Mould should housing pay for beds

[Askingforafriend101]

Hi.
Albu to expect my housing association to pay for replacement beds mattress etc?

My home has penetrative raising damp in 2 rooms downstairs and has damp from room in all 3 bedrooms on one side of house.
The mould spread everywhere and you can wipe down but it's back with a vengeance few days later.

I've had housing out few times to wipe and put on special paint but it xomes back.

My little ones room is worst its all over clothes toys etc... there is no where safe from it

The smell is horrendous 2x children on ventolin and eye drops for itchy eyes (I think it's mould related)

They coming Friday to sort out by wiping and putting new uv paint on and sort guttering and roof but Said I need to get rid of the bed and mattress and wardrobe as mould is soacked.into mdf and will keep returning.

I asked if they going to replace as they already taken 2 carpets and wallpaper strips leaving me to sort which I havent been able to... they said no it's not their responsibility.
I have kids living in something you see on comic relief night!.
I can't get credit or loan etc. How should I go forward as I really don't think they should just be saying get rid

I’m so sorry OP for this rubbish time you’re having - it’s soul destroying having to clean and clean and clean and it comes back.

I would try calling Shelter charity, they can help with writing the official emails/ letters you need to send to get them to pay attention to you.

I lived in a rented property with black mould on the walls and ceiling - it dropped on my face while I was asleep. I made my hands raw with bleach. For 10 months the LL said it was ‘lifestyle’ inflicted but when the builder finally got sent round to investigate there was a hole in the roof the size of a dustbin lid and water was coming in through that. No amount of heating the house made any difference because we were paying to pump warmth out into the sky all winter.

Sending tons of hugs, I know how awful it is to see all your belongings go mouldy it’s horrible

Just another thought-would it be worth trying to get some air tight plastic boxes to keep your belongings in, in the meantime?

As pp have said, it's vital you keep all communication in writing; get support from health visitor (if applicable) and GP; contact housing liaison, ombudsman, Shelter and any other local organisations that can advocate for you (including any legal aid or advocacy services you have locally); email all your local councillors and MP and local opposition candidates, highlighting your children's health. the recent deaths there have been due to mould. I'd contact local newspapers also.

Due to the recent deaths caused by mould, there's been some slight shift in attitudes and landlords are under pressure not to harm their tenants any longer, but you still have to fight for it, unfortunately.

The HA should have a tenants guide to damp and mould, have they sent you it? Also, log a complaint. HA have to follow very strict guidelines for complaints so that might get things moving. Social media might also be your friend here as they would hate the exposure.

I’m so sorry you are not getting what you need from your HA landlord op.

if they know the extent of the issue and are not taking it seriously enough to assess the route cause you should make a complaint. They are responsible for ensuring your home is a safe place to live.

Escalate your complaint if you do not get a response that deals with sorting the root cause and in a reasonable timeframe. It is not ok for you to be left to identify the problem or resolve the matter, the landlord has to identify and be clear on the root cause.

The gov document linked previously is helpful and so can invoking your Councillor/MP/Shelter any advocate to help focus the landlord on its responsibility and the impact on your family.

If complaints don’t resolve you it after that you can go to the housing ombudsman and they will look at the landlord’s actions and can order action from the landlord and order the landlord to pay compensation if things have not been handled well and there has been impact on you and your family.

Start with the complaint,(explain the impact, what their response has been so far, and how long it has been going on)none of these options are quick fixes unfortunately but your landlord may respond well to the complaint, good practice is a response in 10 days.

Good luck - I hope your landlord steps up and I’m sorry they haven’t done so for you already.

You might be able to get legal aid (very limited) see CAB link here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/repairs-in-rented-housing/repairs-what-are-your-options-if-you-are-a-social-housing-tenant/taking-court-action-because-your-landlord-wont-make-repairs/

When legal aid was easier to get I worked at a housing advice centre and took multiple disrepair claims against landlords - and won. Your landlord needs to be addressing the root cause and compensating you.

But have you used a dehumidifier to suck the moisture from the windows/walls? If not you need to get one.

Fix My Block has template letters you can use to complain: https://fixmyblock.org/making-a-complaint-about-conditions-in-your-flat-or-block-including-condensation-mould-damp/

complain to your HA and if they don’t take meaningful steps to address the problem, take it to the housing ombudsman:
https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/

The no win no fee guys will take a big percentage of any damages you’re awarded and take ages, so I would avoid.

