Black mould – cleaning issues?

Reply to the comment left by Porky at 18/11/2022 - 22:20
You need to read the coroner's report but it seems that it was a combination of an ineffective extractor fan in the bathroom, no extractor fan in the kitchen coupled with a lack of response from the landlord to tackle the cause of the problem over an extended period.

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 18/11/2022 - 23:01Well personally as a parent I would have fixed the fans myself and put in a claim to the association for the costs rather than see my child suffer. Easier said than done though if they didn't put 2 and 2 together. However, you see what this case has caused. Many tenants now jumping on the band wagon claiming they have the same problem and clearly they haven't, it's due to their lifestyle in most cases. You even have a comment from one landlord on 118 here who's tenant has referenced this case as a veiled threat.

Reply to the comment left by DP at 18/11/2022 - 12:42
My ex-tenant reported me to Environmental Health for installing passive air vents because she refused to ventilate the flat. Said they caused a draft even though had cowlings. So she sellotaped them up.

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 18/11/2022 - 18:02
In my case Environmental Health stated in writing that I had done all that I could and the problem was purely down to tenant lifestyle AND that I could not tell a tenant how to live their life as would be a breach of their human rights.

I'd like to put a word in for Passyfier vents. These are passive, use no energy, are silent, do not cause drafts. The 4" diameter ones can remove 1.5 litres of water from the rooms air every 24 hours come rain or shine.

In conjunction with humidity extractor fans, (switches locked away), in the kitchen and bathroom these have transformed 2 properties to being mould free, pretty much regardless of what the tenants do.

I was brought up in the 1950s and 1960s - 21 years in a rented house with no bathroom - outside toilet only. We'd view it as a slum property now, and yet my mother kept it spotless. My father painted and decorated it regularly, as did most of our neighbours in their similar houses. We play the blame game too often these days - blame the Housing Officer, the landlord, blame the police, the Social Services, the local School ... anything but look at the problem and ask - how can I fix it myself? It is a simple task to remove mould. Just do it. My son worked for a while as an electrician for a Housing Association. He was often called out to healthy families to change a light bulb... It's the same mentality. We do need some sense when it comes to the landlords' responsibilities. Tenants needs to act responsibly as well - it should be a partnership. Instead we become the whipping boy for what might be viewed as child neglect. A tough comment - but then a little child died, and it makes me angry.

My sentiments as well James. Well said. It appears we are evolving into or breeding a nation of people incapable of taking care of themselves or their family dependents but experts in blaming others.

Reply to the comment left by James Noble at 19/11/2022 - 18:36
Yes, exactly so. In my experience, mould can always be removed by regular cleaning, even in a shower room with very little ventilation.
However, if there is a lot of mould throughout the building the whole building needs to undergo regular cleaning with suitable products (and these products need to be used properly).

Reply to the comment left by Jill Lucas at 18/11/2022 - 14:21
Jill - could you post a copy of what you send out - might be useful to others.

Reply to the comment left by Tim Rogers at 19/11/2022 - 13:23Agree entirely Tim I have installed these and sorted the damp problem completely. Not cheap each vent cost me £250 and needed four in each house so £3,000 total cost for my 3 rental houses. Well worth it though. Also the vents are permanently open no closing sliders so tenants can’t move them shut. And contrary to common conception there is no drought from them. Also there is wire mesh inside to prevent insects crawling into the property.