Private renting, mould & environmental health vist

soul619

Hi guys need some advice please, me my wife and our 18 month old live in a very mouldy damp privately rented property and we can't afford another deposit. We've been complaining about mould and damp since last December and its now that bad environmental health are coming Tuesday.

The landlord has already ignored the 4 weeks they had to sort the two category's 2 hazards we have. (We rent through a LA) and they're coming with 2 dehumidifiers to sort out the damp...

The walls however are that bad my daughter is in our room however our room is also getting bad, we have a smaller study type room that has been unusable for months from mould and damp and the front wall of the living room is so wet I can't let my daughter anywhere near it! Infact the only room were there is no damp is the bathroom!!

What I would like to know is do we leave all the mould viewable for the health officer or do we clean it with bleach as we regularly do? I'm unsure what would be best. We have numerous pictures for record purposes and so we can go to small claims but were a little worries environmental health will say we should have cleaned it again!

Advice is much appreciated.

LADYXXMACBETH

You can buy anti mold paint. It works very well it is expensive about £30 for a small tin but it is like plastic paint and touch wood no more black mold in my house. It stops it from coming back too.

soul619

I understand that and it is not down to us to pay to repair the property as we rent. At this point what I need to know is shall I leave the mould for the officer to see or clean it as we usually do?

Thank you for your reply though.

LADYXXMACBETH

Leave it so EH can see it. maybe an idea would be to contact your landlord with a letter stating what you want done. Instead of just saying you want it repaired say you want it repaired so it doesn't come back and you would like them to investigate. If it is a local authority house then there should be a housing ombudsman you could contact them.

sandsni

What are the two category 2 hazards?

Are you doing your bit to minimise the "damp" such as reducing condensation (not drying clothes indoors, adequate heat and ventilation of the property, venting steam outside the property when cooking, bathing etc.?)

Leave the mould so environmental health can see exactly what your issues are. But at the same time, be honest with them about your lifestyle, if you dry washing indoors etc.. They need to know all the facts before they can make an adequate assessment. If there is genuinely a structural issue with the property that is contributing to the "damp" and mould, then they will pursue it with the LL.

soul619

We've been asking the LL to sort it out since we moved in and we have any many emails some answered but most ignored to back that fact up. We are doing what we can to minimise damp. Clothes are dried in the kitchen but there are no major problems In the kitchen.

We only went to the EH as a lost resort the landlord has even told us if we don't like it to move out! The house is rendered below the damp course, the chimney is cracked and can't be touched up (I forget the proper word) because the cement in-between is basically sand it's that's bad. And the rendering on the front sounds hollow in places suggesting it's coming away from the house which iv told can be holding water making things worse.

We're fighting a loosing battle and have been told by builders who have come out for other jobs.

We have no extractor fan as the landlord refuses to fit one and none of the windows have any ventilation unless they are open.

Thanks for help guys it's much appreciated. I have over in rented property for 15 years in many houses and the most mould iv ever had is kind the bathroom seal and iv always lived the same way

pmlindyloo

Can you just confirm is this social housing (you said renting through an LA?)or renting through a private landlord (as per the title?)

soul619

Private rented through a letting agent

pmlindyloo

Have you read this?

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/disrepair_in_rented_accommodation/dealing_with_disrepair


if the environmental officer says, for instance, that special paint is needed then you can (after following the correct procedure) deduct the cost for this from your rent.

Do you want to stay there? If it is only the lack of a deposit that is stopping you from renting elsewhere then I would seriously consider borrowing from family/friends and pay it back when your deposit is returned (it is protected isn't it?)

The other option to explore is seeing if your local council operates a Deposit bond scheme. In these circumstances the council may be willing to help you with your deposit (no money changes hands - the council guarantees that they will cover repairs/damage to the landlord.)

soul619

No we don't want to stay an wood have moved already if we had the money