Black mould - how dangerous and who should take responsibiliy?

Gingernutmeg

Hi -

Basically we moved into a flat back in July. Due to problems with another agency, we were left in the lurch and so had real rush to find a place to live and consequently we weren't as thorough checking the flat as we really should have been. Anyway ... the flat has a real damp problem. Since the weather turned damp and cold in late September, the flat has never been free from condensation despite us trying our best to remedy the problem. We have windows open 24/7, heat the flat thoroughly and regularly, we never put washing etc on the radiators, when we're drying clothes inside it's done a room with an open window, make sure there's a window open when we shower and cook etc etc etc. The problem got a lot worse when the windows (very old wooden ones) were repainted - now we have large half inch gaps where they had to shave the wood off to get them closed :rolleyes: Most of the walls in the flat are uninsulated outside ones, and feel cold and kind of 'tacky' to touch.

In mid October we noticed a large patch of mould on one of the walls in the bedroom - it's in the outside corner. The paper is starting to peel off the walls and we suspect, from the damage to the skirting boards, that this isn't a new problem and was simply painted over when the last tenants moved out. I called the agency and the LA came round, who told us to clean the wall with bleach and she'd send someone round ... Well that was nearly five months ago now, and nobody from either the lettings agency or the management agency (who own the building) has been round to inspect it. I'm having to wash the wall with bleach every couple of weeks, as the black powdery mould just keeps returning.

We're starting to get worried about the potential harm to our health from this stuff - we try and spend as little time as possible in the bedroom but obviously we have to spend 7-8 hours a day in there lol. Neither my partner or I have been 'well' since we moved into the flat - constant sniffles, allergy type symptons (sore eyes, sneezing), sore throats etc - and we're not 'sickly' people. I was just wondering what, if anything, we can ask the LA to do ... I feel that we're doing loads to try to sort this, but I honestly think that it's some kind of structural problem that really needs attention. Can we insist on something being done, or will this put us in a tricky position in that we can be thrown out with just two months notice? For work and personal reasons, we really can't move until the end of our tenancy (July). So should we just put up with this or not? Is mould really *that* dangerous, or just unsightly?

Any advice would be appreciated

Mutton_Geoff

Gingernutmeg, what's on the outside of the wall where the damp is? I'm not prone to illness either, but the spores from damp like this really irritate my nose and throat.

The cure may be quite simple like unblocking a gutter, fixing a loose drainpipe etc. Take a look at the possible sources of damp, cure them and you'll cure the problem. Washing with bleach is just removing the symptom, not the cause.

benood

Hi the black mould is probably aspergillus - probably not very harmful to you in the short term but if you had a weakened immune system (i.e. undergoing chemotherapy) it could be very serious indeed as your body would not be able to fight it off.

I would look up aspergillus on the net print out some of the scariest stuff and send it to your agent with a deadline to get the work done. However, condensation can be very difficult to resolve - have you tried hiring a dehumidifier - perhaps you could deduct the cost from your rent?

Good luck

sanfrancisco

I find most houses in the UK have a little bit of damp, but this sounds very bad.

I have lived in a flat with damp this bad, and let me tell you, absolutely nothing worked. You will try everything and nothing will work. Everyone will come up with a thousand solutions that they have used on their minor damp patches, that have worked, but will be too weak to work on serious damp.

Is it a council flat or privately rented?

I would ba as concerned as you. Can you move out? You may need to get tougher. Ring everyday at 9am until sorted. Don't be shy, other people do it and sometimes this is the only way to get results.

Gingernutmeg

Thanks for the posts The flat is the 'top' one in three floor block - the wall where the mould is occurring is a blank end wall. There's no way that I can get up there to check gutters, drains etc ...

We have thought about the dehumidifier, but obviously the cost is putting us off - not just the initial outlay to buy or rent, but the running costs too. I really, really doubt that they would deduct the cost from the rent. We've had so much difficulty even getting vital repairs done (a dangerous light in the kitchen, broken floorboard in the living room) that I can't see it happening. However, I'll send (another) letter to the agency outlining the suggestions and see what happens. I'm just anxious about putting ourselves into a difficult situation as regards notice and our deposit ...

Gingernutmeg

It's a privately rented flat. We *could* move out if it really came to that, but we'd really rather not ... Both my partner and I are mature students in the last semester of our degrees, we both work too and the hassle of searching for and getting accepted into a new flat is something we really don't need at the moment. We'll get tougher with the agency - what we're paying for rent is not cheap for the area by any means and I just feel that we ought to be getting better service than this..

babe_ruth_3

have a look at this https://www.mgcltd.co.uk.

It may have some information on there for you and possible a cure although I understand that you won't want to be paying for it. Good luck

dc

The cause needs to be found and fixed. Could be condensation, if that is the coldest part of the flat, but from what you say it is more likely a rainwater ingress related damp problem. Missing roof tile, leaky flashing, blocked or broken guttering or downlipe. Best viewed from outside in heavy downpour.
LA seems to be running a low maintenance strategy. :rolleyes2
HTHs dc

Mutton_Geoff

Gingernut, you don't have to physically get up and have a look, but wait until it's raining heavily and see if there's water sloshing out of the gutter down the wall, or evidence down the outside wall of your room (you may see white deposits where salt is extracted from the bricks/concrete).

You might even see a long length of pipe hanging off, I don't know, but just because it's 3 floors up doesn't stop you taking a good look, with binoculars if possible and see what you can find as the cause.

If it were my health, I'd be getting on to find the cause and a solution, especially knowing that you won't have to pay.

Gingernutmeg

I go and have a look next time it's pouring Thankfully, this being the UK I won't have to wait for long. I'll try and get some photo's too, and send then to the LA with a stiff letter.

Thanks for all of the advice!

thesaint

Gingernutmeg wrote:

I go and have a look next time it's pouring Thankfully, this being the UK I won't have to wait for long. I'll try and get some photo's too, and send then to the LA with a stiff letter.

Thanks for all of the advice!

You'd better be British saying something so disrespectful about the erm... different weather we have in the beautiful Nation we call the United Kingdom.:rolleyes: