Tenants right's

[billybob123]

Hi. My brother & his girlfriend has signed a 6 month private lease on a property, he's lived there for 2 months and in one of the bedrooms one of the walls is covered from the skirting to about 2 foot from the ceiling with damp. Most of the wall paper has come off and the wall is black and smelly. The room had a small (1-2inch) damp patch in the bottom corner two months ago and it's getting worse by the day. The room stinks and the damp is starting to go through to the next bedroom now (currently used for storage). He's had to take the mattress into the living room and now sleeps there. There is a cellar that is blocked up (the owner basically has glued the doors together so he has no access. He's signed in until August and complained to the owner non stop about the damp problem. She said to him that he knew there was some damp in the property when he moved in and has given him some maisonary paint to paint the walls himself. She also said it'll be fine if you keep your windows open and the room well ventilated. Does she have a right to do that to him? Where does he stand and is there anyone he can he complain/report her to? She also said after this discussion the damp is coming from the cellar so just keep that covered. He didnt know there was damp in the bedroom when he agreed with the the tenancy only some in the kitchen which she promised to sort but still hasnt. Can she kick him out for hassling and hassling her?
Thank you

[pauln90]

It has been shown in the past that exposure to the spores from damp can cause respiratory problems including asthma and will certainly exacerbate existing conditions.

In the first instance tell the landlord of the problems and show photographs etc and ask that the problems be put right.

If this fails then contact the local Environmental Health Department and make a complaint with them against the landlord.You can also complain to the local council as there is legislation they can enforce.

If any one is experiencing health problems relating to the damp visit your doctor and explain the situation to him or her - it is all good evidence.

Finally dont stop paying the rent as this will give the landlord an excuse to evict.

Good luck

[what..the?]

I lived in a property exactly like this, it was let to us through an agent but the landlady was responsible for any maintanance issues. We had the problem since moving into the property and we lived there just over 6 months.

The builder who modernised the flat had plastered the walls of the flat and then paint ed them soon after without letting the plaster dry first. Which meant trapped damp our land lady then bought the property not knowing the problem. We moved in put the heating on (november) and before you know it water was literally running down the walls all over the flat. We told of the problem but nothing was done, even though the water was getting into electrical sockets. Then all the damp walls began to form bubbles under the paint and mould spread covering the walls. We didn't really have a quality of life, the walls were covered all over with green mould which then attracted insects too, as they eat the mould (book mite/lice) we had to move all furiture away from the walls and walk round the flat carefully with are arms in so not to catch the walls with our clothes. It was an impossible experience. The land lady visited and paid for 2 dehumidifiers but we paid the run them 24hrs a day to try and soak up the damp. We paid for anti mould cleaning products to clean the walls down every week. Evenually we moved out and had to thrown half our belongings out due to the spread of mould and the insect infestation on our belongings. We had to buy all new furniture for the next property and pay to replace the carpet in 2 rooms and the top landing (as it was all one piece) because we split a drink...it was infested anyway.

[what..the?]

We paid the rent the whole time and wrote letters to the landlord so it was written proof but at the end of the day we were the worse off, there was no support for us. I think about the health risks, as the whole house/flat was covered in mould we had no option we slept surrounded.

We have moved 2twice since and still have infested belongings once you get them you cannot get rid of them the insects can thive on evn the smallest amounts of damp now.

I would do as paul recommends, also do take photo's I did, and write always instead of phoning so you have evidence., alway keep paying the rent, but do stress to the landlord that for safety/health reasons the property is unlivable I you may have to move out until the work is undertaked, monies which will be claimed back from the landlord for not providing suitable living conditions. Tell the landlord he/she has 'X' day's to repond, or you will notify enviromental health etc.

When we moved out we beleive our landlady had to rip all the plaster out and start again. So damp is a big problem, your landlord needs to know it is a big issue and it will get worse if not sorted now!