Health issues due to damp/mould?

dekaspace

FBaby wrote: »

As you've been told, only a medical expert could confirm after doing test, however, you admit you do get chest infections each year, just that it is worse this time. There will always be a time when it gets worse, so that alone is not evidence that the two are linked and in all probability, it won't be. You have a long journey ahead if you want to get compensation on the basis that your chest infection is caused/aggravated (with long term effects if you want £££) by the mould.

Your posts are confusing, on one hand you seem to say that the place is a complete disaster, then you say that it's not so bad and the problems are minor. In the end, your rent will always reflect the quality of the place. If you want cheap rent, you have to accept compromises. The question is what is a compromise and what is minimum conditions, which legally are usually much lower standards than what tenants expect. Saying that, a leaking roof would be consider minimum standard. Some mould that is caused/aggravated by lifestyle isn't going to be.

I get a cold once a year that is bad, but its never this bad, normally I just feel groggy for a few days or a week then it passes, as it stands this has lasted 6 weeks (actually more as was coughing over summer now and again)

Its individual things that are a disaster and the way landlord deals with them, right now the leak seems to be fixed but I know previous tenants have moved out as the upstairs landlords property is in such bad state of repair that leaks come back and cause damage to property.

When I moved here I was paying mid/upper end of the costs for the estate but prices have risen, I could of got one with same landlord but with old carpet around corner for £50 a month less, now that same property is £50 more and hasn't been done up, last year I saw a property like mine but not been painted in years for £180 a month.

Now and again a cheap property comes up but I have 2 months notice to deal with, saw one at same price as mine just up road a few months back with brand new kitchen and redecorated but it was snapped up within days.

What I want from this is that if repairs need done the leak and ceiling collapse is evidence they can't bury heads in the sand and to do them before it gets worse, whilst also proving I am not going to accept bad standards whilst also making people like social work realise I need help.

always_sunny

dekaspace wrote: »

I get a cold once a year that is bad, but its never this bad, normally I just feel groggy for a few days or a week then it passes, as it stands this has lasted 6 weeks (actually more as was coughing over summer now and again)

Its individual things that are a disaster and the way landlord deals with them, right now the leak seems to be fixed but I know previous tenants have moved out as the upstairs landlords property is in such bad state of repair that leaks come back and cause damage to property.

When I moved here I was paying mid/upper end of the costs for the estate but prices have risen, I could of got one with same landlord but with old carpet around corner for £50 a month less, now that same property is £50 more and hasn't been done up, last year I saw a property like mine but not been painted in years for £180 a month.

Now and again a cheap property comes up but I have 2 months notice to deal with, saw one at same price as mine just up road a few months back with brand new kitchen and redecorated but it was snapped up within days.

What I want from this is that if repairs need done the leak and ceiling collapse is evidence they can't bury heads in the sand and to do them before it gets worse, whilst also proving I am not going to accept bad standards whilst also making people like social work realise I need help.

You keep going around in circles but don't do the only thing that you need to do which is move.
If the property doesn't meet your standards, move.
if the property is causing you health issues, move.

If you have 2 months notice, give it to the LL so in 2 months you can move, this 2 months will not get shorter, it starts when you give notice.

Bogalot

dekaspace wrote: »

I have been given an inhaler as had a very bad chest for last 6-8 weeks which coincides with when I started getting a leak before my bathroom ceiling collapsed revealing ceiling and walls covered in black mould which though cleaned they never put on the anti fungal paint.

The only other time in my life when I had a inhaler for a cough this bad was 10 years ago which was in a property which had black mould and heavy damp/leaks.

So I was just guessing the cough was due to the leak/mould? If so is there anything I can do about it, not looking for compensation as much as treated better by LL (basically not like a pushover)

Is there some exaggeration here, and possibly in your other housing issues too? If someone had a "very bad chest" for eight weeks the GP would be doing more than giving you an inhaler.

Pixie5740

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

Having read this forum for a while, I think you should only have to give one months notice regardless of what it says in your rental contract.

The OP is in Scotland with either an Assured Tenancy or a Short Assured Tenancy.

I do agree that moving is most likely the best course of action though.

