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Original poster

Can I ask my landlord for help ?

14 replies

crikeybiller · 09/01/2023 13:32

Ive privately rented the house I live in for over 6 years now.
I have decorated, put carpet in and varnished wood floors. I look after it well.
Despite my best efforts the house is damp and has black mould.
There is no extractor fan in the bathroom for a start, although there is a window.
The outside wall gets very damp and there is black mould in my sons bedroom that I spray with mould and mildew remover and wash down.
Its really getting me down though.
My LL recently renewed my tenancy but put my rent up by £300 a month.
I am a single [parent and struggling and I have had enough.
I would like him to at the very least put an extractor fan in the bathroom.
I am finding I am sccared to ask him incase he gets annoyed an kicks me out but I cant live like this anymore paying nearly £2000 a month !!!!

OP posts:

dizzydizzydizzy · 09/01/2023 13:37

Ex landlord here. Absolutely speak to your landlord. Your request is entirely reasonable.

Your property doesn't sound what I would call habitable. If you get no joy from the landlord, contact Environmental Health at your local council who have statutory powers to enforce your landlord to take action.

Burgerqueenbee · 09/01/2023 13:38

Bathroom extractors are not expensive, you should absolutely ask your landlord to get one installed as a window open alone isn't enough.

AWaferThinMint · 09/01/2023 13:39

As a landlord I would expect to be told this was happening so I could stop it. Both for the health of my tenant and for the health of the property.

Original poster

crikeybiller · 09/01/2023 13:50

Thank you so much !
I was worried I would annoy him.
How should I approach it with the agency ? Ive never asked for anything ?

OP posts:

C4tastrophe · 09/01/2023 14:03

Do it formally, whatever the process is.
Any phone calls follow up with an email.

tonystarksrighthand · 09/01/2023 14:13

AWaferThinMint · 09/01/2023 13:39

As a landlord I would expect to be told this was happening so I could stop it. Both for the health of my tenant and for the health of the property.

Exactly this. Have you reported it to the landlord

Snoken · 09/01/2023 14:16

I am a landlord and I really appreciate when my tenants tell me at the earliest possible opportunity that something is wrong. I always get it fixed asap, and a damp problem is definitely your LL's problem assuming you are only living a normal life and not growing weed in your bathroom or something.

Alexandernevermind · 09/01/2023 14:20

Yes you need to talk to your landlord. In most cases damp is easily fixed by ventilation, but in a bathroom you need an extractor. In your son's room its a serious health issue, but he needs to leave his bedroom door open in the daytime, have his window on trickle vent, and keep the area that gets damp clear of clutter, so that air can move around. We have an old house and one of our outside walls is the same.

JunglePug · 09/01/2023 14:22

@crikeybiller

Yes, you absolutely must report this problem to your landlord - via your letting agent is the usual way to go. You have obviously taken great care of the property over the past six years, but damp and mould problems require specialist treatment and you shouldn't risk your health or that of your child/ children by putting this off any longer. Your landlord should be grateful that you have brought this to his/ her attention.

dizzydizzydizzy · 09/01/2023 14:51

crikeybiller · 09/01/2023 13:50

Thank you so much !
I was worried I would annoy him.
How should I approach it with the agency ? Ive never asked for anything ?

Just write an email (not WhatsApp in case you need a paper trail later on) explaining what the problem is. If you have any suggestions, like for example the extractor fan, then mention that too.

Ask for a contractor to be sent round asap.

And also, I fully agree with PPs comments about landlords prefer it if you let them know problems ASAP. Generally, the longer problems are left, the more expensive they are to deal with.

TheGander · 09/01/2023 18:41

Send an email with lots of pictures and dates when you first noted the problem. Damp is often complex and can have several causes- structural, blocked gutters, leaking pipes, management of moisture in the home eg drying of clothes, cooking, opening windows or not etc. It’s unlikely a bathroom extractor will sort it if it’s in your son’s room. The landlord needs to investigate this with an open mind.

good96 · 09/01/2023 21:31

I’d be looking to get out anyway if I was in your situation. LL is taking the piss with the increase…

Original poster

crikeybiller · 10/01/2023 09:55

I can't @good96 . I'm a single parent who now relies on a universal credit top up. I don't meet the affordability criteria to rent anywhere else and no landlord will want me because I'm on UC,veven though I work full-time.
I'm stuck

OP posts:

JunglePug · 10/01/2023 11:18

Hi again @crikeybiller

I'm certain that there are some landlords who will accept UC claimants as tenants currently, particularly if you can demonstrate that you've maintained a good rental payment record during these past six years. It's my belief that more and more landlords/ agents will need to review their letting criteria in light of the financial state of the country. Good luck to you!

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