If you’re eligible for legal aid it could be worth contacting a law centre:

https://www.lawcentres.org.uk/i-am-looking-for-advice

But disrepair is only in scope of legal aid if there is serious risk to your health and you can prove that so whatever you do, get some medical evidence of how this is impacting your kids.

Solidarity - no one should have to live like this. It’s shameful that we’ve allowed landlords to get away with this neglect.

This is a housing association not a private LL.

@caringcarer Housing associations are landlords.

Agreed.

That definitely looks like mold caused by not letting the house 'breathe' - windows need opened every day (for as long as you can bear), heated adequately, minimal drying of wet washing indoors (outside, tumble drier, dehumidifier), furniture not right against wall, dehumidify frequently.

Make a complaint keep escalating until your at tye stage to go to the housing ombudsman.
Last thing HA want.

Trying cleaning with Milton too, that helps keep it at bay but until the actual issue is sorted the will just keep painting over it

I'm an EHO. I wish people would stop spouting crap that occupants are always responsible for mould. Even without structural defects a home should be able to vent naturally, I.e. not having to have windows open all the time.
Anyway OP you need to complain in writing to the HA following their complaints procedure..

I lived in a house with rising damp, oddly enough no amount of heating, or opening of windows prevents mould growth when the downstairs of your home is essentially a pond.

It's not spouting crap to point out the lifestyles can sometimes be responsible for certain types of damp though, because it's factually accurate. The damp in the pictures looks exactly like the damp caused by poor ventilation, and there are solutions to that which both the landlord (eg ventilation fans) and tenant (eg not drying wet washing indoors) are responsible for. Of course other types of damp need to be ruled out/dealt with and that is the landlord's responsibility.

This

Of course there are different types of damp and different causes, OPs pics do look like the damp associated with poor ventilation though.

I hope your situation is better now.

I'm also horrified you are living like this. Mould can affect health too

The OP has confirmed they have both rising and penetrating damp.

I moved as our landlord refused to sort the rising damp, apparently the rising damp was caused from the steam released when cooking, no the drains flooding the garden well above the damp course membrane.

Mine is a council property but they replaced my carpet and bed due to mould. Only a few years ago.

OP has stated 'penetrative raising damp', not sure who has surveyed her house and confirmed this, but she definitely needs to chase up with LA and get a definitive actual diagnosis, chase them regarding any structural issues, and also do all she can in the meantime to minimise additional damp from poor ventilation.

I don't know any names but if you Google no win no fee companies for damp and mould they may be able to help you get compensation.
Our daughter did this and the council were out within weeks and really sorted everything out. Not just paint. They replaced guttering, loft insulation, bathroom etc. No harm in trying. She received an offer, rejected it and was then given enough to recarpet, bed, bedding and curtains in the granddaughters room.

They should replace it but doubt they will. We have mould growing on furniture on our outer walls. Might be worth moving all furniture away from walls if possible for now

We have issues with rising damp and mould. Our floor boards in the front room are rotting and breaking. When we called the council out they tried to lay the blame on us, poor ventilation etc even though we run 2 dehumidifiers every day.

They sent a surveyor round. We have rising damp due to no air bricks, no insulation and multiple other things. The house is over 100 years old so not surprised but it pissed me off they were quick to blame us.

I'd second that this doesn't look like any rising damp I've seen; and sadly I've seen a fair amount. This looks like mould. You can't fix mould by cleaning it off and repainting - even the paints themselves will say they are mould resistant, but you need to have fixed the cause. You're not doing that.

If it's rising damp, you need to know where it's rising from and treat that. If it's a HA house, it's not likely to be old enough to have foundational issues.

If it's ventilation-related, which I'd put money that this is, you need to find a way to increase airflow and ventilation. You also need to properly dry out the walls before you add any more paint or buy any more soft furnishings. I have known this to take months; so it's not as quick as blasting the heating for a day. If you don't treat it properly, it WILL be back.

Also, what type of building are you in? The reason I ask is because if you are in a block of flats/semi/terrace ask your neighbours. That will give a good indication if it is the building or just your home.