Advice over my new council home causing me to be severely ill.

Reddragon69

hi everyone, I woukd appreciate some advice about the situation I find myself in. We were homeless through Section 21 and we were very lucky to be offered a lovely house in a nice area. However, our situation has turned into a nightmare now. When we moved in, the previous tenants did not look after the property. The council did not give it to us in a clean state. We had to clean every wall, door, surface. Drinks spilt, chocolate finger marks on walks and bannisters, food crud etc. the bathroom was a state. We had to clean the previous tenants urine and other stains on the toilet and clean the limescale. The bathroom was damp and we found two patches of mould, which we cleaned. We washed all the walls, doors and paintwork. We repainted the whole house. We had to ask our family for help as it was backbreaking work and we have disabilities. It was really hard going but we tried not to moan as we knew how lucky we were to be offered a home at all. We had a problem with the toilet and build up of sewer gas that made us ill. The toilet was eventually fixed but we are still getting an intermittent sulpher/sewer type smell throughout the house. I think this may have been a problem for the previous tenant as it is apparent that she used oil wall plug in air fresheners in every room. The house is overwhelmed with the perfume/air freshener smell. You can smell it on the drive when you open the front door. Despite sanding, cleaning with vinegar and painting the walls you can smell it so strongly. It is making me extremely ill. I cannot use perfume or nail polish or cleaning products as I am really sensitive to them so this is absolutely killing me. I cannot access the majority of the house and have to stay in one room. I have to wear a double mask. I foster a young child and I am not available to him being shut away. He has been off school with sickness and complains of headaches. I looked after my son’s puppy and she was ill and had to go to the vet. I wonder if the air freshener made her ill? We telephoned two weeks ago and have not received a response as yet. We went away at the weekend and stayed in a caravan. My symptoms went away. It was such a relief to be able to breathe freely and not feel ill. When we returned the smell of both the air freshener and the sulpher/sewer smell was very strong. I have visited my GP twice. She gave me strong antihistamines and an inhaler. We visited the council- couldn’t get to speak to someone so telephoned and the customer support lady referred urgently to repairs for an inspector to come out. I told her I just could not return to the house as it was making me ill. She said that I had no choice whilst it was being investigated. Today, I felt really ill, my body was shaking, I couldn’t get a breath and my legs went weak. We telephoned the council again and they said that the referral /inspector had been cancelled as it wasn’t a repair issue. No one informed us of this. After my partner made a fuss they arranged for a housing support officer is going to telephone me tomorrow at 3.30 pm. I just can’t believe that no one is listening to my concerns. This house, which is lovely in every other way, is making me incredibly ill. I am assuming it is the sulpher/sewer and the air freshener smell but it could be anything and no one seems bothered to check. It’s quite distressing to be living in a house that is affecting your health so badly. I have to keep going out so that I can breathe and I can only step in the house if I wear my two masks and even then I can still smell air freshener and get symptoms.

What can I do? The council can’t expect me to stay here for weeks/ months whilst they investigate can they? My body is screaming at me to get out of here, I feel like I am being poisoned.

I am devastated as it was the perfect house in a lovely area. My foster child has disabilities and had a trauma affected childhood so he has high anxiety. He likes that there is a park opposite and for the first time ever, he has ventured outside with his bike. He normally does not go out. He really likes his bedroom and the move was difficult for him as he has had multiple placements. He said to me tonight that he is worried we have to move again and asked me what if we have nowhere to go and have to live on the streets? It is so difficult as I have to try to manage his needs but I am no use to him whilst this house is making me sick every day. I had asked for one direct move to limit the stress to him, which the council kindly agreed to. I don’t know if they will even move me.

I would appreciate any advice. I contacted my MP but he has stood down and with the election there is no one else as yet. I’ve tried Shelter but I cannot get through. Thank you if you can help.

MW123

@Reddragon69

If I were in your situation, I would find out the name of your local councillor and contact them by phone or email. Since it’s a council house, they will likely have connections within the local housing department. Invite them to your home so they can have first hand experience of the problems you are encountering.

You mentioned having a foster child. Contact your child's social worker, who can also put pressure on the council, especially since the child is clearly affected by this situation.

Additionally, consider buying some activated charcoal. It can help eliminate odours, purify the air, and absorb moisture, which might reduce the perfume smell in the air.

Check the pipes connecting your washing machine and dishwasher, as they can cause similar smells, especially if the property was empty for a time before you moved in. I hope your problems will soon be resolved and your family can start enjoying your new home.

Reddragon69

thank you

giveusaclue

Hi,

I am also very sensitive to the things you have mentioned so I understand how distressed you are feeling.

As well as the air fresheners it could also be the new paint and mould in the bathroom affecting you too.

Am I allowed to send you an email about this, or not? (I am new to Scope so do not know if I can email you).

I would try to stay in the one room that you feel most comfortable in. Did you not paint that particular room? It is unfortunate that you painted the whole house because the new paint will most likely be affecting you as well (if you did not use voc free paint).

Try to keep your windows open as much as you can, to let fresh air in.

Could you spend more time in your caravan?

The support lady that you spoke to you will not understand how much things like air fresheners/perfume affect someone who is very sensitive to them - because if she did, she would not have been so harsh and tell you just to go back and put up with it.

Do let us know how your phone call with the housing support officer goes today. I hope they can give you some help.

