A little vent about my horrible house

Mara69

MamaMoo wrote: »

Tbh, I just want out of this house, now. It's one thing after another.

Unfortunately, the council see this sort of reaction all the time often from people that want out of their home regardless. They have a responsibility to resolve the problem - not to move you out - UNLESS they absolutely cannot stop the problems with the mould. This can take time as they have to try a solution, see if it works and if it doesn't try something else. They should, if necessary, get a professional surveyors report - but this can be long drawn out.

Can you and your family move out temporarily while the problem is resolved? Or maybe all move out of the worst rooms for while?

MamaMoo wrote: »

When he smokes at home he has to wash his hands & face, brush his teeth, change into his indoor clothes, and deodorise himself before he comes back around me or the kids.

Really? Every single time he has a fag? Even when he smokes in the bedroom (where pack is in the photo?)

flippin36

Oh dear, I can sympathise and hope the council eventually come good for you.

We live in a relatively nice house (new build) but we have areas in our home that will get mould spots if we don't stay vigilant. We have had it all checked out and there are no problems, its just certain areas don't get much sunlight and stay cold most of the time. We keep furniture away from these walls, which helps the air circulate and means we can keep an eye on any spores reappearing. We wipe them off straight away with some diluted bleach. We also have a dehumidifier which is worth its weight in gold, its quite alarming how much water they collect. I always have it running when I'm ironing, and is pretty much permanently on in one room in the winter. We seem to be ontop of it now. A heater on low next to your damp spots will help too as well as not drying any washing in doors, ventilating bathrooms, opening windows for a bit everyday. It really does make a big difference.

Hope this helps in the short term.

MamaMoo_2

Mara69 wrote: »

Unfortunately, the council see this sort of reaction all the time often from people that want out of their home regardless. They have a responsibility to resolve the problem - not to move you out - UNLESS they absolutely cannot stop the problems with the mould. This can take time as they have to try a solution, see if it works and if it doesn't try something else. They should, if necessary, get a professional surveyors report - but this can be long drawn out.

Can you and your family move out temporarily while the problem is resolved? Or maybe all move out of the worst rooms for while?



Really? Every single time he has a fag? Even when he smokes in the bedroom (where pack is in the photo?)

Yes. Every time. The cigarettes are in the bedroom as he'd just emptied out his pockets, but when he smokes he does so outside of the house. He usually sits on the steps outside the front door.

Realistically, we needed to move out anyway (I have developed arthritis in my hips, and so the 25 steps outside the house can be a pain, and are impossible if it's just me & the kids.
We wanted to wait another 9-12 months as, despite the stairs, we actually love the house, and have recently redecorated.
My GP has sent a letter to the council advising them that, in his opinion, the property is unsuitable and is having a detrimental effect on myself & my family. He did this off his own back (after going in for more inhalers and steroids etc he asked whether there had been any changes at home, eg someone taking up smoking, damp, mould etc. when I said that there was mould, he asked me about the type, and I showed him some photos on my phone that I had taken for the council. He immediately told me he would be speaking to the council to get this sorted.)

Unfortunately, we have nowhere to go temporarily. We don't have much family locally, and the family we do have don't have the room. We also don't have the spare cash to pay for a hotel/B&B. The council have also refused to offer us any temporary hostel accommodation.

MamaMoo_2

flippin36 wrote: »

Oh dear, I can sympathise and hope the council eventually come good for you.

We live in a relatively nice house (new build) but we have areas in our home that will get mould spots if we don't stay vigilant. We have had it all checked out and there are no problems, its just certain areas don't get much sunlight and stay cold most of the time. We keep furniture away from these walls, which helps the air circulate and means we can keep an eye on any spores reappearing. We wipe them off straight away with some diluted bleach. We also have a dehumidifier which is worth its weight in gold, its quite alarming how much water they collect. I always have it running when I'm ironing, and is pretty much permanently on in one room in the winter. We seem to be ontop of it now. A heater on low next to your damp spots will help too as well as not drying any washing in doors, ventilating bathrooms, opening windows for a bit everyday. It really does make a big difference.

Hope this helps in the short term.

Thanks for the advice.
We already have been doing what you've recommended. We've kept furniture away from mould we were aware of, we've been cleaning regularly with bleach and a fungicidal wash.
We have a 12L dehumidifier that I empty as often as I change the kids nappies it seems!
I've been supplementing the heating in the house with blow air heaters in the main rooms, and I'm forever drying up puddles on the windowsills.
Unfortunately, it appears as if the problems are due to "misaligned and poorly sealed windows" and damp coming in where there is lead flashing(?)

lynzpower

It seems to me from the pattern on the photos that the the problem is likely to be penetrating damp comign from the outside, possibly from broken guttering, damaged roofing or similar? Any chance this might be the case? In any case funcicidal washes wont do much if the problem is coming from outside.

Its important to keep the property as ventilated as possible to get the mould spores out before they settle: if you can leave a window slightly ajar and get the air coming through will help minimise the problem.

however there is no point in geting a dehumidifier if the roof is leaking: what needs to be resolved is the cause of the problem.

[Deleted User]

I feel for you , sounds like you have a very good doctor though! You NEED someone with a bit of authority on your side in these cases

I was living in a damp basement Council flat with my 2 daughters , one who was a baby who developed constant bronchitis and I had to take her to hospital to be put on an inhaler machine a couple of times as she was having trouble breathing

Even their clothes in the wardrobe went mouldy & I had to throw them away & the flat was so cold we all had to sleep in the living room and it was a really horrible time especially the long waiting bit towards the end!

I DID get enviromental health round but this was over 20 years ago so don't know if it has changed but they tested the walls and there was a very high reading of damp which wasn't surprising as it was visible as well

I kept all the records , got doctors letters and found a BRILLIANT social worker who really fought my corner with the council re a medical transfer...

It took a while , we were in the property for 2 years but finally got a move to a wonderful damp free house with central heating ( the old flat didn't even have heating! )

From the day we moved my DD's bronchial problems COMPLETELY disappeared and she never has had any problems since apart from a brief spell of Asthma when around 7 years old which cleared up itself , even though I felt guilty as I wondered if that 2 years in a damp home had damaged her lungs!!!!

This WILL impact your family's health and you DO have medical reasons for a transfer so follow things up with your doctor and a legal aid solicitor if necessary or try the Citizens Advice Bureau / Social Services ANYONE with a bit of clout as I was NEVER listened to but as soon as my Social Worker rang them they got things moving and I will be forever grateful to her! xx

peter_the_piper

Hope the OP comes back to say all is well.

woohoo_postingid

Must be awful to have a cheap/free house and then have everything fixed for you free of charge. And still have the nerve to complain about it taking 6 weeks to be done...

aliasojo

woohoo_postingid wrote: »

Must be awful to have a cheap/free house and then have everything fixed for you free of charge. And still have the nerve to complain about it taking 6 weeks to be done...

FGS! This situation can cause serious health issues.

We're not talking about a little redecoration required.

We're a civilised society these days (or at least we're meant to be), social housing does not = having to accept this kind of thing. I suggest you save your indignation for elsewhere.

woohoo_postingid

I just find it amazing that people can complain about having to wait 6 weeks for something to be sorted - for free !!