Living in council house that's making me & my family ill

MamaMoo_2

Just typed a really long post, and my stupid bl**dy browser refreshed, so apology for the briefness. If you have questions, please ask.

I have severe damp and mould in my council house. It's making me & my kids ill (coughs & breathing issues). The doctor has confirms she believes this is due to the damp & mould.

The council took a month to send a damp inspector, despite being aware that it's making both my kids (under 2) and myself ill.

I have followed all courses of action I could (vents open, vents closed, windows open, windows closed, heating on, heating off, dehumidifier, bleach, anti fungal treatment) and nothing works. We clean it weekly, and it returns within a week.

I can't cope with myself & my kids being ill any longer, and the council (despite promising I will receive a call with an earlier appointment) have got me booked in for 31st Jan for treatments.

Do I have the right for the council to provide temporary housing or pay for a hotel so I can get my kids and myself out of here so we can get better?
Medicines aren't working and I'm really at the end of my tether. My poor 19 month old who has been ill for 3 months is looking like a zombie! My 11 week old sounds like a lorry when he breathes and my chest is so bad I've pulled muscles in my side from coughing.

Please help!

mrcow

What is causing the damp? Cleaning off mould isn't going to help unless you sort out what's causing it in the first place.

MamaMoo_2

mrcow wrote: »

What is causing the damp? Cleaning off mould isn't going to help unless you sort out what's causing it in the first place.

The seals on my windows are fu*ked, and need replacing, as does the silicone. And the bedrooms are apparently rising damp.
We're cleaning as a way of holding it back until the council come to treat it on the 31st. We've been told it's something that would cost us a fair bit if we paid someone to do the work required sooner.

NeverInDebt

ask you environmental health to come. Possible write to your MP

MamaMoo_2

NeverInDebt wrote: »

ask you environmental health to come. Possible write to your MP

I will do both, thank you.

Is there anything I can do with immediate effect? I want my family out of here, ideally by tomorrow. I'm getting sicker every day, as are my kids. Eg my temperature was 38.3c on Monday, 38.7c Tuesday and 39.2c yesterday, 39.4c today!

savemoney

It must be awful for you. If its bad mould can be bad for you it especially those with underlying health problems like asthma. I lived in a flat in my student days and I smelt of damp did my clothes, I would be frequently ill and in end had bronchitis. I did get environmental health involved and they condemned the flat and I moved out, it was private renting

Get your doctor to write a letter and give it to the council if they delay

My last house also had this problem but it was caused by inadequate ventilation and insulation in the roof did get some guidance from the environmental health as I had two young kids. I got problem sorted myself in end

Definitely get back on to council and dont take no for an answer, be firm but not aggressive if you get my meaning

Good luck I hope this is sorted for you most of us would I am sure be worried as you rightly are

jc808

Are the bedrooms upstairs? They wont be rising damp if thats the case

MamaMoo_2

jc808 wrote: »

Are the bedrooms upstairs? They wont be rising damp if thats the case

The whole house is above a shop, but apparently, it's rising damp caused in the living room by where the house meets the roof outside, and in the bedroom from something outside where the two floors meet. I queried this too, as I thought rising damp rose from damp soil or similar, and only occurred on ground floors?

jc808

its not rising damp

MamaMoo_2

jc808 wrote: »

its not rising damp

Thanks. That's what I thought. I'll query their diagnosis too now

jayship

Probably guttering? Do a quick check