Mould damage - is the landlord responsible?

SianiMacc

I have lived in a rented house for a year. It has a converted basement, which is painted and carpeted, with a radiator and an adjacent store cupboard where we were keeping two duvets in duvet storage bags. We've had them down there for most of the time we've been here, changing them from summer to winter etc. and they've been fine.

About 2 months ago we started getting mould growing on the walls and on some of the fabric and paper items we store down there. We reported the problem to the landlord and moved the obvious 'at risk' items out, packing other items we don't have room for elsewhere in plastic bags. The store cupboard next door appeared to be dry, so I left the duvets there (we couldn't practicably put them anywhere else anyway). The landlord came round and surveyed the room but we then didn't hear from him about it again.

Last week I decided to change the duvet to the winter one but was gutted to find that both duvets had gone really mouldy. Ironically this week the landlord came round and fitted vents into the walls to air the room - apparently the air bricks were blocked, which was causing a condensation problem.

I've asked him to pay for dry cleaning costs for the two duvets as the way I see it they were caused by a structural problem but he's said he's not willing to do this - is he allowed to do that? Do I have any rights here or do I just have to cough up on this one?

BitterAndTwisted

I don't think the landlord is responsible for consequential losses: that would be what your contents insurance would be for. I'd take those duvets down to the local launderette and put each of them in one of those large machines. They don't need to by dry-cleaned

Tiddlywinks

Is this battle really worth the potential breakdown in relationship with your landlord?