Black mould and mushrooms

helping_hubby

Hi,

We have black mould and after a year the landlord has finally fixed the root of the problem (bathroom leak), it's been 4 weeks since he fixed this and I'd hate to wait another year waiting for him to tidy the mouldy area up, so we've decided to do the necessary ourselves.

I've found from websites to simply wash the affected area down with a fungicide (available from supermarkets?) and to use fungicidal wallpaper paste and paint to the affected area. Is this correct?

Also, we have mushrooms growing in our downstairs toilet and I think there is a leak under the laminate flooring, maybe from the radiator. Again we've told the landlord on numerous occasions and he's seen the mushrooms. We remove them, but they keep growing back. Is there anything we can do? I just don't like the idea of mushrooms growing in the house. It can't be healthy surely? It's also in quite an awkward position, down between the crack between the flooring and the wall where they are growing. I found a thread on this particular mushroom and it seems to be difficult to get rid of short of fixing the root of the problem (likely the damp and humidity).

misgrace

I cant help with the mushroom problem unfortuantely, but I can give you a bit extra advice re the mould.

You say the landlord has fixed the problem, so there is no more leak now.

I am always doubtful about the mould returning, and I have come across this, wheras the clients has washed the area with all the right stuff, or even plain bleach,so I always still treat it with something extra.
And what you dont want is to do all this, hang your paper and the black marks return.

For an extra precaution, specially if your going to be living there for some time, is to do what you said, wash down etc, but, before I paper, I would brush on the area, even going up and down a few inches either way, either, something like, 'Dulux alkaline primer sealer', or plain bog standard oil base undercoat.
This will hold your marks at bay for a couple of years at least, if they were to return.

never_enough

My advice would be. Take photos. Put all correspondence about this in writing to your landlord. A friend had a similar issue & had her deposit kept as he said the damage was her fault! Get in touch with environmental health at the local council if your landlord wont do anything. Then move somewhere without fungus that you can live. After all it's not your property, & not doing property maintenence is supposed to be one of the joys of renting.

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Also, we have mushrooms growing in our downstairs toilet and I think there is a leak under the laminate flooring, maybe from the radiator. Again we've told the landlord on numerous occasions and he's seen the mushrooms. We remove them, but they keep growing back. Is there anything we can do?

Check around the radiator valves for leaks, ( common source )

Mushrooms only grow In high humidity! TURN DOWN HEATING & OPEN A WINDOW.

FRESH AIR KILLS SPORES. & DO NOT DRY CLOTHES OVER RADIATORS.

helping_hubby

misgrace wrote: »

I cant help with the mushroom problem unfortuantely, but I can give you a bit extra advice re the mould.

You say the landlord has fixed the problem, so there is no more leak now.

I am always doubtful about the mould returning, and I have come across this, wheras the clients has washed the area with all the right stuff, or even plain bleach,so I always still treat it with something extra.
And what you dont want is to do all this, hang your paper and the black marks return.

For an extra precaution, specially if your going to be living there for some time, is to do what you said, wash down etc, but, before I paper, I would brush on the area, even going up and down a few inches either way, either, something like, 'Dulux alkaline primer sealer', or plain bog standard oil base undercoat.
This will hold your marks at bay for a couple of years at least, if they were to return.

Thank you, this is very useful. We've bought all the necessary and have taken it out of the rent.

Check around the radiator valves for leaks, ( common source )

Mushrooms only grow In high humidity! TURN DOWN HEATING & OPEN A WINDOW.

FRESH AIR KILLS SPORES. & DO NOT DRY CLOTHES OVER RADIATORS.

Thanks for that. The radiators aren't on, as it's summer. The window in the toilet does not open. But I do believe its a leak under from the radiator. Told the landlord many a time.

My advice would be. Take photos. Put all correspondence about this in writing to your landlord. A friend had a similar issue & had her deposit kept as he said the damage was her fault! Get in touch with environmental health at the local council if your landlord wont do anything. Then move somewhere without fungus that you can live. After all it's not your property, & not doing property maintenence is supposed to be one of the joys of renting.

We've done the first bit you suggested. It gets slightly more complicated though as our landlord is family. They say you should never rent from family eh?

We're actually looking to buy (We were actually due to exchange/complete in June but the chain fell through a couple of weeks ago). But I can't look at the mouldy wall any longer, hence wanting to just fix it myself.