Reddragon69

thank you. I did use VOC free paint. The safe room seems to be the previous tenants children's room so she might not have had air fresheners in there. The housing officer was very unsympathetic and actually said ‘we don’t have spare empty houses lying around for you to move in’ when I tried to tell her I thought it was a hazard to my health. I am astounded. They do not seem to be taking it seriously at all. I got through to Shelter and they referred me to a legal team but they won’t take my case on as it’s only ‘air freshener odour’. Oh dear, I can see this is going to be a battle. I have written to my GP asking for a supporting letter and have found the head of the council’s name so will try that.

I don’t know if you are able to send anything either. I will have a look at the rules. I don’t know if there is a message facility. Thank you though. I would appreciate any advice. 😊

giveusaclue

Hi,

Oh it's good that you used voc free paint - that shouldn't cause you problems like normal paint might have. You probably aren't affected by paint (whereas paint is one my triggers).
Yes you could be correct in that she didn't use the airfresheners in the childrens room and so that room is better for you.
Sorry that the housing officer wasn't any help for you. The trouble is, other people will not understand how difficult it is if you suffer from fragrance sensitivities. I didn't myself, until I started to suffer about 3 years ago.
How long have you been affected by it?
I will try to send you an email.

giveusaclue

Hi,

I'm not able to email you until I have 25 points (only have 12 at present) so I'll have to wait a bit before I can.

giveusaclue

Hi,

I have just been reading online about air fresheners and it says they can be absorbed into walls, carpets, furniture - and then be released and re-enter indoor air, even after the air freshener is no longer in use.
How long ago did the previous tenant move out? Does your house have carpets in every room?

Reddragon69

hi there, we moved in a month ago. There was only stair carpets which we have removed as they smelt very strongly. You can smell it in the walls. The downstairs hall wall for instance, we had to sand that one as had lumpy plaster. So it has been sanded, cleaned with white vinegar and water and painted two coats. If you smell the wall, there is a strong smell of perfumed air freshener so it is extremely hard to get rid of. It’s very difficult as the council are not understanding. Thank you for your support.

giveusaclue

Have you been able to go away to the caravan again recently? Does it help at all if you leave the windows open throughout the house, to let fresh air in. I now have 23 points, so only need 2 more and then I may be able to send you an email.

Reddragon69

it wasn’t our caravan- we paid, so won’t be able to go away funtil August now. Yes it does help to air the place. We have had the doors and windows open constantly but when I go downstairs, I still get ill as it is very strong. I am wearing two masks- the blue ones we used in COVID. I can still smell it but it is better and I only get a slight sore throat and headache so at least I can tolerate being downstairs for about 15-20 minutes at a time.

giveusaclue

Oh I see - we at least you will have August to look forward to and the caravan. And being able to stay downstairs for 15 minutes is better than being stuck upstairs all the time. I have just looked on my account and I now have 29 Points, so I will try to send an email.

Reddragon69

yes definately. Ok thank you. I will look.

Steve_in_The_City

Hi. I am sorry to hear about your difficulties with air-freshener etc. I suffer with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (syndrome), MCS for short. It is also known as Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance, IEI, as well as other names. I don't know if you have this illness or not, but in any event, as air freshener is affecting you, proceede with caution. When I became ill with MCS I didn't know anything about it. I had never heard of it. All I knew (in the year 2,000) was that I could no longer tolerate any type of air-freshener. It got worse. It spread to anything that was artificially scented like Fairy washing-up liquid. All house cleaners. Synthetic materials like polyester.

One problem with reference to air-freshener (i.e. chemicals that pollute the air more) is that the more you are exposed to them the more you are aware of their chemical stench. So although you are doing everything to get rid of the smell of air-freshener over a period of time their stench will seem stronger as you become more sensitive to their odour, This is what happens with MCS: You become more and more sensitive to smells and chemicals.

For myself, I am somewhat able to cope. I clean largely without chemicals (it is quicker and more effective), wear only cotton clothes and use only natural bed linen. I wash my togs and other linen in eco-balls. I do not go anywhere near a BBQ. I have 2 Dyson fans in my flat plus the air that is pumped into my flat is purified. I am aware not everyone can have this benefit.

People do not understand this illness and you will not get a diagnosis. But that doesn't mean the illness isn't real. It does unfortunately mean that you won't be relocated on health grounds. The illness gets worse with time, there is no cure or medication you can take, you simply have to make major adjustments to your lifestyle in order to stay well.

As for relocating you are swapping one set of problems for another, becauae people (neighbours) will always smoke, wear scent, light bbq's etc. It seems you live in a nice neighbourhood in a house you otherwise like and your little boy is confident about going out on his bike. I would stay and make my environment as chemical free as possible. That is what would make me well. Moving on just means more problems.

Kimmy87

I appreciate after moving finances are probably tight, but my suggestion would be to consult a professional cleaning company for a deep clean, with emphasis on removing odour and making sure the products they use won't also trigger a reaction.

My parent was in a situation where they needed a bio hazard deep clean, it cost a lot of money but the operatives did an absolutely fantastic job worth every penny.

Also, report the sewer smell as many times as is needed to find and fix the problem.

Reddragon69

thank you both. I think I do possibly have MCS as I sound similar. I react to lots of things but have always managed it and avoided chemical smells as much as possible. But I think living with the constant residue in every room is having an increased effect. I have got environmental health coming out next week. Hope fully, they may have come across this before. Fingers crossed. I would like to stay and remove the odour/chemical so will look into the bio hazard deep clean. Thank you.