Damage caused by mold...

solchain

We live in a housing association home and have been suffering from bad mold and condensation,, this has been going on for over a year and we think are starting to get somewhere, but as you can imagine this mold has damaged our blinds and curtains, I had read somewhere that you are able to claim compensation to replace them, does anyone know if this is the case and if so how do I go about starting the process?

They have fitted an envirovent thing which has helped with the condensation, so now the windows are clear, and I hope will stop the mold coming back.

Thanks for any suggestions.

amfan

I'm not sure how your housing association works, but when I had the same problem I asked if I would be allowed to have the cost of redecorating reimbursed to me as I needed to repaint the entire flat. I was told quite frankly that they would not cover the cost of any redecorating. It put me off ever redecorating out of my own pocket as it was essentially money down the drain because they also refused to address the problem and every winter it flared up.

solchain

I will say that mine are trying really hard and putting every effort in, so we are very lucky it seems.

Ah well, will just grin and bare the cost I guess, bit cheeky to ask them really.

killjoybandit

With experience from both sides of this (though council not housing association) I shouldn't think, unfortunately, that you wouldn't get compensation for this due to the fact that condensation mould is because of "living conditions", for want of a better phrase. If it was because of faulty pointing, brickwork, rising damp etc, that would be different but generally speaking, mould is most commonly caused by little ventilation. Rooms being too hot and outside being too cold, understandably little airflow due to trying to keep the heat in. It's quite common in older buildings and you just have to try and clean it off quickly and keep on top of it until the weather warms up. Always worth asking for help with redecorating but wouldn't bank on it-thermocheck paper (I think that's what it's called) is quite good, it's thick and warms up the wall a little to lessen the contrast between outside and in.

MisterB1959

I think at least one council issue a leaflet - available on line - to help deal with reducing condensation

Melvin_Bradley

According to my experience, To remove mold accurately one must hire a professional expert to get rid from this problem. Because experts will use special equipment's to remove this and we will also get other benefits like insurance claims. In case, if this problem remains continue then you can get your half money back.
My friend has also faced the same problem and he grabbed help from professional company in addition other benefits.
So solve this problem as soon as you can!!!

Doozergirl

killjoybandit wrote: »

With experience from both sides of this (though council not housing association) I shouldn't think, unfortunately, that you wouldn't get compensation for this due to the fact that condensation mould is because of "living conditions", for want of a better phrase. If it was because of faulty pointing, brickwork, rising damp etc, that would be different but generally speaking, mould is most commonly caused by little ventilation. Rooms being too hot and outside being too cold, understandably little airflow due to trying to keep the heat in. It's quite common in older buildings and you just have to try and clean it off quickly and keep on top of it until the weather warms up. Always worth asking for help with redecorating but wouldn't bank on it-thermocheck paper (I think that's what it's called) is quite good, it's thick and warms up the wall a little to lessen the contrast between outside and in.

You've just said it's caused by living conditions and then gone on to say it's caused by too little ventilation. How a house is ventilated is not a lifestyle issue.

It may be exacerbated by moisture produced in day to day living, but the cause is always a building one. Too little insulation, not enough ventilation.

In this day and age we have all the solutions available to us to build houses that won't produce condensation. We also have the same materials available to solve it in existing homes but this myth of it being the tenant's fault is perpetuated because landlords don't take it seriously enough to spend the money on decent windows, insulation or mechanical solutions. Then it gets carried to these forums where even people trying to help blame tenants.

You don't solve condensation by not cooking, not showering or even, shock horror, drying your washing indoors. Many of us can do any of those without worry. It is solved by upgrading the building fabric.