The rental house were living in stinks!?

Question

We have been living in this crappy rent a dump for a little over a year but can't afford anything better. The basement has always stunk, but over the past year the stench has gotten worse and worse. I am not seeing any black mold but it stinks like mold. We have cleaned carpets, washed walls, aired it out. But nothing we have done seems to help. Any suggestions on how to make this dump smell clean? I feel horrible for my two teenagers living in the basement and want to make this a better place to live.

Answer 1

Buy a dehumidifier, they are worth the cost. If you don't see mold, what your smelling may be dampness and a dehumidifier will pull moister out of the air.

Answer 2

You should have your landlord take a good look at it. Maybe there's some mold lurking in the walls somewhere. Maybe find a home inspector. I think they usually cost about $100-$150, but it may be worth the professional look. Then you have something to take back to your landlord. Mold is a hazardous thing to live with.

Your landlord should be responsible for the repairs to the house, if needed. Check your lease.

Answer 3

Is there any way there could be stagnant water hiding somewhere in the basement?  That could be giving it the moldy smell.

If not, try Febreze on everything. (Target makes a good generic of it, too.)  Use it on carpets, any fabric materials, mattresses, bedding, the kids clothing, etc.  Also, use carpet deodorizer when you vacuum, and have a fan going to circulate the air.  It just may have been closed up for so long prior to your renting the house that the smell is taking forever to leave.

I hope this helps!  Take care and God bless

Answer 4

I would definitely go to the landlord. If you have mold, that can be toxic to you and especially your teens.

There is only one thing I can think of to ease the problem.

There is obviously too much moisture in your basement. A dehumidifier will help enormously. Just remember to empty it, or hook it up to a drain.

Ask the landlord about it. If you can get rid of the excess moisture, it will help him in the future with problems that arise from it. Painting is one, carpeting rotting, bugs, smells, wood damage. Think of anything that you can to persuade him (her) into purchasing one.

Answer 5

You may want to have the basement inspected for any type of water leak... A good way to check for a water leak is to check your water meter when the water is NOT is use.... If the dial is moving you have a leak somewhere in the house.. You may also want to run some heavy duty fans and invest in a portable dehumidifer for the basement.... Empty it often.. That will dry out the room.... You might want to also open the windows to let air circulate around the room.... You can also paint the walls, floor etc.. .with Kilz or UGG to seal the walls from moisture....

good luck