Some kind of mold on walls of house

[LiaSofia]

I had no idea where to put this because it's so unrelated to any other topic on this forum but I guess it comes under health.

Basically there's mold everywhere on the walls of my house. It's been there since I moved in and I can't remove it by cleaning the walls. It's a blackish colour. Is it dangerous and how do I get rid of it?

[helot]

Does it look like this?

http://www.interior-design-it-yourself.com/images/damp_and_black_mold_3.jpg

We call that mould damp in E. Yorkshire.



Yes, if you have damp and mould you are more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.

Who is affected?

Some people are more sensitive than others, including:

babies and children
elderly people
those with existing skin problems, such as eczema
those with respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma
those with a weakened immune system

These people should stay away from damp and mould.
How does it affect your health?

Moulds produce allergens (substances that can cause an allergic reaction), irritants and, sometimes, toxic substances. Inhaling or touching mould spores may cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rash. Moulds can also cause asthma attacks.
Causes of damp and mould

Mould and damp are caused by excess moisture. Moisture in buildings is most commonly caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors or rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames. If your home is newly-built it may be damp because the water used when it was built is still drying out, for example, in the plaster on the walls. Excess moisture indoors can also be caused by condensation.

If you have mould or damp it is important to find out why you have excess moisture in your home. When you know the cause of your damp you can make sure your home is repaired or take steps to limit moisture in the air. If you have mould you may need to get a professional to remove it for you. If you have only a small amount of mould you may be able to remove it yourself. Read more in How do I get rid of damp and mould?
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/Can-damp-and-mould-affect-my-health.aspx?CategoryID=87&


You need to get it sorted out. Are you renting?

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

You should be able to use bleach to remove individual instances of it but if it's really all over the place you're probably beyond the point where you can do more than a superficial cleanup on your own. The insides of your walls could be packed with it. Black mold is definitely a health concern, do you have kids?

[LiaSofia]

I'm pretty sure that's what it is! I used bleach but it wasn't very effective and it came back not long after. No kids so that's not a problem.

The whole place is a mess - it needs rewiring and there's some kind of electrical fault, there are no carpets because of a flood, there's a radiator that's falling off the wall, both cold taps in the bathroom and kitchen sinks don't turn on, the temperature dial on the oven is broken so the heat can't be changed, the boiler sometimes just stops, there is a fridge but no freezer because the door thing fell off. Until a couple of weeks ago there was also a gas leak that I didn't know about but thankfully that's sorted out now.

I don't have the money to fix these problems, but I don't know whether I qualify for any kind of assistance? The other flats in the block are council properties so I assume the council would be responsible for maintaining them, but this particular flat was bought by my grandfather who is renting it to me. When I brought it up he said that these things aren't his problem and threatened to evict me. I doubt he's legally able to do that but it's a concern.

Thanks for the information helot.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

If this was caused by flood damage that was never cleaned up properly then you probably have a big problem on your hands. Since you're renting I would either pursue some kind of legal action to force your grandfather to fix it (it is his problem if he owns the property, regardless of what he thinks) or find somewhere else to live. Black mold isn't something you can live with as if it were just an inconvenience like a broken boiler or radiator, don't wait to address this it will only get worse.

[helot]

Ethics gradient is right, it is his concern as he is the landlord. It's his legal responsibility.

Tbh, if you want to sustain a good relationship with your granddad you're going to have to move. He sounds like a slumlord and i think it's heartbreaking that he acts this way to his own family.

Other than that you've got a few options: legal action, shaming him within your family and other direct actions.

I'd suggest first of all to take extensive photos.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Yo fuck that, report that to your landlord immediately and stay some place else. This is no joke. Black mold is serious and can kill you.

I've had a couple outbreaks of this stuff with the various places I've lived and it sucks and nearly impossible to get rid of, tbh.

[ACME_MAN]

Mold can cause a myriad of health problems and is not to be taken lightly. A number of good websites out there on the subject.