Renting a bungalow - help and advice needed

[S101]

We are currently renting, in a pretty grotty bungalow. Storage heaters that we had to turn off, due to having a huge monthly electricity bill that shocked us.

In the kitchen, all the cupboards are mouldy, nets have started to get mould on. Most of the food and packets are starting to get stale. Paint has started to bubble on the walls and paint has started to come off.
Mould developed everywhere in the bathroom and seal on the bath is cracking.

What would you do, should I complain to the letting agency ? The owner is planning on pulling down the bungalow soon as they want to build on it. We didn't realise it would be so bad living in this state when we took up the lease, we knew that the building was going to be pulled down, but didn't expect this type of living, help !!!

The only thing you can do IMO is take photographs of the problem and ask for your rent to be reduced or cancelled whilst you look for another property. The owner is responsible for this sort of thing, but I would imagine he isn't going to do a lot of work if he will tear the place down.

How long is your tenancy? Also what about the council, once you manage to get someone round to inspect it surely they will have to find you somewhere else.

you should contact shelter as soon as you can. This does not sound as thought these are adequate living conditions and they should be able to advise you on what to do. You can either force your landlady to do repairs (you can't withold rent though!) or look for somewhere else. You are only renting, why on earth are you living there? The place needs condeming!!

6 month tenacy, and no it is a private letting agency, I just don't know what will happen if I complain to the agent, will they take me seriously or will they just ignore what I am saying ?

I think they are going to have to take you seriously. Did they not assess the property before you moved in?

I know, we just thought it was a plain bungalow with storage heaters, we didn't realise that if some of the heaters were turned down or a couple knocked off that there would be so many problems with the rooms.

As we said to the agent, we were only really interested in somewhere to rent and store our stuff as we were looking for a place to buy as soon as we could.

I suppose they did, but the heaters were on full blast and were probably on for a while before we came into the house.

We just can't afford to keep the heaters on in every room all of the time, plus there isn't one in the bathroom, or in the sunroom or in the lounge. But it has been so cold lately, that we had bought a couple of fan heaters to warm up the rooms.

If you aren't heating it then damp might develop since presumably it is too cold to ventilate. You could ask agent to have it treated but the landlord may say it is due to your misuse of property. Personally I'd be looking for somewhere else - is it cheap ?

Look for somewhere else. the rent's not worth having bad health, mould spores are dangerous.

I think I will get the agent to come at the bungalow to look at the state of the walls in the kitchen, especially as the paint work is all blotchy.

We will just pull out our finger in finding a property to buy as soon as we can.

We will try and view some this weekend and try and proceed quickly with a house sale.

Thanks for your advice, I will report back tomorrow what the agent says when I speak and complain to them

I will get the agent to come and look at the bungalow.

My typing is terrible, excuse the lack of english !!!

Have been told by the agent, that is it tough basically, as they hadn't had a problem for the last 7 years that the property has been rented and that no body else has complained.

Have had the offer from my parents for me to take myself and children to their house for a few months, as my little one has a terrbile chest.

Just feel like giving the agency the next 3 months rent and telling where to stick there keys !!

Any suggestions !!

Try speaking to local council (even for [private rentals), either housing or environmental health and see what they suggest. Landlord has a responsibility to keep the property maintained and a safe environment which may be enforceable in your case.