At my wits end and would really appreciate some advice on my options here. Moved into a small rented cottage with dd aged 10 last spring (May). It's cute but not hugely well maintained or modern, talking original wood floorboards that have deep cracks etc, exposed brick walls, old single glazed windows. Since the winter weather set in its become obvious that there is a real damp problem in the house. There are 2 bedrooms and in dd's room in particular, water can be seen dripping down 2 walls and the walls are wet to touch, plus there's black mould around the window, above her bed and in other corners of the room, as well as in my room (at its worst in a built in closet, and around other windows). It doesn't seem to be so bad downstairs but there is a wood fire in the main room which I have on a lot and I think that keeps it drier. The bathroom has no source of ventilation except for one single glazed window that gets stuck (wood frame) in cold damp weather, and black mould grows there too. I have been very on top of cleaning off the black mould all over the house with a special spray but obviously it's juts a temporary fix, and the mould comes back. A dehumidifier in dd's room hasn't worked. The landlord doesn't want to know and says that I should be ventilating by keeping windows open (eg in the bathroom) and following the damp prevention guidelines I was given when I got moved in, which is basic stuff like heating the house, opening windows when possible, not drying clothes inside, etc. Opening the downstairs back door, which also gets stuck in cold/damp- I keep hurting my hand trying to force these wooden doors/windows open for ventilation but it doesnt even touch the damp and mould. I have had the heating on near constantly since November (my extortionate bills bear this out!) to help the issue but about a hour after it goes off, the house gets very cold due to the brick and the exposed floors and then takes ages to warm up, and the visible damp worsens until I turn the heating back on. In addition a water pipe in the downstairs shoe closet is leaking and has left a damp patch on the wall on the other side! None of these issues were obvious when I moved in. I have never seen water dripping down an inside wall before and I've rented in older properties for years.
What is really upsetting about this is that the landlord insisted I pay my 12 months rent upfront as I had lived abroad for a short time beforehand (I did have a 10 year UK renting history so this was frustrating) and she seems to have no desire to help out in the house because she already has me paid up til this May. I am worried about the effect the mould is having on dd in her room and the fact the house is either cold and damp, or warm and stinks of mould spray/bleach.
The landlord/agent insists this is up to me and even that I am causing the damp. I dont dry clothes or anything inside, I don't cook or anything excessively, I heat the house continuously and use the wood burner, I open the windows and doors when I can.
Any ideas on the way forward- I am desperate! I would move if I could afford it, it's getting that bad.