Mould in studio flat!!!

roses_babe

i really need some advice

i live in a studio flat with my partner we have both been made redundant so are on jsa and hosuing benefit we rent a studio flat privately and have been here just over a year.

We have terrible mould it is so bad... our clothes go mouldy and im forever wiping this down..

i told my landlord he said he would let us off 15.00 a month for our rent if we use the dehumidfier all the time which we did anyways.

The landlord then said he will redecorate in the summer but the walls are black!!!!! i cant wait until then

this mould is affecting my asthma and my ezcema has got worse im coverd and never use to when living in my old home.

We are unable to move as we have no money for a deposit/ gurantor i really need some advice on where i stand.. i pay 415.00 a month for a flat which is just black!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CLAPTON

why is there mold?
is the flat heated?
which floor is it?

PasturesNew

If you're there all day, do you have the windows open as long as you can bear it? I had a studio, but there were modifications from the original... however I could see from the neighbour's original flat how bad they used to be. Mine had: double glazing, three extra wall vents and extra wall insulation pumped in at some time. I had condensation on the windows when I cooked (so I would only cook if I could have the kitchen window open (which meant I couldn't cook after dark usually because there were creepy/insecure woods by that window), I opened the windows as often as I could - and kept them open even if I was cold, just to make sure; I would wipe the windows down in the mornings with paper towels; I kept on top of the window surround area to ensure there was no build up of black ever (neat bleach works); when I had a shower, I'd keep the door closed with the extractor fan on for a further 20 minutes after I'd finished.

BitterAndTwisted

Have read of this thread it shouldn't take you that long and come back to us with any questions.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2229051

Jowo_2

If this is induced by tenant lifestyle, failure to adequately heat and ventilate, rather than by a maintenance issue (leaking pipe/guttering), then you must change your behaviour to reduce moisture which leads to condensation and then mould, and you would be responsible for the cost of rectifying it.

roses_babe

we keep the window open constantly and the heating on... its a ground floor flat but i had a chat with my neighbours and apparently all the flats next to me get this

BitterAndTwisted

In that case you and your neighbours should be dealing with the landlord together in unison. Talk to them and get writing all at the same time

roses_babe

cheers for the help our landlord only owns this flat the others are completely different landlords.. it makes me angry because i pay so much each month and shouldnt have to keep wiping it down and living in a disgusting flat. its so embarrasing

BitterAndTwisted

Get onto the Shelter website and have a read of the options open to you. If you are seriously taking every precaution to reduce the risk of condensation then the problem is most likely to be with how the property is constructed and Environmental Health may be able to advise.

Dr.Shoe_2

We get a touch of it in our bathroom so we just wipe it down with some "Astonish" mould a mildew killer and this keeps it away for a couple of months at a time. You can get it for a quid in some pound shops.

Fire_Fox

roses_babe wrote: »

we keep the window open constantly and the heating on... its a ground floor flat but i had a chat with my neighbours and apparently all the flats next to me get this

If you have the windows open and you are using a dehumidifier then the machine will be trying to dehumidify your entire street!