Mould in new build

[Eumy]

Apologies for the long post, but I’m super stressed and I’m finding it really hard to enjoy our new house.

So. My partner and I bought a new build, and moved in last month. We have a 2 month old baby, and specifically wanted a new build so we wouldn’t need to do any immediate decoration or have any major issues. We’ve had a new build before, which had some minor snags, but nothing to put us off buying another.

Our new one is twice the size of our previous house. In the time since we reserved ours, prices for the same house have increased 15-20k, for a worse plot. The location is amazing, good schools, commute and bus links. The house is well sized for a new build and the layout is exactly what we wanted.

We’ve had a few minor snags, which are mostly cosmetic. And you can tell it was built in a rush with not much care (standard for new builds, and will be covered over once we decorate properly). However what is getting me down (and which we didn’t have in our old new build) is flipping mould growth!! It doesn’t get counted as a snag as the houses need to dry out, and I knew this could be a potential issue, but I assumed the precautions I’d taken were enough!!

We’ve had all the trickle vents open, heating has been on 4hrs a day (20c) despite the cost. We’ve been opening the windows when we can, but it’s been raining. Plus we need to keep the cat in and the baby warm. I thought I’d been careful about keeping things away from walls to let air circulate, but apparently not careful enough!

It’s mostly been on the skirting boards, and has wiped off. I’ve then treated the area with bleach. I’ve ordered a dehumidifier to try and help, and I’ve moved furniture even further away from the walls.

I’m super stressed, and I’m paranoid checking each bit of fluff and mark on the wall. I’m worried about my baby potentially breathing in spores. Is there anything else I can do to prevent mould growth? How long am going to have to check for mould? I’m really starting to regret moving and miss our old house even though it was way too small!!

Ooops. I meant 20-30k increase. It was 15-20k, but the latest release of houses was even higher!

It's all about ventilation. You actually need more than trickle vents open.

I'd buy a couple of dehumidifiers and run them for as long as you can, one upstairs and one downstairs.

Even if you open all of the windows upstairs for a 20 minute blast it will bring down the moisture in the building. I'd do that 2-3 times a day. And repeat downstairs. If you need to get some screen fabric up to keep the cat in, do it. And wrap the baby up.

But, are you sure this is normal? I'd want someone to come and check everything is as it should be.

Mould in a new house is not normal! I would be on the developers for this, yes you need to ventilate a home but it should not be mouldy, particularly after a month if living there.

This is absolutely not normal! I’ve had 2 new builds and I’ve never even heard of this being an issue. I never had windows open or moved furniture away from walls in my new houses - this sounds bizarre.
I would be complaining and insisting that whatever is causing this is sorted out immediately particularly with a baby. If the developer won’t help I’d consult your solicitor.

Another one who has previously had 2 new build (and lived in 4!) and is saying that this is not normal. I think you need to press them to investigate further, perhaps something that should have been done during the build hasn't been etc.

NHBC guidance here on moisture in new homes - www.nhbc.co.uk/binaries/content/assets/nhbc/homeowners/moving-in/running-in-your-new-home.pdf

Go back to the builder - this is far from normal. He is saying it does not come under snagging, but I would press your case.

Just seconding what people are saying - we live in a new build and aside from condensation causing slight mould around the windows (which was solved by opening all the trickle vents) we definitely don't have any kind of damp or moisture in ours. I think definitely have it looked at asap before it gets any worse

Thank you for the advice everyone. I’ve been super stressed about it, and thinking we were doing something wrong.

I’ve contacted the site manager again about it. Windows are all open and baby is wrapped up, my dehumidifier has arrived so is currently set up and working. Is there anything else I can do while trying to get the developer to look at the issue?

What would the solicitor do if I needed to escalate the problem?

Yea that doesn't sound normal :( You haven't painted the walls or anything have you?

Also lived in a new build and didn't get any mould problems apart from a cupboard under the stairs, but that was our own fault as we left the door closed with no ventilation and the cardboard boxes in there went mouldy!

Are you drying washing indoors?

That's an odd place to have mould tbh. You're sure it's not dust that's gone a bit mildewy?

Just to say that bleach bleaches mould ie turns it pale. It doesn’t kill mould. You need soapy water, a sponge and vinegar groceries.asda.com/product/wine-cider-vinegar/asda-white-wine-vinegar/1000000442927.

Scrub the mould off with the soapy water and then slosh well with the vinegar. Only after that will you know how bad your problem is.

OP.

Take photos of the mould, preferably dated.
I would be tempted to let some of it "breed" a few days so it shows what would be happening if you weren't bleaching/using dehumidifiers.

