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Housekeeping

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Original poster

At my wits end with mould !!

73 replies

inthedarkx · 08/01/2023 22:21

I live in a council house which I have done for 10 years!! Every winter since I move in is the same the walls all upstairs get covered in mould!! I opens windows use my heating use dehumidifiers but it comes back fast every week after spraying with mould spray
Council know it needs major work but they skirt around it doing still little things that they know can get them through another winter without paying too much snd they manage to fob me off through summer till next winter!! It's so bad this winter !
I'll post a video of just my bathroom but all rooms are like This even downstairs along shirting boards in the kitchen it's mouldy! I think it needs a major damp proof course but council don't want to spend money.
I have a disrepair solicitor coming out tomorrow and hoping they can take my case on im so so depressed and low over this I'm ashamed of my house and I'm in no financial position to move and council won't move me ! I've got to get rid of loads more of my toddlers clothes and two more wardrobes this week. I can't afford this !!!

At my wits end with mould !!
At my wits end with mould !!
At my wits end with mould !!
OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Original poster
inthedarkx · 08/01/2023 22:22

This is only past week since I sprayed it!!

At my wits end with mould !!
At my wits end with mould !!
At my wits end with mould !!
OP posts:
NoNameNowAgain · 08/01/2023 22:29

Have you tried your elected councillors? Your MP, Shelter, CAB?
It’s just not acceptable. Good luck with the solicitor. What is your plan there?

Original poster
inthedarkx · 08/01/2023 22:50

@NoNameNowAgain thanks for your reply

The local councillor never responded to my emails about this!! I am feeling so low and depressed and trapped
Everything is mouldy abs house stinks of mould my chest feels raw!!
I guess with the solicitor I'll get some validation that this isn't my fault and it will push the council to do something about this!! I just wish k could leave this house right now

OP posts:
ChocChipOwl · 08/01/2023 23:05

You need to really dig deep on this I'm afraid. Don't give up!

A small child died last year due to living in mouldy conditions. I'd be reminding your council of this. I would also email your local MP again - really stress how it's taking it's toll and include photos.

Tweet photos to the council or your MP. Share your story on social media - would your local newspaper pick this up?

Look, the squeaky wheel gets the oil so you need to really go to town on this.

It's an absolute disgrace

ChocChipOwl · 08/01/2023 23:06

Oh and make an appointment with the doctor. Get that on record. Mould is very detrimental to health.

Original poster
inthedarkx · 08/01/2023 23:28

This is my 6 year old son and 3 year old daughters room. It's come back after a week and a half I've had to leave it so I can show the solicitor but even after spraying it comes back! I have so much anxiety over this !

At my wits end with mould !!
At my wits end with mould !!
At my wits end with mould !!
OP posts:
Northby · 08/01/2023 23:50

Go to the press with your pictures. That’s so bad for you and your children’s health. It’s got to be fixed asap. Like PP said dig deep and don’t give up

NoNameNowAgain · 09/01/2023 06:59

All move into a tent in the garden and get the press in. I think it would be healthier. You did say it was a house. I’m assuming there’s some garden?

NoNameNowAgain · 09/01/2023 07:08

As a protest. It’s not very practical I know. Have you tried your MP as well as the councillor?
I agree about tweeting and getting publicity.

Workinghardeveryday · 09/01/2023 07:11

Local press for sure!!!

purplecheesecat · 09/01/2023 07:14

OP this is disgraceful; you can’t live like this. Make a doctor’s appointment to record that you’re living in these conditions and show these photos at the appointment. Harass the council, post the photos on Facebook/Twitter, contact your local newspaper and try to get them to run this story. You deserve a safe standard of living!

CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 09/01/2023 07:18

That's bad!
Definitely throw everything at it in complaints including articles on the poor little boy who died. The only saving grace is that it isn't private rented so when you lean on them you won't get issued with a revenge eviction order.
Good luck with your solicitor appointment.

