So, imagine this scenario

You're renting a nice place, mid to expensive rental. Two weeks after moving in you notice a small (50cent size) damp patch in the ceiling that is based under the bathroom.

You alert the agency with an email and photos. No response, you follow up a week later. No response. You leave 3 phone messages, finally after a month someone responds. They say they will investigate, nothing happens.

You repeat the above with more stern messages, the damp patch has quadrupled. Mould is starting to show.

Eventually four months later a plumber arrives. Does an awful silicon job in the shower. Nothing is solved, the damp patch is now over a foot in size.

Cue more phonecalls, more emails with photos, damp patch is now huge (half the ceiling size) and black mould has appeared.

New plumbers arrive, say the last job was crap and they disagree with the last plumbers verdict on what is wrong. They remove grouting and regrout.

Nothing is heard for months and months from the rental agency despite phone calls and emails.

Fast forward 11 months later the entire ceiling collapses at 3am. Huuuuge bloody mess, water, massive chunks of hard plaster everywhere, shoes, jackets and bags wrecked (that were nearby) complete disaster.

Phone agency first thing, leave urgent message. No response. Contact parent company to make complaint eventually sends around people to clean it up and eventually someone from the agency appears for the first time since we alerted them (only after I said you get your hairy little backside down here immediately don't make me come to you in not so many words).

Patch it up as best as they can, still a mahoosive hole in the ceiling. Regrout shower yet again.

Nearly two months later no word from the agency about fixing the huge gap where the ceiling was and what exactly is wrong with the shower. Threw my toys out on Tuesday and emailled parent company CEO. Received a response that someone would urgently get in touch, get phone call near 5pm saying we'll be in touch.

Last night more plaster fell.

No idea what to do next. Feel like not paying rent (won't do it tho).

****ing pissed off. Embarrassing hole and mould in ceiling, can't have family or friends over as it looks like a bomb has gone off and scared more is going to drop and injure someone.

In one week this would have been a whole year since we alerted them.

Help. What else can I do?!

Find another rental, and move out.

which state are you in ( besides annoyed )

Ha, it's UK (Scotland) not oz, sorry should have said.

Ref roaringmouse, we are settled here, love the place, location and rent is manageable. Feel like we had fought and stressed for nowt if we just up and left....although it is an option of course.

call the local council, there are laws about rental property being like that, also the local press wouldn't go amiss, or at least threaten the rental people with the press.

don't think the council would step in as it's rented via an independent rental/letting agency. I have thought about local press a few times, however not sure I want our names/photos in it...

The mould is a health issue though.

agreed, it's gone now when the ceiling collapsed however. Need to check the wood closer however, good call.

...but agents and/or landlord that do nothing. Moving out would get you into a more habitable home, and cost the lazy agent and/or landlord more. It's a win win solution when you're talking about lazy agents or landlords, even more so when the house is not fit to live in.

Tell the you're going to sue for negligence, and that it could have fallen down while you were underneath it.

This. You should email the agent telling them you will expect the problem to be fixed correctly by x date or you will contact the council and the local newspaper regarding the health and safety issues related to the mould and their lack of action.

You would be surprised what you can achieve by being a bit more aggressive (but still polite). We had a problem with Fujitsu recently and as soon as I told them I was going to fair trading and had contacted channel 9 news about how we were being treated by them suddenly the problem was almost all fixed. We're still waiting for copies of the service reports and this reminded me that I need to get back onto the head office this morning for them.

I agree with this. When we have problems with anything now I immediately go to the CEO. It's funny how much more accommodating they are than their fleet of junior managers who normally deal with consumer issues. I have spoken with the CEOs of several international companies and things get sorted fast, and politely.

Ok so after some jumping up and down (we had already contacted the CEO and Chairman) it seems they're going to go ahead wtih the improvements finally. They're promising their own tradesmen will be in touch early next week with a view to fixing it for once and all.

Will update for anyone who is interested, haven't been this hugely pissed off in ages. Yes, I know we're lucky in most senses of the 'wider world' but when it's your home and it's unsafe, all gloves are thrown off.

I am a very strong person, polite yet message is usually received loud and clear. No idea why this message was not getting through initially. Perhaps they thought if they just ignore us the issue will go away. Messing with the wrong lady here.

Thanks all for your comments.

I'd call environmental health, they deal with issues like this at least they did many yrs ago in the uk when I rented.

So now we have trademen in to fix the ceiling Tuesday... seriously cannot wait, more rubble fell last night.

Interesting 'trying to be professional with a glint of aggression' email from estate agency feigning surprise and aghast and not wishing to cause upset but would be delighted to see evidence of the ignored emails we proclaim to have sent over the past year (as in please go away and you're clearly telling porkies here lady)....

big mistake.... HUGE.

cue massive list of emails, photos and phone calls (with times, dates and person spoken to)......

hello? hello?
silence eh?

would you like any more EVIDENCE to clog up your inbox or have you had enough bullyboy!?!