Send it to the site manager.

If you get no joy, consider going to the local press.

We have been in our newbuild 9-weeks with no damp, condensation or mould issues whatsoever.
The developer is very clear on what you have to do but we are old hands at this so knew all the tricklevents need to be open , use extractor fans, vent etc etc.

We have two dehumidifiers but haven't used them since we moved here.

We moved into our 'rushjob' new build (had been delayed by a month and we needed to be in asap) as soon as the builders moved out. We never had a problem with mould.

Forgot to add.
Depending on the weather when the house was built it is possible that there is an excessive amount of moisture in the structure but I would be surprised if that was forming the mould.

@TheSandgroper

Just to say that bleach bleaches mould ie turns it pale. It doesn’t kill mould. You need soapy water, a sponge and vinegar groceries.asda.com/product/wine-cider-vinegar/asda-white-wine-vinegar/1000000442927.

Scrub the mould off with the soapy water and then slosh well with the vinegar. Only after that will you know how bad your problem is.

I’d heard that about Bleach - I’ve only been using it as I don’t have anything else to use in the house. I’m going to pick up some specific mould killing stuff this afternoon.

I’ve not painted the walls, and we’ve had only two pods of washing dry indoors - I’ve been avoiding it as much as possible.

I’ve taken some pictures, to keep a track, it’s just a nightmare trying to scrub everything while looking after a baby.

The site manager has said if it’s ‘excessive’ they will remove the plaster and redecorate. I’m currently pushing to say that I already feel that mould in most rooms of the house is excessive!

Don't have the windows open at the same time the dehumidifier is running. Do one or the other.

Definitely not normal and, as you say, potentially harmful to you and baby.

I have seen building sites where a lot of boarding was still exposed during terrible weather, meaning a LOT of water must have been soaking in to the exposed structure. This may be what has happened to yours - though it could be soemthing else too. In Sweden there are laws against this happening on building sites but not so in slap-dash UK unfortunately.

AS well as trickle vents you should ahbve extract fans in bathrooms and kitches,. Somtime they are teh sort that go on wtih the light switch then run for 15 mins or so, sometimes they run continuously. Very often thyey are too small and weak to do the job they are meant to. TBH the ones that automatically turn off can never move enough air.

Can you work out what sort you have and check they a re at least running a bit? You may be able to turn them up.

Also have as good a look as you can to make sure water is not getting in where it shouldn't be - next time it rains, check for leaking, blocked, or detached gutters/downpipes, try to check roof for slipped tiles, etc.

In your situation I would be contacting the builder again, and asking them to supply me with dehumidifiers and also pay for extra heating to run most of the time, to attempt to dry the building out. And obviously say you are prepared to take it further. Keep at them regularly, basically, it costs money for them to respond each time, so make it easier for them to fix your problem than just to fob you off every week for the forseeable future.

There might be a facebook group for people who have bought from the same developer as sadly problems such as this are not unheard of.

Condensation is nearly always about lifestyle and how you occupy a property

Trickle vents are useless, they dont let enough air in. We have our windows open all year round.

Yes, any mould in a new home, frankly, is excessive.

Normally new builds are dry as a bone and almost need some moisture adding to the air to make living in them more comfortable.

Have you had any checks done? I’d want to be sure there were no issues with drains or leaks anywhere.

Is it in just one room or multiple rooms throughout the house? Are the effected areas all on one side of the property or anything?

I have had two new builds and we've never so much as had condensation on the inside of windows, except in the bathroom after a shower. I would be concerned in your case that (unless you're drying a lot of washing inside or something) theres an underlying issue with ventilation or a leak somewhere.

Definitely take photos, can you post any here?

Vinegar is what you need as the pp suggested not bleach.

So we’ve found it in multiple rooms, but small amounts. The worst was in the lounge on an internal wall.

Also to clarify I don’t have the dehumidifier on and the windows open!

We have the sort of vents that are on all the time, and when turned on they go into boost mode. They’re really weedy though, so whenever we shower we open the window.

Our solicitor did all the usual checks, but we haven’t had anything else done. Honestly I didn’t think there would be anything this major! I mean no one expects their house to be mouldy??

As an update we’ve pushed and they sent a cleaner round to remove what was growing. They mentioned offhand that they’d been to this property before to clean the mould before we moved in! He checked some rarely used cupboards in the kitchen as he said it was in there previously, and behold there was mould in it!

What the hell do we do? The house had a previous mould issue that clearly wasn’t resolved! Who do we get to come check for deeper issues? A plumber? Surveyor? Damp specialist?