Is this mould or condensation? *photo*

[1second]

Torn between condensation built up & penetrating damp (from google.) I’m no expert!

It's mould. Condensation isn't black

Definitely mould and pretty bad at that.

Mould

Thank you! I did think so, but of course my landlady is claiming it’s condensation & I'm not looking after the property properly. 🙄 she’s a peach.

It is mould probably caused by condensation though

Condensation. Especially as it’s round a closed vent.

Of course it's mould!

Open that vent up - that'll help.

Condensation does not have to be your fault. I would speak to Env Health if I were you.

The vent won’t open!

I have only been in the property for 5 months & the walls were freshly painted when I moved in. This is behind the bed so I couldn’t see it until I could smell something dodgy & started routing around... 🤢

Another vote for mould that looks like it was caused by condensation- is the wall really cold to the touch (I.e. poorly insulated?). The room might need extra heat/ventilation to keep it dry.

If it's behind the bed and the vent doesn't open, then it's not going to improve. You need to clean it with bleach, get the vent open and move the bed away from the wall so some warmth from the radiator can get to the wall.
You could ask your landlord to buy a small dehumidifier if the vent does not open.

Yes very cold room, there is a bad draft coming from the vent even though it’s jammed closed.

Can you move your bed to somewhere else in the room? You've probably accidentally created an area with zero air flow on a wall which is prone to condensation.

Do you dry clothed or anything in your room? If so can you do that anywhere else instead to minimise the moisture in there?

Get the vent replaced with a working one and open it.

Buy some Cillit Bang Black Mould Remover. Don't dry washing on radiators, open windows when you can and don't have the bed tight against the wall.

I have cleaned with bleach but it has stained the wall. I will get some mould cleaner tomorrow. The room is going to be absolutely freezing with the vent open as it’s cold enough with it closed, but I’ll get landlady on it (hopefully.) would it be my, or her responsibility to buy a dehumidifier?

The whole property has been a shit show since the start tbh. The boiler didn’t work when we moved in & had to wait ages for it as hot water ran through the emersion so I wasn’t priority. Cost a fortune to heat water & no heating.

The toilet took me 2 hours to clean with vinegar and baking soda to get the stains out 🤢

There’s a missing floorboard in the lounge that has been carpeted over!! So just walking over a saggy bit of carpet... my god.

Back door is leaking water through the bottom when it rains onto carpet.

I’m in temporary accommodation through the council so unfortunately I had no choice but to take this property.

can you photograpgh the other side of the wall... the outside airbrick or vent? I think it may be catching or holding rain. Might be a problem with a downpipe.

It's a rather odd place for a vent. Is it in a chimneybreast? Is there a fireplace or gas fire in the room?

I will try & get a photo tomorrow @piglet. No chimney, fireplace or gas fire, no. I thought it was odd too! Maybe the room was prone to damp & this was installed? Thanks for your help.

HG mould remover from Amazon is amazing. Just spray on and leave for a bit then wipe down. Cillit Bang is crap. Get your landlord to get a dehumidifier (a decent sized one, not a small cheap one) and leave doors and windows open regularly

If it is a room that was once a kitchen it might have been a vent for a "ventilated food cupboard"

This used to be a requirement, in the days before fridges became ubiquitous, so you had a cool place to keep stuff fairly fresh. Tended to apply to smaller homes that did not have a pantry.

Is it an external wall? If so it will be cooler there this time of year and it will be condensation.

Cleaning with bleach is the best thing. Ask LL to provide a vent that opens effectively.

Then move furniture away from the exterior wall. Allow air to circulate.

Damp and condensation are not the same thing. Condensation is lifestyle related.

How are you drying your clothes? Open windows after showering and cooking etc.

HG Mould Remover is in B&Q too