Can i claim compensation

sammyjayneex

Can i claim compensation?

So I have lived in my council property for over 4 years and have problems with mould since moving in. Housing association have dismissed the problem over the years and said its my fault. Then someone else comes out last week because I told them AGAIN I was unhappy and he said some parts of the ceiling and all have not been insulated proper due to them being shaped a certain way (raked ceilings they are called) so mould develop on these parts (which is half of every room of the house) so it can make mould issues worse.
They have suggested nothing for 4 years apart from me opening windows. I have lost furniture and belongings because anything placed against these walls get affected. I am scared of keeping my current furniture because they have also developed mould and I have cleaned it off but im scared the mould isn't actually dead. Can I claim compensation for the lost furniture because im going to have to throw every piece of furniture away in my house even me and my children's beds because I just cant settle with thinking mould is growing inside it. I suffer with OCD and anxiety so this problem is making it 100 times worse. Now after me complaining in writing they want to come an apply mould treatment, AFTER IGNORING THE PROBLEM FOR 4 YEARS. But this is just masking the problem...it wont solve the issue and wont replace my furniture so looks like me and my kids will be living in an empty house. I am also pregnant and don't want to live here anymore. Can I ask to be rehoused? Because why should I have to live like this? Its causing me major stress

So...

A) Can I ask for compensation
Can I asked to be rehoused as this is causing me major anxiety.

phil24_7

Speak to you local citizens advice bureau.

photome

Could this be the cause of your water damaged laptop.

Did the laptop issue get resolved

sammyjayneex

I have spoken to citizens advice but they wasn't that helpful as much. They just gave me some link to online info. My complaint has now gone to stage 4 where its gone to the ombudsman...what happens with this? and what happens if im not happy after this.

phoenix_w

Have you determined why there is so much moisture in your property? Do you dry clothes inside, do you make sure to ventilate the house at night? Do you use extractors during cooking and washing in the bathroom?

Whilst the mould may grow on the coldest surface in the room (ceiling), there has to be a reason the air is so humid and that's what you need to cure.

You need to do some homework and work out what activities are causing high levels of moisture and then modify your behaviors and/or propose the HA fix them (e.g. add extractors, positive input ventilation, make internal doors less air tight).

dominoman

You need to find the source of the damp. Either it is coming in through the floor, or the walls, or the roof. It should be easy to spot if that's the case. If not, then it is caused by living in the house. We all generate huge amounts of humidity just from breathing, cooking (especially if you use gas), drying clothes etc.

I think you should forget about the legal route. You are receiving a flat at vastly reduced price, subsidised by your neighbours, so to enquire about compensation to me seems quite distasteful. That compensation would also be paid for by those same taxpayers who subsidise your accommodation while struggling to pay their own bills.

The advice from the council seems sensible. Make sure there is plenty of natural ventilation, and if necessary get a decent dehumidifier. They do work very well for keeping humidity low and stopping mould.

sammyjayneex

Just to update this thread.

The council have since added insulation in the roof to see if this will help the problem. Hopefully this insulation and me using a dehumidifier and reducing moisture will help stop the mould growth

Doozergirl

Have you got cavity wall insulation as well? Generally, the mould will grow where you have little airflow (behind furniture) or on cold surfaces - outside walls with no insulation.

I'm quite sure that loft insulation will help you. It really is as much about insulation as ventilation.