Oblomov22 · 09/01/2023 07:21

Email again. Follow up every email, with a follow up email. To mp. "I didn't get a response to my last email so I'm emailing again to show it's got worse".
Email council again. Ask for it to be escalated. Ask for the name of the person dealing with your case.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 09/01/2023 07:29

Tell the disrepair solicitor that it is making you unwell and ask them to include an injury claim.

WolverineBlueyy · 09/01/2023 07:36

Keep on to the council. They should be on high alert trying to resolve situations like this at the moment, and avoid bad press around it. If they are really not taking it more seriously in light of what happened to Awaab Ishak then do not hesitate to press forward with your solicitor. I hope it is sorted for you soon.

IwtHs · 09/01/2023 07:43

How horrible for you and your dc!

I would see the doctor to check on all of your health.

Is it possible you could visit the council in person? I'd probably refuse to leave until something was sorted.

LLFoolJ · 09/01/2023 09:16

Oh OP, this is awful. It's definitely not a problem that you can resolve through housekeeping, it needs sorting by a professional. Can you contact your local newspaper with pictures? I know my local one has been investigating the state of some of the local mouldy council houses in my city.

LLFoolJ · 09/01/2023 09:17

I meant to add, please don't feel ashamed. It sounds like you are doing all you can and it's not your fault.

WhenIAmOldIShallWearPurple · 09/01/2023 09:23

If you are on Twitter check out @ KwajoHousing. He has been campaigning for months on this issue and has shamed some councils into action.

BooseysMom · 09/01/2023 09:25

I have lived in lots of flats / houses that had mould issues painted over by the landlords, so didn't make an appearance until the weather turned wet and cold. None of the places have been as bad as that op. You need to act fast as you've proved spraying it doesn't work... do it quickly for yours and your dcs health..Good luck x

Lilgamesh2 · 09/01/2023 09:31

Are your children experiencing breathing issues o/ asthma or eczema? If there's any hint of that, you need to tell the council very clearly that the mold is making them extremely sick.

roarfeckingroarr · 09/01/2023 09:33

Jesus OP that's awful. Your poor kids.

I agree with all suggestions. MP, council, local press.

For MP/councillors go with "further to my email of xxx, to which I haven't received a response, in writing to ask for assistance as this is getting worse. I have young children... their health... my health..."

Snowflake2 · 12/01/2023 03:26

Have you contacted Environmental Health? As you're in social housing you can enforce your legal rights to get this dealt with. In private rented they'd just evict you choose not to renew your contract.

I'd pick whichever room in the home is least affected and make that the DC bedroom/playroom. Don't worry if it's supposed to be the living room or whatever. I'd also go out as much as possible. Being in that house is not going to be doing any of your health any good.

To stop losing posessions, buy Really Useful Boxes (that's what they're called) which seems almost airtight to me and keep food/clothes etc in there. If you're losing wooden furniture, replace it with metal or plastic shelving units from IKEA or something. There's few things that can't be kept on shelves. Sofas you can get free or cheap from second hand sites, get a new one regularly if you can, they'll quickly become full of mould. Buy plastic covers for your mattresses (maybe too late for the current ones), two for each bed so you can cover the mattress completely both sides. Use blankets instead of duvets, the latter will quickly go mouldy in that environment. Get new pillows and put them in a strong binbag, tape it shut then put the pillow cover on.

I'm sure your already doing all the correct housekeeping advice for avoiding mould. This isn't your fault, the property has a serious problem. There's a lack of social housing in general and if the whole block/street has the same problems and essentially needs to be demolished or completely renovated without tenants living there, the work will never be done because there's nowhere to move the tenants to. But if you make enough noise they might move just your family.

Original poster
inthedarkx · 12/01/2023 16:11

Im Honestly so depressed! I signed all the paper work with the solicitor and they've just emailed me saying they can't take on my case! So now I'm trapped with no where to turn 🥹

OP posts:
BammBamm · 12/01/2023 16:22

Have you made a formal complaint to your housing provider? They should have a complaints policy which will explain how to complain and the different stages. If not fully resolved once this is exhausted, contact the Housing Ombudsman. This is a key area of focus right now following the death of Awaab Ishak. Hope it gets resolved for you OP!