyor and have said the outside wooden plank has "made it safe" for the time being. Nobody has yet been inside the flat to review safety at any point - nor outside (since the patch job which was outside only).

I have pressed them on this and asked them to hurry it up but three weeks without anyone coming and not being able to use the bedroom makes me uncomfortable.

The landlord has form for being slow to act.

I know it is impossible for you to tell whether or not it's safe but I wonder if I am being unreasonable in asking the agency to act more quickly and get someone to confirm the safety sooner. They said they have chased up but I believe three weeks from original incident with nothing other than a patch job is poor form.

Am I being OTT? Please see photos attached. Does anyone have a surveying background and could they tell me if it is possible the interior is potentially dangerous?

I'm posting images over a couple of posts so you can see the damage when it happened, the patch job, the debris from when it collapsed and the interior plaster marks.

Thanks.

More pix

More pix of damage - interior wall marks and patch job with wooden struts

Sorry it's a while since I drafted this - it's been more like 5-6 weeks since it happened. My main concern is the plaster inside collapsing while we are in that bedroom - given the marks on the wall I wonder if this might be a possibility.

If its a flat the structure of the building will be the responsibility of the freeholder not that landlord therefore agent / LL needs to wait for the management company to sort this out.

The landlord is the freeholder, he owns this and the downstairs property (it is only me and downstairs).

Contact environmental health at your local council.
They will have a department that deals with tenanted property repairs.
They can make the landlord do repairs and check safety

It's difficult to tell but it looks like there was a wooden lintel above, judging by the debris and staining. A roof leak or rainwater ingress may have caused rot and brought it down.

The framework may hold it but the crack is a concern and if the leak hasn't been sorted it may get worse. Did the builder say anything?

Three weeks for a patch up is a good result from personal experience, never mind full on works.
It is a pain to get all parties lined up, tenant to management to landlord to builder and back again, and many trades don't like being instructed without meeting the owner at the property and that in itself causes problems, unless the LL has a trade person they use. Another issue is whether the agents are passing on info back and forth.

I would move the bed to a different side and keep an eye on the staining and crack, take periodic pictures to see if it gets worse and keep pressing the agents to confirm it is rectified or if further works are needed.

If it needs scaffolding on the pavement below there will be planning permission involved plus potential non availability of suitable contractors to actually do the work. Your landlord may also be making a claim in the buildings insurance to fund the work. None of this happens quickly. What you might want to ask the landlord is whether his insurance covers the cost of alternative accommodation for you if the building is deemed unsafe to live in

Go to housing officer department in your council - I think there is a department that checks on residential property safety
Contact council england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/complain_to_environmental_health_about_private_rented_housing

thank you everyone for great advice, will take all into consideration.