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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

This isn't a aibu personally but are they (housing related)

73 replies

roseannaleeXo · 04/02/2018 16:40

Didn't really know what category to put this in it's not really a ME Aibu more the other party in this.... anyways to the point!

Under housing association through the council in "temporary accommodation" as they say.
We have been here for a good while, every since we have moved in mould started growing everywhere, I have horrendous pictures but it is some how our faultHmm that it is happened. I have complained three times to the HA the first response/blame was it is our fault for drying washing in our home etc
The second we was told to put our heating on it is electric heater/radiators no gas here! And to open the windows at the same time... are they mad ?
The third was oh we can paint it for you thy come round to look I said no because of children fumes etc to much hassle so we done our selfs. But it has come back yet again, all our stuff gets ruined my sofa has mould over it from the walls, our bedroom is the worst it goes from the bottom of the wal slanting upwards behind our chest of drawers clothes inside now all mouldy basically the whole place is mouldy we are in a one bedroom flat with four of us sharing, my little one now has a inhaler only a few months old it is a joke we are constantly ill coughing sick colds all the time, the place is always freezing it's all electric so can't have heating on 24/7 bill would be ridiculous I don't know what to do anymore every time I complain they shun it off with some excuse. In our tenancy before they changed and merged with another HA it never said mould was our problem to sort and since this new company taken over it magically says it is our problem, My other child's bed and mattress is mouldy but it is all our fault. All my furniture and belongings were brand new when we moved in they are ruined now, the other day I changed the beds and our pillows had mould growing on it and people wonder why we are always ill. I am sick of being blamed an shun'd on because there lazy arses can't be bothered to come and sort out THEIR buildings. The windows are constantly wet water comes in from outside they are damp on the ceilings part were the windows are we have people above etc.

Fed right up Angry don't really know what I came here to ask but I am fuming. Has any else had this and if so what did you do?

OP posts:
Tarraleaha · 04/02/2018 17:19

I bought an Ebac dehumidifier, it worked perfectly well, but it was around £200.

HelenaDove · 04/02/2018 17:21

a lot of tenants wouldnt be able to afford that.

theHitcher · 04/02/2018 17:27

If you feel that there is a structural reason that the property is damp, contact environmental health.

Julie8008 · 04/02/2018 17:29

You need a big dehumidifier as others have said. Make sure you open enough windows so your getting an air current going in one window of room and out another. You also yes you do need to heat more as well. And get walls painted with anti mould stuff.

Notevilstepmother · 04/02/2018 17:29

I suspect there is a problem with your tumble drier vent. If the vent gets blocked up then the warm damp air can come inside and being warm it’s the perfect conditions for mould to grow.

Get someone to check your vent if you can’t do it yourself. Where does it go out? Can you tell that the vent is in use or not when the drier is on.

You can probably salvage some of your stuff with dilute Milton (the cheap version is fine) but if you don’t get the vent sorted it’s not going to stop.

VeganCow · 04/02/2018 17:29

can recommend this dehumidifier, it filled up several litres over 3 days when I first got it, now takes a lot longer to fill up:

here

Notevilstepmother · 04/02/2018 17:30

Speak to environmental health not housing in the Council btw.

GetShitDone · 04/02/2018 17:31

Op, you have twice mentioned getting a humidifier - please note you want a DEhumidifier.

Nothing new to add, but hopefully you'll get a better place soon.

Notevilstepmother · 04/02/2018 17:36

You can sometimes get second hand dehumidifiers quite cheap. There’s not a lot to go,wrong with them so if you see it working it should be fine (it should sound like a fridge).

RedCarsGoFaster · 04/02/2018 17:38

Buy mould and mildew spray, from. B&M, Lidl, any supermarket and wash all the walls with that and hot water. Dry them off well afterwards. Do this as often as you need to.

There's no excuse for letting it get to the point of mould on bedding when you can do something about it, even if preventing it isn't easy. Wash all affected bedding etc with Milton or similar to kill off the spores.

Wipe down the windows and sills every morning with a dry towel and wash / dry it as soon as you can afterwards.

Pull furniture out from the wall a few inches where it's getting mouldy, let air circulate.

Yes, heating on and windows open now and again. That's how we do it too! Dry the air out, dry the house out - you do need a dehumidifier.

Close the bathroom door at all times, especially after someone has had a shower - don't let the humid air out into the flat. Use a window wiper or a window vacuum to wipe away or remove water running on the walls.

