AT this time of year, damp and mould problems can go through the roof.
Wetter weather, lower temperatures and windows closed against the cold leave houses more at risk.
Around a quarter of renters have damp or mould in their homes, according to charity Shelter.
This week, Mel Hunter looks at the issue, how you can avoid it – and what to do if you see it spreading in your home.
THERE have been unprecedented volumes of complaints about damp and mould, according to Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway.
His service helps resolve disputes between landlords and tenants, mostly those living in social housing.
It received more than 6,000 complaints relating to damp and mould last year compared with over 3,100 two years earlier.
Richard says: “Historically, the issue has not been taken seriously and we have seen residents fobbed off without the landlord addressing the root causes.”
Whether you rent or own your home, as soon as you get any inkling of damp or mould you need to address it before it turns into a much bigger – and more expensive – problem.
Damp and mould may be caused by a number of different factors. The main culprit is condensation caused by cooking, showering and drying clothes indoors without adequate ventilation.
It’s made worse by a poorly maintained, cold house – and mould will spread if not treated. Where there is gappy insulation, mould-causing condensation will be drawn to the chilly, damp surface.
Richard adds: “If the landlord doesn’t take steps to address damp and mould in a timely way, the resident should raise a formal complaint with the Housing Ombudsman. It free and impartial.”
BY keeping your windows open a crack – and open wider when showering – you stand a better chance of avoiding mould, says Heidi Phillips, an expert in deep-cleaning homes.
She adds: “If you’re in a windowless room or cooking, run the extractor fans.”
Heidi, owner of Tergo Specialist Cleaning Services in South Wales, whose biohazard training includes tackling mould, says that the problem can also breed unnoticed behind piles of clutter and in overstuffed wardrobes.
She says: “I often find mould behind furniture, especially if it has been placed against a cold external wall.”
Rising energy costs don’t help, either.
More than 1.7 million households won’t turn on their heating at all this winter, according to price comparison website Uswitch – double last year’s figure of 972,000.
Not heating your home enough can add to problems. Nicholas Donnithorne, UK technical services manager at Rentokil Property Care, says: “If you can, keep your house heated to between 18C and 20C, as recommended by the World Health Organisation.
“It’s harder with the cost of energy – people shut the windows to keep any heat inside but then they lose the ventilation that is vital to let water vapour out.”
He advises opening a trickle vent or small window, even when cold outside.
“If condensation forms on windows, wipe them down to stop mould from forming and spreading, then dry your clothes outside or somewhere airy.”
IF you have a small patch of mould on wallpaper, behind furniture or in a wardrobe, you may be able to tackle it yourself for just a few pounds.
Firstly, ventilate the room and keep pets and children away. Then grab some rubber gloves and a face mask.
For a patch on wallpaper, Heidi advises: “Take any affected wallpaper off and bag it up securely.
“Then use a product that penetrates down to the roots of the mould spores.”
Heidi recommends HG or Kilrock mould remover. She adds: “Follow the instructions on the packaging.
“Afterwards, dispose of everything that may have come into contact with the spores in a sealed bag and change and wash your clothes.”
Clean away any marks left by the mould, adds Nicholas, so that you can spot if it comes back.
“Think about where it is occurring and whether that might be linked to spots in your house that are excessively cold, which is where condensation will be automatically attracted. But above all, think of ventilation.
“Are you opening windows and using extractor fans to give condensation an escape route?”
It is generally agreed that a patch of damp or mould bigger than half a square metre to a square metre needs tackling by professionals. But this can cost thousands.
Nicholas adds: “If you get to the point where you are ventilating your home and you still can’t control it, then you should be asking for help.”
IF you are renting, and poor maintenance is contributing to a damp or mould problem, then your landlord should act.
Substandard insulation, rotting windows, leaks, rising damp and broken extractor fans fall under your landlord’s responsibilities.
You must keep the property adequately ventilated and heated to minimise condensation.
For social housing, new legislation known as Awaab’s Law is due to come into force requiring landlords to act within a strict timeframe.
It follows the death in 2020 of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, from Rochdale, from a respiratory condition caused by extensive mould in his rented flat.
Campaigners hope measures for privately rented properties will come in with the Renters’ Rights Bill, currently going through parliament.
Jenny Lamb, from Shelter, says: “If you have a damp problem, report it to your landlord in writing, along with how long it has been going on.
“If no action is taken, contact your local authority, and they can carry out an environmental health inspection.”
But while many good landlords will act, some will unfortunately use a Section 21 “no fault” eviction order instead of carrying out repairs.
Jenny explains: “A tenant could find themselves in a scary position just for asserting their rights.”
The Government says Section 21 orders will be scrapped in the new Renters’ Rights Bill.
MUM-OF-THREE Jodie Moore faced a section 21 no-fault eviction earlier this year when she complained about mould and other problems to her landlady.
