Condition of rental

[allnewname]

We're in a 6 month rental... been in 5 weeks, and I can't help feeling that it's making us ill. It feels damp, cold, there is mould around the windows, dark patches around the boiler, the water tastes weird. DH thinks I'm bring neurotic.
I feel we're all a bit wheezy/unwell.
How could I test water quality and/or air quality? Is there a way?
Private rented, through a letting agent.

Do you open the windows every day to let the place air? If it’s just around the windows it’s likely due to condensation. We really don’t air our homes enough in the U.K.
There’s a good explanation of why to do this to prevent mould if you Google relative humidity.
A dehumidifier would help also.

I was going to say the same as @ThrivingOutOfSpite - the mould is often a ventilation issue, especially if you're drying clothes inside, showering etc and not airing the place enough. You could ask the landlord for a dehumidifier, and plug-in heaters if the heating is insufficient. Or sort them yourself if necessary. Everywhere is cold at the moment, assuming you're in the UK, so it's worth heating and airing and seeing if it makes a difference or if it's a bigger issue. There's cleaning products you can get for removing mould in the meantime. Take photos first in case you end up needing to raise it with the landlord.

The water issue sounds unrelated, and maybe not an issue if no one else is having problems with it, but there's advice here: https://www.gov.uk/check-drinking-water-quality

Thank you both , making an effort to ventilate better... see how it goes... maybe I've just an idea in my head and can't unthink it.

You need to open the windows, it's poor ventilation if it's around the windows rather than the house.

As for the water, run it for 5-10 minutes then see.

Definitely look at dehumidifier or at least airing the house regularly to help with the moisture. In terms of the water, in some places the water, whilst 'safe' to drink, doesn't necessarily taste very good - my parents have installed a water filter for drinking water and filling the kettle etc as their water isn't nice to drink in the form it comes out of the tap. You can get filter jugs that also might help with this.

Ex water company bod reporting for duty.

What does the water taste of? Would you describe it as TCP, chlorine or other?
Do you only use the kitchen cold tap as your drinking water? Or others?
Does boiling the water make a difference?
Has a new dishwasher or washing machine been installed recently?
have tap washers been changed recently?
Do the neighbours have the same issue?
Are you pregnant or taking medication?

Air every room daily and always have a dehumidifier running if you are drying clothes.

You can buy water testing strips on Amazon. Might help to put your mind at rest.

@allnewname I’ve finally tracked down the relative humidity info vid which explains really well why we need to ventilate more, even if it feels cold and damp outside.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdBsHapN/

Flag all your concerns to the letting agent who will get in contact with the landlord.

If it was there when you moved in then your landlord should have addressed this before your tenancy commenced.

I’d recommend getting a bottle of Mould & Mildrew Cleaner - you can pick them up from all supermarkets/ Poundland/ B&M for about £2. Temporary solution to remove the mould but it is definitely a landlord issue it seems. I’m guessing you are ventilating the property?

When was the property built? 1930s? 1950s? Is it a ground floor apartment?

Are the dark patches around the boiler damp or mould or something else? Do you have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted? Are any of the walls actually wet?