renting a house problem - please help!

[e-rider]

CCers to the rescue (again)

The story. I have been renting a house for the last 4 months. When we moved in there was a lot of damp mould on the wall in one room - the letting agent said that the roof had leaked during a storm but it had been fixed and would all be sorted before we moved in, which we believed! Moved in all looked fine.

Last week, just thought I'd have a look behind the cupboard to check the wall that had been damp before - what I found was a huge mouldy mess, and as I looked a t more things I found more destruction. The back of the bed, drawers and cupboard were all green, everything under the bed was green.....

I then checked my son's room and that was even worse. Huge mold growths on the walls behind his bed and cupboard... All his things were mouldy.

So, most of the time we have been living there has been the summer until recently. We have never had mould issues before and the fact that the wall was covered in mould when we viewed the house assures me that this is not our fault at all.

My questions:

1. The damage to our things is now probably about £1000 - who pays for this?
2. The cost of moving house (removals, agents fees etc) would be about £1000 - I'm guessing we have to pay that?
3. We have over 2 months left on the tenancy contract - could we break it and leave early without a penalty fee? We want to get out ASAP!

 

[tiermat]

Speak to Shelter: http://england.shelter.org.uk/

They have people who can give you the full low down on what you can and must do in your situation.

 

[postman]

Are you in work.If so have a word with your Union Rep.they SHOULD direct you to some help.I got help from the GMB.give it a try,this is why you pay subs,it's not always about working conditions.They have put all your family at risk.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Yikes. I do hope you can get rehoused pretty darn quick @e-rider

 

[Markymark]

CAB should help. Document everything and speak to the letting agent too.

 

[Globalti]

Do you like the place? If so, why not get the landlord to supply you with a dehumidifier and contribute to the cost of running it? If I was a landlord with a problem flat and good tenants came along I'd be happy to do that in order to keep them.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I'd echo Mark's suggestion: talk to your local CAB. There are also council inspectors who can visit and serve the landlord notice if it isn't fit for human habitation, but CAB is the easiest one-stop shop.

 

[screenman]

In the mean time get some ventilation going, windows open etc.

 

[e-rider]

Do you like the place? If so, why not get the landlord to supply you with a dehumidifier and contribute to the cost of running it? If I was a landlord with a problem flat and good tenants came along I'd be happy to do that in order to keep them.

this would be a good result once the place is cleaned up - however, if the roof is leaking would a dehumidifier really help much?

 

[Archie_tect]

Depends where the damp/ water is getting in and why... may also be severe condensation which if on a cold north-facing wall will be permanently saturated so will make a bad situation worse with time... need to get it checked by someone who can islolate the source of the problem not the effects. CAB will be able to help sourcing a surveyor, or you could just get a damp specialist in [not Rentokil, a proper one].

How come you didn't notice the smell, the mould and algae growing particularly if all your son'e stuff has ben getting progressively more mouldy?

 

[screenman]

I like the Rentokil bit.

 

[ianrauk]

Perhaps @Brains can give you some advice.

 

[ufkacbln]

Have you or the kids developed Asthma, sufered chest infections, shortness of breath or other lung problem related to mould?

May be worth having a word with the GP

Would certainly help with any claims and give a valid reason for moving out early

 

[summerdays]

I've no idea on the legal side. A dehumidifier would help in the meantime to make it more liveable, many years ago I lived in a place where everything including clothes went mouldy. Try to move the furniture away from the walls, and leave space under the bed etc. The air outside is often less humid than inside so open the windows every morning for a bit to get some fresh air in. Don't dry clothes inside the house and after a shower or bath open the bathroom window whilst leaving the bathroom door open.

Our current house is more humid than our previous house, so we occasional use a dehumidifier, especially if I'm cooking generating lots of steam that condenses on our single glazed windows.

 

[Globalti]

I have no idea of the history or structure of the building but the current vogue, especially in the cheaply refurbished for rent world, is to block up as many openings as possible so as to prevent drafts and heat loss. Now if the house is old, say Victorian, every room would have had a fireplace and since coal was cheap, a fire burning with a skivvy running up and down stairs all day with buckets of coal. Those fires or even just a kitchen range and living room fire would have sucked massive volumes of damp air up the flue, bringing in fresh air from outside while warming the structure of the house. In an old, poorly-insulated building if you prevent that exchange of air the damp air inside will drop its moisture in the form of condensation on cold surfaces, especially in areas with little air movement behind beds and cupboards.