Black mould in my flat, I am 32weeks pregnant.

DevCoder

Please keep coming back here, even if its just to vent, there will be more experienced people than myself (vastly more!) who will be able to offer advice Im sure, but even if it just helps to talk then you might not fel like your banging your head against a brick wall with no one listening.

Justicia

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/
http://www.parliament.uk/about/contacting/mp/

"Dear *MP name*,

I live in a council flat and the address is *****, in Cornwall. Unfortunately, the flat has a very bad problem with damp and mould. There is mould present, growing up most of the walls and I have had to throw a lot of personal items away due to contamination, including a moses basket, clothes, duvets, a mattress, and even food. In addition to the increasing damage to the walls, there is mould present on items of my bedroom furniture.

Representatives of the council have been out to assess the situation over eight times, but on each occasion change their minds on what is causing the issues, without any clear indication of a solution.

Suggested causes have included;
o an issue with the pipes,
o an issue with the air bricks,
o it being caused by something in the wall,
o something occurring in the neighbouring property, and;
o an issue with the seals on the windows.

I have also spoken to Environmental Health and asked them to come out and have a look at it, but they advised me that it's the responsibility of the council to sort it out and ceased communication with me. I also sought guidance from the Citizens Advice Bureau but the response was that "most places have this problem, and there isn't much you can do about damp and mould legal-wise."

I have asked Homechoice to increase our banding, so we could get moved into an alternative property quicker as we are only Band E which is the lowest. I am 32 weeks pregnant with a baby, and once he is born I will be put up to Band C which may take up to eight months or longer, to enable us to move.

I have had repeated consultations with my Doctor as I am feeling ill a lot of the time, and although he is sympathetic, he has advised me that he is unable to help with any form of documentation or letters.

My partner regularly clears the visible mould off with bleach and sprays anti-mould spray on it, however within a week it returns and does not appear to be improving, and in fact appears to be getting worse over time.

I look forward to your response and any assistance that you can offer. I also welcome you to visit the property and view the issues yourself. I have attached photographs of the problem for your immediate reference.

Yours faithfully,

Babybump12032013
Telephone: 01234 567890"

DevCoder

Great post Justicia, the only addition I would add on is if there are any emails where EH is blaming the council and vice versa and also any emails regarding the repeated visits to ascertain the problem.

But what you stated is exactly what babybump should put in the letter, thus removing the emotion.

Justicia

krisdorey wrote: »

Great post Justicia, the only addition I would add on is if there are any emails where EH is blaming the council and vice versa and also any emails regarding the repeated visits to ascertain the problem.

Good point! :T

Babybump12032013: See Krisdorey's post above. If you would like to edit in and let us take a look (removing any identifying details for the benefit of the 'forum copy' first), go for it.

But what you stated is exactly what babybump should put in the letter, thus removing the emotion.

Thank you! Can you tell I write to my own MP(s) a fair bit...?

Valli

have you contacted your local councillor re this issue?

Have you raised the issue with your Health Visitor/Midwife?

In the meantime can you ventilate the flat at all? Open the windows a crack (even if, say, for 15 minutes int he morning)

Babybump12032013

Thanks Justicia and krisdorey, I will write it up tomorrow

Babybump12032013

Valli, I am contacting them tomorrow. I have bought up the problem with midwives, doctors, family nurses ect they can't really do much about it as it is down to the council to sort it out. I keep all the windows on vent at all times, only time I close them is Friday and Saturday nights as people try getting in the window walking past drunk!

Norman_Castle

Can I suggest you stop using bleach on the mould. It clearly does not stop mould growth and the fumes are unhealthy. Bleach kills germs, mould is a fungus. If you need to clean it, use as little water as possible and disposable cloths to avoid spreading the spores. Fungicides will help but removing the moisture is the only solution. Where the wall is obviously wet, is there soil piled against the wall or any obvious water source. Try looking when its raining.

Babybump12032013

It is a pavement outside the building so no soil or any water over the walls, I always use disposable cloths to clean it

spacey2012

Agree 100% the damp problem needs sorting but as you are pregnant, the priority is to kill the organisms causing the black mould.
You can live with damp until it is sorted but you need to get rid of the nasty stuff as quickly as possible and that is the best product I have used by a very long way, just spray and leave twice a day.
After 3 days no sign of the mould is left.
Then a preventative spray once a week usually keeps it away.