Mould and a rental dilemma - opinions please

warby68

Is this the only mould and the only (significant) thing wrong with the property?

You have said there isn't much else to rent and that the property does suit you, especially with 3 cats.

You've also said living with inlaws would have some stress attached, with the cats also posing a problem.

You also have limited financial resources to fund a move and moving itself is one of the most stressful things especially mid pregnancy.

Although frustrating that the landlord won't deal with it, I do wonder if getting it dealt with yourselves is not the lesser of all the evils here.

Pauper1

Haha I'm struggling to keep up with replies!

tacpot12 I do agree that he is dealing with the big stuff, which is why I'm not finding it as black and white as my family ("mould is bad, he's not dealing with it, move out"). The cats aren't really an issue as we are rural so it's fairly easy to find properties, however you are right, the furniture is! I do really like this house, and DS calls it "home", so I would be sad to leave. We also have wonderful neighbours. I will investigate the costs of the repairs and go from there I think.

TBagpuss I don't know if it is the same or worse since we moved in, as I didn't see it straight away. It's in a inaccessible place. In the month since I reported it, it hasn't got worse as far as I can tell. I don't think it is likely to recur as according to the damp report, the landlord has dealt with the causes of condensation. The reason I don't want to deal with it myself is because I am pregnant and aware that airborne mould spores can be harmful. As well as that, some of the mould is behind the cistern, which (according to Google research) would need a steam cleaner to remove as it is impossible to wipe.

amfan thank you. Do you have to wipe it away after spraying?

Pauper1

TBagpuss so if we sprayed it, it wouldn't then release spores in to the air when we wiped? That's interesting, I didn't know that. Also, then the bits that we can't reach would not be harmful?

warby68 yes, it is really. There are niggly little things but no house that we can't really change will be perfect. Thank you, that has given me a new perspective.

LEJC

Since you have been in the property has the mould got worse?

Asking because it could be just residue from the previous lifestyle of the tenant at the time.

or is it something that does have a root cause and it is still appearing.?

do you have anything documented about it on your check in inventory?
if not and there is no photo proof either then there is no reason to deduct deposit from you when you leave.

Hopefully a good clean with a mould spray should clear the problem...HG mould spray would get my vote....and an afternoon of someone giving it a good clean....not the ideal solution for you or your family but if the LL is a lax landlord when it comes to fixing problems its far better for you to spend a couple of hours clearing it than having to live with it day in day out if the LL is not prepared to attend to it.

FBaby

You seem to be blowing this totally out of proportion! It's in a small area, hasn't got worse and could probably beveasily cleaned.

Your LL has put measures in place to help with condensation which he didn't need to do. Cleaning is your responsibility not his. Also mould of this dimension is not going to cause health problems unless anyone has serious respiratory problems.

What would you do if you owned your house!

fairy_lights

If the mould is in one small and inaccessible area behind the toilet then I don't think it's a big a problem as you seem to think it is. Mould spores aren't going to hurt you. Get some HG spray, get your husband to apply it behind the toilet, problem solved.

Pauper1

LEJC yes, I think you are right.

FBaby I don't think I am. I spent 6 hours just cleaning the kitchen when we moved in, and then a cleaning company took a further 5. The garden was massively overgrown and took two weekends to clear and it's still not sorted. I've already spent 3 hours cleaning the mould from the bathroom and have requested help with the bits I can't reach. I've done a huge amount to improve that house for the LL. When you move into a rented house you expect it to be basically clean, especially considering the deductions that get taken off if you leave it unclean. I know the previous tenant didn't get her deposit back and I'd have expected him to use that money to sort the house, not profit off her and leave it up to the next tenant.

fairy lights there is mould all around the bathroom that I have been dealing with, but I can't reach this area and it's very thick. Beyond what I've had to deal with before.

Davesnave

fairy_lights wrote: »

Mould spores aren't going to hurt you. Get some HG spray, get your husband to apply it behind the toilet, problem solved.

Resourcefulness increases 10 fold once a baby is on the scene.

However, in the period before, the most minor threats to health and wellbeing can be blown out of proportion. I've seen it a couple of times, so I think it could be 'normal.'

Hubby may be down in the pub with his mates, rather than wielding the HG with a bottle brush behind the bog, but all that's about to change...and how!

warby68

Can't your husband do the last bits?

If you've put all that effort in, moving out for the last bits you can't reach seems a bit daft.

I get that you feel hard done to by the landlord and feel a bit like digging your heels in but its important to realise when you will be cutting your nose off to spite your face and this might be one.

Tell your OH to sort it, you've done the rest and need to put your feet up

G_M

The cause of the mould is critical.

* if condensation, and given that you admit it's been there a long time, the cause has probably been cured by the ventilation etc. So clean the mould and it will not reappear. You also say it's not getting worse, which confirms this theory

* if the cause is something else (eg a leaking cistern, or penetrating damp), and is ongoing, then it will get worse, and if cleaned, it will reappear. In that case, a letter to the landlord explaining and asking for further investigation. If that is refused, then get Environmental Health to make an assessment - they can force the LL to take action.

* Repairing Obligations: the law, common misconceptions, reporting/enforcing, retaliatory eviction & the new tenant protection (2015)