The 44-year-old, from Epping, Essex, who has three daughters aged 24, 16 and nine, says: “It was a nice three-bedroom 1930s house, but there was damp and black mould in all the bedrooms and bathroom.
“The windows were very old, with bits missing and the mastic around them had black mould.
“Last winter my youngest daughter developed seasonal asthma which the damp and mould contributed to.”
Jodie, a domestic abuse adviser, kept asking her landlady to take action, but nothing was done.
In April this year Jodie was served with a Section 21 order, but her local council believed it would be unenforceable as her landlady had not carried out the necessary repairs.
Her landlady did eventually drop the eviction, but Jodie was still forced out when her rent was put up from £1,525 a month to £1,800.
Jodie says: “I was living hand to mouth and felt totally powerless. It was my home with my three daughters, but I had no choice but to move.”
A ‘much-loved’ grandson who died after a horror crash on a Scots road has been pictured for the first time.
Johnny Baxter, 22, from Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-car smash on the A760 near Largs on Tuesday.
The smash involved Mr Baxter’s silver Honda Civic and a white Mercedes B class.
His family has asked for privacy and released the following statement.
They said: “Jonny will be missed by everyone who knew him.
“He was a much loved son, brother and grandson.”
The passenger of the Honda, also a 22-year-old man, was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
The 63-year-old male driver of the Mercedes was conveyed to University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock for assessment.
Sergeant Brian Simpson said: “Our thoughts continue to be with the family of Mr Baxter at what is a very difficult time for them.
“Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and we are asking anyone who can assist with our investigation and has not already spoken to officers to please get in touch.”
KATIE Price says she has had so many facelifts that passport scanners no longer recognise her.
The TV personality, 46, finds it a problem when travelling to places like Turkey, where she has had several surgeries.
She told a podcast: “I don’t know what I look like, even the passport machine don’t recognise me at the minute.
“If I look, do you know what, when they put the passport it was done so many years ago.
“I’ve had about two facelift things since then and I don’t even look like it.
“And so now, travelling to Turkey, you’ve got all these machines now that you have to do and I’m terrible with technology.
“I’m the one pushing the buttons but I blame the machine.
“It’s not doing what I want it to.”
Katie started modelling in 1996 and has had a long list of surgeries, including work on her lips, teeth, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and nose.
In August, the bankrupt model asked for another delay in her £760,000 tax bill case, saying it would help her mental wellbeing.
The insolvency hearing was told she skipped several appearances including one in July to visit Turkey for a £10,000 facelift.
She faces a possible public hearing on her unpaid tax in February.
FORMER Man United star Mason Greenwood is to become a dad again.
He is expecting a second child in the new year with his partner Harriet Robson.
The couple welcomed their daughter Summer in July last year.
Greenwood, 23, signed a five-year deal with Marseille in July after the French club agreed a £26million fee with Manchester United.
The forward had spent the previous season on loan at Spanish side Getafe.
Old Trafford bosses decided he had to leave following his arrest in January 2022.
Greenwood was later charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour but the prosecution was dropped when witnesses withdrew their evidence.
A source said yesterday: “Mason has done a lot of growing up in the last couple of years, especially since he has become a father.
“He and Harriet are enjoying life out of the intense spotlight that comes with being a United player and is much more settled off the pitch, which means he can concentrate on his football.”
Greenwood scored ten goals in 36 games at Getafe and was named player of the season.
Since moving to France on a £70,000-a-week deal, he has netted five times, attracting interest from Barcelona.
Before the move he was being watched by Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and at least two Premier League clubs.
Greenwood scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for United.
To celebrate Summer’s first birthday, Harriet posted a video montage of him with his daughter.
He was approached for comment.
A FORMER Scottish Cup-winning club is set for a 15-point deduction.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle will receive the deduction after the club entered into administration.
The club was in talks with potential investors DA Capital, but talks ended “amicably”.
It has been confirmed that administrators will be appointed early next week.
However, the club has claimed that there is a “plan in place” in order to continue trading.
A statement read: “The Directors have signed a Notice of Intention to appoint Administrators to be filed at the Court.
“We envisage that the proposed Administrators will be appointed on Monday or Tuesday.
“A plan is in place to allow the club to continue to trade whilst efforts to secure a long-term future are explored.”
Inverness is currently playing in the Scottish League One having been relegated from the Championship last season.
The club won the Scottish Cup in 2015 and was in the Europa League as recently that the following season.
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The team was placed into the second qualifying round but could not get past Romanian side FC Astra Giurgiu.
Inverness is currently managed by Premier League legend Duncan Ferguson.
The former Everton star was named the manager back in September 2023.
He landed the role after he left Forest Green Rovers, where he won one of his 18 games in charge.
This season has not got off to a promising start as the club currently sits 9th out of ten on just nine points.
Inverness’ only win of the season came back in August as they beat Queen of the South 1-0.
Therefore, the point deduction could lead to a probable relegation from the division to the Scottish League Two.
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