Does the tumble dryer vent into the house or have you got a vent pipe to the outdoors? Where does the water go when it comes out the machine?

Taking more steps doesn't preclude the HA looking at the problem, but I've never understood why people allow a situation to continue to the point a child is sick.

SingaSong12 · 04/02/2018 17:39

The link below is from Shelter and has information about damp/condensation and the responsiblites of the landlord and the tenant.

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/damp_and_mould_in_rented_homes

Notevilstepmother · 04/02/2018 17:40

Also check under the bath and sink, see if there are any leaking pipes.

Original poster
roseannaleeXo · 04/02/2018 17:45

@RedCarsGoFaster I think what you said is abit off? Making excuses of bedding etc I am a very clean person btw constantly got bleach/ mould cleaner doing the windows etc. It doesn't matter how much I wipe away, bleach, clean up every morning it still happens regardless. I fear it is the building as it is very old was once upon a time a factory of some sort. They knocked these up quick from what it was to house people. It's not like I want my children to be sick all the time I am ill my self most times as they are, the things people have suggested I am doing the best I can, it is very hard living in a one bedroom flat with tiny space. That's why most of the time the windows are open &heating goes on when I can! I'm not overly well off so have to budget everything.

Yes I meant de humidifier was in a rush to right back lol sorry. Having a look now at them online thanks for the suggestions on them much appreciated.

OP posts:
Wauden · 04/02/2018 17:48

The landlord needs to check whether the gutters or down pipes etc are blocked. Has some work been done recently on the building? A botch job?

Whatshallidonowpeople · 04/02/2018 17:50

I have my Windows open all the time. Rent a place privately if it that much of an issue

Original poster
roseannaleeXo · 04/02/2018 17:50

@RedCarsGoFaster Children get sick for all types of reasons? I'm not allowing the Situation to get worse, I am trying to prevent the mould as much as I can, within budget and means. I came here for suggestions on what dehumidifier are best for this situation and have got some, thank you for you suggestions also most of them are what I am doing.

OP posts:
Whatshallidonowpeople · 04/02/2018 17:51

And using bleach is not cleaning, would you wash your hands in bleach?

Original poster
roseannaleeXo · 04/02/2018 17:52

It was a knock up build. Done very quickly to move everyone so partly why it is so bad I do have the windows open a lot as it is only a small space and I can't bear to be all stuffy in here with children washing/drying everything going on at once.

OP posts:
Original poster
roseannaleeXo · 04/02/2018 17:53

@Whatshallidonowpeople oh for goodness sake does it matter? And yes some people do.Hmm so what.. not sure what you clean with then.

don't get your point.

OP posts:
Julie8008 · 04/02/2018 17:55

Having 4 people in a one bed flat is not something can be fixed, you might just have to do the best you can until you can get yourself a more suitable place.

Original poster
roseannaleeXo · 04/02/2018 17:57

Thanks for all the suggestions and dehumidifier links!
Much appreciated.

I am living within my means on a budget so moving not really option right now one day I'm hoping to move in the future but will continue to fight this mould battle everyday! Until then Wink

OP posts:
theSnuffster · 04/02/2018 18:00

We had problems with mould a few years ago- patches in the corners of rooms, behind some of the furniture etc. We were advised to set our thermostat so that the heating is on low all the time, and keep all the windows open (just a little bit) as much as possible. We cleaned all the mould, followed this advice, and it's not been a problem since. Next step was to get a dehumidifier but we haven't needed to. We still dry clothes in the house for most of the year too as we have no other option.

HelenaDove · 04/02/2018 18:02

Something that was originally a factory isnt meant to be lived in and there are too many ppl in a small flat.

None of this is the fault of the tenant.

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 04/02/2018 18:06

I’ve been drying my laundry inside for 12 years. Out of 4 houses the only one that got mould was the former council house built in the 90’s. The two new builds and the 1930’s Council terrace didn’t get mould. I have come to the conclusion that it is poorly built/designed homes that causes the problem. I dry the laundry the same way, all my upstairs windows are opened in the morning and left open until around 4pm in winter, much later in summer, sometimes open all night. The laundry is hung in the airing cupboard and on rails over radiators and the stair banister. In the airing cupboard is a dehumidifier. I have washing daily.

RedCarsGoFaster · 04/02/2018 18:09

Don't use bleach, it's not effective for mould. Mildew spray is about 99p a bottle. I use it in my bathroom.

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