AIBU? For thinking we should leave our house immediately?

Report the mould to the Landlord at their registered office and recorded delivery ASP. Obtain a pro forma letter from Shelter.

Under Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 LAndlords are legally responsible for keeping their properties in good repair.

Failure by the Landlord to act promptly and ignoring repair requests means a housing disrepair claim, thousands in compensation and court order to carry out urgent work.

https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/centre-for-learning/key-topics/damp-and-mould/

Get out asap! & report the landlord!! england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/damp_and_mould_in_rented_homes

Mold is a huge health problem, especially for young children. Get out of the house as soon as possible. Leave everything or you will just be carrying mold with you. Pack clothing and toys in heavy plastic bags and wash at a laundromat. Hot water. Bleach. Mold has to be cleaned so it doesn't come back. Look to move away asap from the mold environment itself.

I live in a very dry climate (SoCal) and our mold laws are stringent because of the health hazard. Whatever the rent is, it's not worth yours or your children's health. Black mold is very bad. Here, when mold is discovered they put up containment fields and then eradicate it so that it doesn't spread. They tear out walls and cupboards to eradixate it. They wear full hazmat suits, fully masked and gloved, top of the line breathing apparatus and have air scrubbers. You have nothing and you are exposing yourself and your children. Get out.

Some of the effects of mold are asthma, allergic reactions, cognitive issues, mental health issues, changes to the immune system and cancer. This is a flyer: www.niehs.nih.gov/sites/default/files/mold-and-your-health_print_508.pdf

Look for any government or any social service agency or organization that can guide you to housing assistance to remove yourself and family from an unsafe home as soon as possible. Don't wait. Read up on mold.

Is this photo on the ground floor? Could it be riding damp?

Mold always has a cause. The two mains ones are:

1. Penetrating damp (common in older properties)

If you do leave make sure you have pictures OP.

We are in private. Feel like we are stuck between a rock and a hard place and the landlord knows it.

Oh that’s annoying we are in private.

LEAVE NOW!!!

I grew up in a house with mould and it ruined my lungs and caused life long immune issues.

Get out of that house now.

Do you have anywhere else you can stay?

This is very very serious.

@TeaAndTattoos are you social housing or not? That changed v recently

the change in the law doesn’t apply to private properties only social. If you have a social housing landlord they should be doing something asap. If it’s private your only recourse is environmental health

When did the law changed because the mould in my toilet is worse than OP’s the cause was an leak in the upstairs flats bathroom the ceiling fell down 3 years ago the walls are thick with mould and there are mushrooms growing round the window none of the lights in the toilet work. The maintenance man was sent in 3 years ago to fix the ceiling and he looked at said he would come back and put a board over it I’m still waiting for him to come back. I gave up asking the landlord about it because he doesn’t care. He finally sorted out a new bathroom for the people upstairs because theirs had been leaking for 10 years and their floor had turned to mush lucky they didn’t fall through the ceiling. I knew when they were taking a shower because the water would piss through the ceiling. I don’t want to rock the boat with the landlord because we can’t afford to move but we are trying to get the money together to move.

That's serious damp and if your child has a cough then you are already seeing the negative effects on their health. I wouldn't risk staying there at all. It's a serious health risk so you're definitely not being unreasonable.

@Betty0009 what did the LL say? What are they doing about it?

You can leave but still need to pay.

If it's nothing to do with lifestyle (house is ventilated and heating on) and the LL is doing nothing then call environmental health immediately. They will make the LL sort it out. The LL will have to pay for you to stay elsewhere if drastic work is needed or agree to end your tenancy.

Are you using a dehumidifier?

Opening windows isn't going to fix that. Your landlord needs to and it's most likely not going to worth your energy to get them to as this clearly isn't a new issue. Have you been looking for somewhere new? I don't think your cottage is habitable.

You need to report this to the landlord. They will have reasonable time to deal with the issue. If you have reported and landlord is not doing anything go to environmental health at your local council

I'm sorry you are in this position.

That amount of mould in a house with young children would scare the hell out of me and I would be moving out if at all possible.

It's a health issue and I was very moved by what happened to the little boy in Manchester who died from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould in his home. A worse case of mould than in your house but still ... I would be handing in my notice asap.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-63635721

Doesn’t apply to private rented properties

It's going to get worse over winter - I'd not want a baby in that environment due to link between mould and respiratory issues. More likely to get infections. Not good.

You need to inform the landlord so they can get a damp and mould survey completed. There is a reason why you have to tell the landlord.

Mould is not inevitable in a damp house.

I would get out - especially with baby’s health to consider.

I have really long showers, sometimes up to an hour as I have chronic pain. The only mould I get is tiny little spots on the ceiling which I can spray and they disappear. The amount of mould on OPs house isn't normal.

The water/damp is coming from somewhere. Do you dry washing outside? have long showers or baths with lots of steam?

Sounds like it needs the roof checked and all the gutters and drains checked.

Old houses can be a challenge at times and they need to be kept on top of.

I don't think you are unreasonable for not wanting to live somewhere with such a bad mould problem. I think you need to speak to the EA or landlord about it first and foremost and inform them its worse etc. Hopefully you have done that though.