Minkybob

Allergy UK have a questionnaire about whether damp is causing health problems, fill it in and take it to your GP; http://www.allergyuk.org/downloads/news-and-media/iaw13/symptoms-checker.pdf

http://www.allergyuk.org/avoiding-respiratory-allergens/stamp-out-damp

Having said that you really should be looking to move somewhere else as others have said, the stress of the living situation is more potentially detrimental to your health in my opinion.

dekaspace

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Is your entire income from benefits or do you work as well? How many hours a day are you spending in this mouldy flat? Do you have any interests and hobbies that get you out and about? You are topping up your rent just now is above the LHA. Can you afford to top it up more in order to get a better home?



Was that £300 just to hire the van or does that include the cost of hiring people to help you move? Do you have to keep your furniture, are you particularly attached to it? Would it be cheaper to sell your furniture on Gumtree and then either rent a better, furnished property elsewhere or get new furniture from Gumtree, Freecycle, charity shops in a new place. (A few people I know have done this because it was cheaper/less hassle.)



Getting more points would mean you are a higher priority than you currently are so would move you up the list. Properties are allocated to those in greatest need so even if you got more points for the condition of your current home you would still have less points than someone who is homeless or is about to become homeless very soon.

I think that unless your current landlord tries to evict you, you will be in for a very long (years if not decades) wait to be housed by the council.



So have you agreed something with the landlord? If you are not satisfied with the landlord's action or inaction go back to environmental health or go to PHRP.



It's not that shocking. Repairs don't happen instantaneously even if you are a home owner or a tenant in social housing. 28 days isn't that long really.



As said earlier, you might get more points but still not as many as someone who is homeless who will always get priority over someone in your circumstances.

If you genuinely believe the mould is affecting your health is it possible that your GP and/or social worker could get you referred for social housing rather than you just relying on making an application yourself.

How long are you prepared to wait for a council house? Is your current situation worth putting up with indefinitely? Are there things you can do to improve your situation?

I don't work due to mental health/disability, have no family or friends to help me move, the costs were for man with van though I think 2 people doing the move.

The furniture is however worth nothing, I got it cheap on sale from local charity shop though the prices have skyrocketed up so either way not much choice.

If I was forced though I would ideally keep my chest freezer, my recliner armchair, my bed and maybe the glass table and glass cabinet, anything else I have zero attachment to and know are easily replaced.

I was meant to get help filling in form from social work but they are useless, in 2 years I saw them twice both times at my request and was told no money for anything though I am meant to be getting care workers, even took me off the list as was told no funding for people like me as I am not severe enough in my disability, and when I complained to MP to get social work back its taken about 4 months and social worker told me she couldn't come out and see me as it was her annual leave and made me an appointment for like 5 weeks later (which is next week)

I don't leave the house much, used to go to autism local group but funding was cut, hence me relying on relatives coming about once a month to motivate me to go outside.

As for the repairs taking 28 days it was in the sense that at that point I had rubble all over my floor and I couldnt use sink or toilet, and walls covered in black mould (which would make health worse) whilst the law would give 28 days you would bear in mind the mould and rubble making bathroom useless, and even though I cleaned myself apart from the mould shortly after a floorboard cracked.

I was thinking though if I do report to PRHP and landlord wants me out or harasses me due to that it would help I guess.

Did try contacting EH today and a few times but its almost impossible to get hold of the people dealing with it and even then though they agree the landlord is acting shockingly they are also sympathetic towards him saying he has low profit margins again even though they said when the ceiling was down it wasn't the best idea to stay there and did I have somewhere else to stay (and said contact homeless service) but never said I had to move out as it was unlivable.

always_sunny

dekaspace wrote: »

I don't work due to mental health/disability, have no family or friends to help me move, the costs were for man with van though I think 2 people doing the move.

The furniture is however worth nothing, I got it cheap on sale from local charity shop though the prices have skyrocketed up so either way not much choice.

If I was forced though I would ideally keep my chest freezer, my recliner armchair, my bed and maybe the glass table and glass cabinet, anything else I have zero attachment to and know are easily replaced.

