A Moral Dilemma !

Oxford, England
July 24, 2009 5:13pm CST
For the last 18 months I have rented a really nice flat in an old English house in Salisbury, England (a few minutes drive from Stonehenge). Since about the end of my first month living there, I started to notice an un-savoury odour when I walked down past the first floor (I live on the 2nd). I used to put it down to 'circumstance', and nothing more. As the months progressed, noise was noticed late at night from the 1st floor - banging about and stuff, and, the smell of cooking at the same time. Eventually, as time went on, I discovered who was causing my concerns ... it was a really pleasant chap called ------ who lives in the 1st floor flat. However, 18 months on, I have made several complaints to my landlord about things such as (wait for it ...) snot, yes - 'snot', all over the bath. This guy used to hold one nostril and blow like hell through the other - all over either the sink or bath. He is a fitness fanatic who won't spray any deodorant or such like on his body - hence the smell - and boy! is it strong! Now ... my dilemma is simple. What the hell should I do? Frankly, the guy is utterly disgusting in every way where the personal hygene subject is concerned. In fact, I have never met such a filthy and vile person. So what do I do? Move out?, say something to him?, get tough with my landlord?. Either way I'm dammed if I do anything. Yet, why should people suffer such dirty habits?
3 people like this
3 responses
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
24 Jul 09
It seems that your landlord should adress the situation. That certainly should be remedied because it affects you and your are a paying tenant too. It is hard to understand why anyone would choose to have nasty habits like this.
1 person likes this
• Oxford, England
24 Jul 09
eaforeman6, Thank you for your words, and the request which I am happy to accept. I tend to err on the side of your thoughts about my landlord. After all, it seems to be the more diplomatic and authoritative approach to a delicate situation. However, my landlord has repeatedly assured me that he has discreetly 'had words'. Trouble is, they don't seem to hold any clout. It seems to me that the obvious prevails ... the landlord is only interested in the money. Thanks again, Gran Turismo
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jul 09
I say GROSS, what a situation!!!' Im thinking maybe u should write an anonymos note, tape it to his door, write everything that bothers u in it, make sure your nice and ask if he could please stop. Also ask the landlord to speak to him without giving your name. If it's just the two of you living there, sign the note and hold your head up high after he gets it, hopefully he'll b so ashamed he won't even b able to look u in the eye, if that dosent work if he turns out to b a jerk move!!! That's to gross to put up with. Liz
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
25 Jul 09
Hey GT, I meant to respond earlier to this and somehow lost the email alert. So I went to your profile to find it. Well, If the landlord hasn't done anything by now, maybe he's afraid of the guy or just doesn't care. I assume the landlord doesn't live there. Is there any chance of calling the Health Dept.? Maybe you can threaten not to pay the rent until things get cleaned up. You can't live in that kind of disgust. And since he's been there so long, the smell has probably permeated all the walls and everything else. You may just have to tell the Landlord that if he does nothing about this situation than you'll be forced to find another place. leenie