FLAT HELP...

poliss · July 21, 2011, 12:30:47 AM

I'm not a legal expert. Is anyone else on the forum a legal expert?
I repeat, you should go to Citizens Advice and see what they say. They have people trained in this area.

As for using those meters that measure 'moisture'. No they don't. They measure electrical conductivity which can be present in a totally dry wall. See this very interesting page about rising damp.
http://www.heritage-house.org/damp.html

This part might be of interest to you Findus.
"Once a wall is wet, it can take a long time to dry out. There is plenty of research out there which tells us how long it will take - the process depends on how warm the air around the wall is, how dry that air is and so on - but as a rule, if your wall is a metre thick (common in old stone built houses) it can take a year for each inch to dry out properly - so working from both sides - you'll dry two inches of wall a year."

m1racleman · July 21, 2011, 08:30:23 AM

Quote from: poliss on July 21, 2011, 12:30:47 AM
I'm not a legal expert. Is anyone else on the forum a legal expert?
I repeat, you should go to Citizens Advice and see what they say. They have people trained in this area.

As for using those meters that measure 'moisture'. No they don't. They measure electrical conductivity which can be present in a totally dry wall. See this very interesting page about rising damp.
http://www.heritage-house.org/damp.html

AAMOF I am !! I became a member of the Panel of Expert Witnesses in 1994 specialising in the reasons for failure of floorcoverings. I have given evidence in many claims that involved dampness in both solid and floating floors and one in particular relating to an operating theatre in Woolwich hospital that had damp in the wall, floor and ceiling. The vast majority of cases are about floors that have dampness in them.
The type of meter that is in current use by all experts does not measure conductivity at all but instead detects the actual amount of water present by a combination of radio and ultrasound waves. The degree of accuracy is extremely high in these meters and they are accepted by all English AND SCOTTISH courts as a definitive measuring instrument.
There seems to be a policy amongst some members of this forum to dimiss as incorrect, anything that they themselves have no knowledge of. Maybe it should be accepted that certainly the majority of members will only give advise that they consider to be sound. Apart from anything else, the laws relating to Assured Shorthold Tenancies are very straightforward and well documented. Anyone who can read and understand PLAIN ENGLISH should have no problem in understanding them.
Purely as a matter of interest, I wonder why anyone would read an advertisement for a building company and believe all they say regarding dampness?? The building trade in general have proved over many years that they are the least reliable source of information.
Findus, If you have the need, I will gladly offer my services free of charge.

Lawrence · July 21, 2011, 08:37:40 AM

Quote from: m1racleman on July 21, 2011, 08:30:23 AM
Findus, If you have the need, I will gladly offer my services free of charge.

That is a brilliant offer, that is what this forum is all about, nice one

findus · July 21, 2011, 09:31:30 AM

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Findus, If you have the need, I will gladly offer my services free of charge.
[/quote]

That is such a kind offer thank you so much! i will see how today goes with the enviromental health and might have a few more questions you could answer for me.

findus · July 21, 2011, 09:34:27 AM

Quote from: poliss on July 21, 2011, 12:30:47 AM
I'm not a legal expert. Is anyone else on the forum a legal expert?
I repeat, you should go to Citizens Advice and see what they say. They have people trained in this area.

As for using those meters that measure 'moisture'. No they don't. They measure electrical conductivity which can be present in a totally dry wall. See this very interesting page about rising damp.
http://www.heritage-house.org/damp.html

This part might be of interest to you Findus.
"Once a wall is wet, it can take a long time to dry out. There is plenty of research out there which tells us how long it will take - the process depends on how warm the air around the wall is, how dry that air is and so on - but as a rule, if your wall is a metre thick (common in old stone built houses) it can take a year for each inch to dry out properly - so working from both sides - you'll dry two inches of wall a year."

I have been to my local CAB and they did help in pointing me to enviromental health they have taken copys of my tenancy agreement and will get back to me regards to running costs and a claim of compensation.

Im glad my walls are not a meter thick with the amount of water and mould here i think it would take a life time

poliss · July 21, 2011, 01:14:45 PM

I pointed out the page as something that was interesting. I didn't say I believed every word of it.
The only pages I rely on are the ones from official bodies such as from the government or orginisations like Citizens Advice.
I don't rely on what people say on forums or other web pages. I always say you should get advice from the proper people such as Citizens Advice or Trading Standards.

m1racleman · July 21, 2011, 02:15:51 PM

Quote from: poliss on July 21, 2011, 01:14:45 PM
I pointed out the page as something that was interesting. I didn't say I believed every word of it.
The only pages I rely on are the ones from official bodies such as from the government or orginisations like Citizens Advice.
I don't rely on what people say on forums or other web pages. I always say you should get advice from the proper people such as Citizens Advice or Trading Standards.

Correct me if I am wrong but it was YOU who said the meters don't measure moisture ? ? ?

Lawrence · July 21, 2011, 03:22:09 PM

Handbags away please, I thought we were helping Findus out here

EtchedPixels · July 21, 2011, 03:25:57 PM

Good luck. Having dealt with a load of damp in a house we bought (and which we knew about beforehand) it can be a real pain even when it is your problem and you budgeted for it. We ended up having to rip the plaster off the walls of one room and replaster it, and has been said it can take months to dry out fully.

I hope your letting agents get their just deserts

lesmond · July 21, 2011, 04:12:41 PM

Quote from: Lawrence on July 21, 2011, 03:22:09 PM
Handbags away please, I thought we were helping Findus out here

Well said, that moderator

m1racleman · July 21, 2011, 05:45:20 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on July 21, 2011, 03:25:57 PM
We ended up having to rip the plaster off the walls of one room and replaster it, and has been said it can take months to dry out fully.

That is usually the best course of action. Even better on an external wall if it is treated with a couple of coats of Triseal before plastering.

findus · July 21, 2011, 06:15:46 PM

NEWS JUST IN!!!

Enviromental health have said the place is not safe to live with child!! we are out of here.. just not sure where yet $:-\$

will update as i found out..

m1racleman · July 21, 2011, 06:25:37 PM

Next stop COMPENSATION !

lesmond · July 22, 2011, 04:06:08 PM

Quote from: findus on July 21, 2011, 06:15:46 PM
NEWS JUST IN!!!

Enviromental health have said the place is not safe to live with child!! we are out of here.. just not sure where yet $:-\$

will update as i found out..

Thank goodness for that, your health and that of your youngster is the top priority. Hopefully the next tenants won't have the same woes; just a pity you have had to put up with so much grief.