Would this be acceptable to you or should I leave it?

[Rhubarb]

We are paying £600pcm for a house. Despite having double glazing it does have a problem with condensation. I've been using a bleach based cleaner and every week I go round the windows cleaning them.

dd's room has always had a funny smell and I've noticed mould on the wall before. At the weekend I decided to investigate further and found the wall behind her bookcase thick with mould, as well as behind her wardrobe. It was the same story in ds's room, right behind his bed and bookcase the same thick black mould.

I'm worried about them breathing this stuff in but also worried about the cleaning products because when I've finished their rooms stink of bleach.

I told the letting agents as neither wall was near the window where I would expect the mould to be. They have sent in reply a letter telling us how to avoid condensation, including a recommendation that we keep our heating on at a low temp all the time.

Now I don't really think that I should be mopping all this up every week, or exposing my kids to this, or having to pay extra to have the heating on all the time. So is this their problem or is it just one of those things I'll have to put up with?

I don't know whether to make a bigger stink about it or leave it. I know condensation is a problem, but whose problem is it, theirs or mine?

[ladycornyofsilke]

I would think it is their problem. Have they damp proofed the house adequately?

[ShannaraTiger]

We have the same problem. Ours is a ground floor council flat and the council cam e and put an air brick in each bedroom. The walls now only need bleaching about once amonth but the heating is lods higher. It is their problem though.

[Iklboo]

I think they sent you a 'lacknowledgement'letter.
TBH - I would not be happy with their reply - especially leaving the heating on all day. The cost could be astronomical.
I would ask that they send someone (an expert, not a bloke from the office) round to look ar say you will call someone in and send the invoice to them.

(we have a great landlord though). I hope you get it sorted soon

[ben5]

i would try there idea for a month and see how it goes and if no improvment i would contact them again and get them to do something about it

[oldraver]

If the mould is on a different wall to the windows and where condensation collects I would say there is another problem. Insist they come out to inspect it, they will try fobbing you off if they can

I'm trying to rack my brain as to what is gentler to remove mould but cant think, maybe ask on a 'green' board

[Wizzska]

Sounds like the outside need re-rendering. We had that problem in a house we rented as students -all the walls on one side of the house were black. The landlord had to get the outside re-rendered as it was coming in through the brickwork. I think they re-did the mortar and then painted the outside. It is a big job but it sounds like it is necessary.

[castlesintheair]

We had a similar problem in our rented housed when we first moved here 2 years ago. I had the same 'advice' from the letting agents. I had a newborn at the time so rang the council and a guy from environmental health came round and did a full investigation. He then wrote to the letting agents. Next thing I knew, 2 builders turned up to fix the outside wall near to the chimney stack that was full of holes and letting rain into the brickwork and building up behind the plaster, hence the damp.

We also have double glazing and still have condensation. This is apparently because it should have ventilation holes. I can't be bothered to pursue this one, but you might want to?

[Rhubarb]

Well their letter, that also includes info about condensation copied from somewhere, does go on about lack of ventilation and I think the reason we don't have mould patches in our room is because it's friggin' draughty! But we simply cannot afford the heating on all the time, we try not to have it on at all if we can help it, we're really struggling atm. So that's not an option for us.

I do leave dd's window open during the night, which I hate doing in this cold weather.

The letting agents are a bit arsey. These are the ones who told me off about putting the kids pictures on their walls with blu-tack - I should get a noticeboard if I didn't want a bill to repaint the walls.

[hannahsaunt]

Twiga and her dh renting in Brighton have had a similar problem with awful mould - try searching under her name through Nov/Dec 08 and you should find the thread. They went through Environmental Health at the council who (IIRC) were v helpful and the landlord got on board too. HTH

[Polgara2]

Well I definitely wouldn't be happy with that attitude from them. Insist they send someone round or go to the evironmental health guys at the council as someone suggested. It is not a healthy environment for your children or you for that matter. You are paying rent fgs it's not like they are letting you live there for free!

[GenerationX]

Depending on the type of mould - it can be very bad for you and can cause all sorts is lung/chest issues - do not let them put this on your shoulders, they need to get this sorted. Mould can be toxic.

I don't mean to be dramatic, but that would really worry me espically as it is in you DC's rooms

[Rhubarb]

Ok thanks, I'll give them a ring and ask to get it checked out.

I just wanted to know how common a problem it was and if they'll just tell me that it's part and parcel of my 'maintenance' of the house, to prevent mould caused by condensation.