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Black Mold Private Landlord won't help

(12 Posts)
NANNYLOLLIEPOPZ Wed 01-Jan-25 14:51:54

Happy New Year to all you Beautiful Ladies,
I'm at my wits end and don't know how else to help my oldest son and his disabled Neighbour, he lives in a house share where his room has black Mold in it The Floor boards in the hallway and bathroom are lifting up as well, my son's neighbour has logged in loads of complaints and helped him write some complaints as my son is Dyslexic. He has also gone down to the C.A.B. for help to see what else he can do, and every time the landlord gets an inspection he somehow gets away with it. They somehow renewed his license but no work has been ever be carried out let alone completed, i would just like to say my son can't move in with my Fiancé and i as we live in a small one bedroom housing association bungalow, he has had a falling out with his girlfriend the mother of his daughter and the local council don't care. I would be Truly grateful if anyone could possibly help with any suggestions, many thanks in advance a very worried mum and Nana

Jaxjacky Wed 01-Jan-25 15:18:32

Has he tried his MP?

Lathyrus3 Wed 01-Jan-25 15:54:13

Who inspects the property? Is this a licence issued by the Council?

gentleshores Fri 03-Jan-25 21:45:13

It sounds like he should move somewhere else - a bad landlord is no good and it's very hard to get things like that treated.

Georgesgran Fri 03-Jan-25 21:58:00

I wonder if the disabled neighbour could ‘push’ the situation with Social Services or his medical team, if the mold is affecting his health? Maybe an inspection on his or her health grounds might be more thorough and effective? I’m assuming that your son sees his daughter? The spores could well be detrimental to her health too. Are you sure the property is properly registered as an HMO?

Should things not improve, is there any reason why your son can’t move? It certainly sounds like a situation that isn’t going to change, in the immediate future.

Smileless2012 Fri 03-Jan-25 22:14:49

Do you have copies of all written notifications and/or dates and times of verbal communication about this?

I suggest your son contacts environmental health which doesn't appear to have been done yet as black mould is a recognised health hazard.

As a former residential landlord, it makes me so angry that some landlords are able to get away with this angry.

I hope you can get something sorted.

Cressida Fri 03-Jan-25 22:20:13

Unfortunately landlords tend to blame mould on tenants lifestyle. There may be things he can do to improve conditions in his room.

Maybe try contacting Environmental Health at the council for help.

Lathyrus3 Sat 04-Jan-25 08:55:22

If the OP had come back with a bit more information I could maybe have offered some practical help🙄

civetcat Sat 04-Jan-25 10:42:34

The council's environmental health dept can serve a notice on the landlord to deal with the mould (I used to work in this area). Be specific it's about the mould, say that floors are coming up and mention any vulnerabilities (eg disability and health conditions, especially respiratory ones, which can be exacerbated by mould). If the environmental health aren't helping, they should contact the local councillor

NotSpaghetti Sat 04-Jan-25 10:48:25

I contacted environmental health years ago as civetcat says. They gave the landlord a time frame to treat the mould - treat the single-brick and dry line the room in this case.

If the landlord hadn't done it then they would have carried out the work and put a charge on the house.

They went back to check the work had been done correctly.

Dee1012 Sat 04-Jan-25 11:48:41

I'd suggest speaking to Shelter...they have a free helpline and are very good with advising re' housing issues.

Another option is to take photos etc and then put a formal complaint in to the council, asking why the licence is being renewed, given the various problems that remain unaddressed.

Primrose53 Sat 04-Jan-25 15:50:03

civetcat

The council's environmental health dept can serve a notice on the landlord to deal with the mould (I used to work in this area). Be specific it's about the mould, say that floors are coming up and mention any vulnerabilities (eg disability and health conditions, especially respiratory ones, which can be exacerbated by mould). If the environmental health aren't helping, they should contact the local councillor

I was going to suggest this. A former neighbour rented a property and it was really damp. Clothes in the cupboard had mould on them, as did shoes.

She got the council to come out (even though it was a private rental) and they made the landlady treat the mould and provide a dehumidifier.