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There's a definite 'off' smell (which I didn't notice when I viewed the house strangely and annoyingly) and if water is run in the kitchen sink it can be seen coming down from the ceiling in the basement, and under the sink the floor is an absolute state, clearly rotten.
We're renting so we could leave but don't actually want to as its a good house otherwise and we've already given up our previous rental and would end up in some crappy block of flats with the addicts and drunks.
Plumber is coming tomorrow to give an estimate of the cost to repair but apparently its going to mean the kitchen, boiler room (where the water leaks into), shower room and sauna will all have to be re-done. Obviously the landlord has to pay for this and we're going to insist it gets done immediately otherwise we'll go to court about it.
But my concern is, what are the risks of mould? Is our furniture likely to get ruined while waiting for it to get fixed? The leak started last Christmas according to the previous tenant (only found out after we moved in) so its been nearly a year, what are the chances of health issues? (previous tenant said she had no issues). And what can I do to hide/mask the smell in the meantime because its unpleasant and very noticeable to guests?
Your furniture won't be ruined just be being in a house with mold, provided you don't actually let water leak on it.
There's really no good way to remove the smell other than removing the rotten material. If it's just the one sink, don't run it, though it sounds like it may be a common drain. It won't smell as bad when it's dry.
..........Obviously the landlord has to pay for this and we're going to insist it gets done immediately otherwise we'll go to court about it........
I hope you don't like the house too much because I doubt that you will be staying long when your first reaction, even before you know what is wrong or what has to be done, is to sue the landlord.
Have you even told the landlord that it is leaking under the sink? Why did you call a plumber and not call the landlord? Don't expect to get paid for that plumber's call unless you had it authorized by the landlord before you called him. Don't expect to get reimbursed for any work that you authorize the plumber to do unless the landlord approves it in advance (and it should be in writing)
Did the tenants who lived there for a year before you ever call the landlord to report that the sink drain was leaking?
Most likely what you are smelling is wet wood funk and not mildew. Usually a leak under the sink involves replacing or tightening the drain pipe and pulling up the floor of the base cabinet and replacing that. It is highly unlikely that is is going to involve the boiler, shower, hot tub, laundry or any other place except underneath the sink, and I suggest that you do not suggest to the plumber that anyone is going to pay for all that work, because he will do the work whether it needs doing or not if you offer to pay him to do it.
I hope you don't like the house too much because I doubt that you will be staying long when your first reaction, even before you know what is wrong or what has to be done, is to sue the landlord.
Have you even told the landlord that it is leaking under the sink? Why did you call a plumber and not call the landlord? Don't expect to get paid for that plumber's call unless you had it authorized by the landlord before you called him. Don't expect to get reimbursed for any work that you authorize the plumber to do unless the landlord approves it in advance (and it should be in writing)
Did the tenants who lived there for a year before you ever call the landlord to report that the sink drain was leaking?
Most likely what you are smelling is wet wood funk and not mildew. Usually a leak under the sink involves replacing or tightening the drain pipe and pulling up the floor of the base cabinet and replacing that. It is highly unlikely that is is going to involve the boiler, shower, hot tub, laundry or any other place except underneath the sink, and I suggest that you do not suggest to the plumber that anyone is going to pay for all that work, because he will do the work whether it needs doing or not if you offer to pay him to do it.
Of course we called the landlord first but they are away on holiday so told us to call the plumber - not going to hang around waiting even longer because they decided to go on holiday at the same time as having new tenants move in. The previous tenant informed the landlord 3 times since the leak first started and they didn't do anything to fix it so that's a pretty good reason to want to go to court if they don't fix it now (we are much more assertive than the previous tenant who clearly wasn't aware of tenants' rights).
The work will be assessed properly first. The shower room and sauna need re-doing because they renovated them badly in the first place, not making the rooms properly water tight so if they're not fixed now they'll be an even more expensive problem in a few years.
dont mold spores fly around and land on carpets,furniture,drapes?
When my water pipes burst during URI,in the attic,I become very paranoid when my plumber told me spores will spread ,so I spray everywhere with bleach everywhere in the garage ,rub down the stripped wooden poles with bleach and call mitagation co to air out the garage and attic.
My insurer called it a scam and only paid partial ,but in fact there is hardly any mold in attic.
why does it take you so long to find out mould is rotting under neath your kitchen sink?
Your furniture won't be ruined just be being in a house with mold, provided you don't actually let water leak on it.
There's really no good way to remove the smell other than removing the rotten material. If it's just the one sink, don't run it, though it sounds like it may be a common drain. It won't smell as bad when it's dry.
if their furniture has fabric,it will smell musky .
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