I was meant to get help filling in form from social work but they are useless, in 2 years I saw them twice both times at my request and was told no money for anything though I am meant to be getting care workers, even took me off the list as was told no funding for people like me as I am not severe enough in my disability, and when I complained to MP to get social work back its taken about 4 months and social worker told me she couldn't come out and see me as it was her annual leave and made me an appointment for like 5 weeks later (which is next week)

I don't leave the house much, used to go to autism local group but funding was cut, hence me relying on relatives coming about once a month to motivate me to go outside.

As for the repairs taking 28 days it was in the sense that at that point I had rubble all over my floor and I couldnt use sink or toilet, and walls covered in black mould (which would make health worse) whilst the law would give 28 days you would bear in mind the mould and rubble making bathroom useless, and even though I cleaned myself apart from the mould shortly after a floorboard cracked.

I was thinking though if I do report to PRHP and landlord wants me out or harasses me due to that it would help I guess.

Did try contacting EH today and a few times but its almost impossible to get hold of the people dealing with it and even then though they agree the landlord is acting shockingly they are also sympathetic towards him saying he has low profit margins again even though they said when the ceiling was down it wasn't the best idea to stay there and did I have somewhere else to stay (and said contact homeless service) but never said I had to move out as it was unlivable.

Your situation is very unfortunate, though the circumstances about you not working, having no family or friend nearby to help with the move, etc should not be visited on the LL. It is not their role to provide a solution to that.

Say if the property is deemed not fit for purpose by the council and the LL gives you notice (whatever period by law) because they will modernise the whole flat, you will still need to move.

The bottom line is that for you, the current property is not fit for your purpose and it's making you feel unwell, therefore the most realistic solution is to move.

dekaspace

always_sunny wrote: »

Your situation is very unfortunate, though the circumstances about you not working, having no family or friend nearby to help with the move, etc should not be visited on the LL. It is not their role to provide a solution to that.

Say if the property is deemed not fit for purpose by the council and the LL gives you notice (whatever period by law) because they will modernise the whole flat, you will still need to move.

The bottom line is that for you, the current property is not fit for your purpose and it's making you feel unwell, therefore the most realistic solution is to move.

The landlord however when the ceiling collapsed when contacted by EH promised to move me, even told this to social work, my parents and myself, even told me they were just getting the keys ready for me to collect, then after no response and me ringing them next day said "not going to do it now, you can just stay there until the work is done"

Its not moving thats the problem its cost of moving, finding another suitable property etc.

If I was given a council house on the spot I would move the furniture out bit by bit cheaply and do what I can to lower costs and cover the rent shortfall by myself (the council pays up to 4 weeks at 2 properties) so the rest of notice I would cover myself.

So that means more money to spend but its better than having a month and rushing and I would save some money by moving out as much as I can myself.

Even if I found somewhere to live now I would have to give 2 months notice which means it would end Christmas Day!

Maybe best thing to do is contact PRHP and see how landlord reacts.

Bogalot

I'm not sure that a council house is going to remedy your situation. They can also take an age to do repairs, and you're arguably more likely to have noisier neighbours. Unless you're looking at some sort of supported living, single accommodation can be in some pretty unpleasant places, not that different to what you've got now.

Before you see your social worker make a list of the issues you're having - the damp, your excessive sensitivity to noise, and see if she can suggest ways to resolve these. You do need to move, but council housing is not the golden ticket you think it is.

dekaspace

I will but the social work is useless.

Council housing I only wanted for the stability more than anything.

I have thought in recent years the best thing for me is like a studio flat with communal cooking facilities

I say studio flat as in I could still have like a small fridge in room and maybe toaster and do main cooking in communal area as that would also give me the opportunity to socialise.

And having grew up on a council house and on a council estate till I was 12 I know how bad they can be our neighbour was burgled a lot, the usual drug taking/dealing neighbours and right before we left people starting having knives on the estate, I think its actually better now there as like many places the houses were sold on so its more working class at least now.

I don't have excessive sensivity to noise as much as sensitivity to a balance of everyone doing what they can to minimise noise.

I for example prefered to hear regular walking about a non loud level all day, and low level talking all day to extreme versions of noise, even kids are tolerable to a point.

The only thing I think though is if I can hear neighbours at all either they are being loud or the walls are thin, but I side on the loud thing if people can't hear me and I can't hear them most of the time.

I mean I live next to a nursery and school and those don't bother me.