Hi, I live in a council owned property in West Cumbria. I have several issues with the house and garden that i'm trying to get the council to sort, but they don't seem to want to help. The biggest problem is damp.
It's a semi-detached house, built from reinforced concrete. The end wall seems to be absorbing moisture, in that the kitchen cupboards on that wall have that horrible damp, musty smell, which will not go away, even when cleaned with bleach. There is black mould growing on the wall in the cupboard that used to be a coalstore (next to the kitchen). The Master bedroom is also affected. There is black mould growing at the base of the wall, the wallpaper is bubbling, and starting to peel. There is black mould growing on the window frame (which isn't on the same wall), even though we have the vents open all the time, and have the window open as much as possible. The bathroom is just as bad. We have a brand new extractor fan that the council fitted, that adjusts itself according to the level of moisture in the room. Normally it speeds up when the shower is in use, although in the last couple of days, it has stayed at almost full speed constantly - even with the window left open. The loft is also damp. We have been told that the roof is due to be replaced, although we were told this nearly a year ago. Oh, the kitchen and the bathroom have "vents" in the wall (namely, a big hole with a plaster vent screen).
In a couple of places on the exterior, the render has been patched, and sounds hollow when tapped. This is low level, about where the kitchen cupboards are. I think that's about it.
We have called the council out several times about this problem. They fitted new extractors in the kitchen and bathroom, and also fitted an Enviro-vent upstairs "to draw clean air from the loft and circulate it through the house. That will get rid of the mould upstairs". Wrong. It draws cold, damp air from the loft, and makes the whole house smell. We have even been told that "it's because of the gable end, and there is nothing that can be done". So why do our neighbours not have the problem? One representative even came out and stated that he couldn't find a problem at all! Not even a smell of damp. This despite not being able to use one of the cupboards because of the smell!
Both myself and my wife suffer from Asthma, which has deteriorated since we moved here. We have lived in the house for 10 months, and the problem has got worse and worse, yet the council (Home Housing) refuse to do anything about it. Is there anything that I can do? I'm fed up of making telephone calls and sending emails for nothing to be done.
I'd appreciate any advice that can be offered.
It's a semi-detached house, built from reinforced concrete. The end wall seems to be absorbing moisture, in that the kitchen cupboards on that wall have that horrible damp, musty smell, which will not go away, even when cleaned with bleach. There is black mould growing on the wall in the cupboard that used to be a coalstore (next to the kitchen). The Master bedroom is also affected. There is black mould growing at the base of the wall, the wallpaper is bubbling, and starting to peel. There is black mould growing on the window frame (which isn't on the same wall), even though we have the vents open all the time, and have the window open as much as possible. The bathroom is just as bad. We have a brand new extractor fan that the council fitted, that adjusts itself according to the level of moisture in the room. Normally it speeds up when the shower is in use, although in the last couple of days, it has stayed at almost full speed constantly - even with the window left open. The loft is also damp. We have been told that the roof is due to be replaced, although we were told this nearly a year ago. Oh, the kitchen and the bathroom have "vents" in the wall (namely, a big hole with a plaster vent screen).
In a couple of places on the exterior, the render has been patched, and sounds hollow when tapped. This is low level, about where the kitchen cupboards are. I think that's about it.
We have called the council out several times about this problem. They fitted new extractors in the kitchen and bathroom, and also fitted an Enviro-vent upstairs "to draw clean air from the loft and circulate it through the house. That will get rid of the mould upstairs". Wrong. It draws cold, damp air from the loft, and makes the whole house smell. We have even been told that "it's because of the gable end, and there is nothing that can be done". So why do our neighbours not have the problem? One representative even came out and stated that he couldn't find a problem at all! Not even a smell of damp. This despite not being able to use one of the cupboards because of the smell!
Both myself and my wife suffer from Asthma, which has deteriorated since we moved here. We have lived in the house for 10 months, and the problem has got worse and worse, yet the council (Home Housing) refuse to do anything about it. Is there anything that I can do? I'm fed up of making telephone calls and sending emails for nothing to be done.
I'd appreciate any advice that can be offered.
