Damp in my PSL property!

Dontknowanymore

Hi
I currently live in a PSL property as I was accepted by the council as homeless.
Anyway, I just had a man from the council round to look at the damp in the bedrooms, he said the fact we have no heating will not help the situation (it is really old style under floor heating which costs a fortune to run but does not heat the flat up)

He said he is going to write a report and give it to the person in the council who manages the property, then they will decide what to do and contact the landlord but I was wondering what can happen?
He basically said that without proper heating the problem will just carry on?! is this true?

I worry about my childrens health, it's hard enough living in a freezing cold manky flat as it is without possible health implications too.

clutton_2

if you do not heat it, then the damp will never go away. Another way to get rid of damp is to buy a dehumidifier, which extracts moisture from the air.

Dont dry clothes indoors, but if you have to DONT put them on any radiators, and open windows when cooking and bathing - this will cut down on condensation

Dontknowanymore

clutton wrote: »

if you do not heat it, then the damp will never go away. Another way to get rid of damp is to buy a dehumidifier, which extracts moisture from the air.

Dont dry clothes indoors, but if you have to DONT put them on any radiators, and open windows when cooking and bathing - this will cut down on condensation

Thats the thing, I have no radiators anyway, I can't dry clothes outside as it's cold and rainy so have to dry them on airers, which can take forever as it's so cold here.
I do all of those things anyway (open woindows etc)

I'll look into buying a dehumidifier, not that I have any spare cash, I already bought a convector heater to use in the front room.

BitterAndTwisted

Drying laundry indoors is one of the main causes of condensation and damp in homes, so this needs to be avoided at all costs. I know that drying clothes at the launderette is expensive but I think you must do this. Just by breathing and living in a property you are putting a pint of moisture into the air per person per day before you boil a kettle or run a bath, so ventilation/air exchange is a must but this may not necessarily mean all of the windows need to be wide open at all times.

poppysarah

Are you expecting to be rehoused again by the council?
Does it not have central heating?

BitterAndTwisted

The property has under-floor heating which the OP says is very expensive to run and ineffective.

Dontknowanymore

poppysarah wrote: »

Are you expecting to be rehoused again by the council?
Does it not have central heating?

Yes the council sre rehousing me, this is temporary for up to 2 years.
And no as explained in my OP I do not have central heating, the council man came round today to look at it and he said this is the only property that does not have CH as it is privately owned, they own all the others.

poppysarah

Well it's temporary so you'll have to ask them to prioritise your moving..

Dontknowanymore

poppysarah wrote: »

Well it's temporary so you'll have to ask them to prioritise your moving..

Aye right, if only!

Brb

If you are on a low income you might qualify for a warm front grant ? Although it's worth considering that it's done in your name so should your next (permanent) property need any improvements you've already used it

Oh and you'd need LL permission (they'll contact them also).

Dontknowanymore

Brb wrote: »

If you are on a low income you might qualify for a warm front grant ? Although it's worth considering that it's done in your name so should your next (permanent) property need any improvements you've already used it

Oh and you'd need LL permission (they'll contact them also).

I don;t think I would qualify because technically the council is my landlord.