Mold help!

[coffeeandbooks]

We've been living in our rented flat for nearly a year now and have had some issues with quite visible and large amounts of black mold (inside a certain cabinet, walls and windowsills). We are able to wipe it off usually with an antibacterial wipe but how can we make sure it doesn't come back? I'm getting sick from it I think with constant sore throats and fatigue. Landlord won't do anything.

I'm actually calling the GP on Monday about getting a mold toxicity blood test done to see if that shows anything that may help our case with the landlord.

We have dehumidifiers in every room.

Thanks

@Stealthynamechange oh gosh I'm sorry you've had a similar experience! No way can we pay £250 I'm glad things have improved for you though!

@coffeeandbooks
They will spread the bill. They’ll calculate your usual annual total and divide that by 12, to come up with steady monthly payment. That’s what we have done everywhere we live. It doesn’t cost any fees.

@WalkingOnStarshine Good point- ours are all single glazed too apart from the bedroom

@PlanDeRaccordement Thank you so much, I didn't know that (I'm 21 😅)

@Oblomov20 It is isn't it I'm very house proud too and always keep it clean and tidy even though we have a messy spaniel!

@PlanDeRaccordement 😱😱 about the floors being taken! That's outrageous

We have been documenting everything vigilantly and updating the landlord- no way will the buggar take our deposit! 🤣

Ah yes it is one of the things no one thinks to tell you...I’m pretty sure I’ve not told my own 20-somethings DCs.

Do try that Polycell 3 in 1 mould killer. I use it because it kills the mildew and has a fungicide that prevents regrowth for a few months. It is only thing that has really worked. All the bleach based mould sprays do nothing. But, it is strong, wear a mask and have a window open a bit when you are spraying it. Keep pets and children out the room. Once you’re at the wiping stage it’s safe...just only when spraying it do you have to be careful.

I know you shouldn't have to fork out on a dehumidifier but I did (I rent) and its life changing. The amount of water it sucks out is unreal.

We had this in our old flat. The mini water absorbing dehumidifiers did nothing to help, except cost a few quid every few weeks. We bought a dehumidifier from argos for £70 and would put it on during the day in our mot problematic room and our damp / mould pretty much stopped growing completely, so instead of cleaning it every month or few months, it was an annual thing during winter. Ours was caused by damp behind built in wardrobes, so nothing we could do longterm to fix it without the landlord doing major work in our bedroom.

I know you shouldn't have to pay, but buy it and see if the landlord would reimburse you for it. It made such a difference for us, and we've moved now and took it with us to use it next to our indoor airer now, to dry our washing. They last years and are a good investment!

You said the flat is really cold. Does it have a proper EPC certificate, it should have had one before yoru tenancy started with a rating of E as a minimum. This has been a legal requirement for all rented property for a year or so,

If it doesn't, or you don't know, you should be able to find it here using just your address.

find-energy-certificate.digital.communities.gov.uk/

Whether it has one or not you could contact your councils Environmental Health team, they could fine your landlord as well as force him to upgrade the heating etc.

@CuriousaboutSamphire I already investigated that- it's E and scores low on most things. Thinking of contacting local authority.

If it’s as bad as you say, and it’s a basement flat, it could be rising damp and the damp proof course needs replacing. You can get a monitor to check the water/moisture levels in the walls quite cheaply.

Honestly op dehunidifier is best investment, its mine & will come with me when i move. It's great to dry the washing & has made a massive difference to my home. Really do wish I'd done it sooner!

Contact the environmental health department at your local council.

Look outside and check if things like downpipes
& drains are working properly. Check air bricks haven't been covered over. You/your landlord needs to sort out the root cause not just sort out the resulting mould.

I also rented an apartment a while ago and there was mold. To be honest, it worried me a lot, and I even talked with the landlord that it would be better to turn to specialists for mold remediation services. Unfortunately, he didn't go along with me because he didn't want to spend money on it. In general, then I immediately began to look for a new apartment, because my health is more important to me.

Gas heating is always cheaper than electric heating.

A proper dehumidifier is the only way to go - it will make the flat warmer too, as dry air is easier to heat than moist air.