Can I make landlord clean-out black mould on walls?

[firefly]

Hi, I am about to be evicted from my current property and thought I found a lovely bungalow with no deposit to pay etc so I accepted and gave the LL the first months rent cheque (which has cleared).

On further inspection of the property there is 2 quite large areas of black mold. One in the bedroom along the bottom of one of the walls which looks as though its been scraped off and a large patch over the shower which looks a little fuzzy (so I dont think they have touched this at all). There are a few little areas in the lounge but it looks quite old.

Also the guy that lived there has left cuboards, drawers, the garage and shed filled with junk that has to be moved! The garage is unusable as there is a 3 piece suite in there (not usable!) and basically left all his kids toys, nail varnish, clothes, brushes and toliet brushes!! eww

There is ALOT of cleaning to be done before I can consider moving in and the whole place desperately needs painting. The main bedroom door wont close as it wasnt hung properly .... !

Im just so upset, I have read that black mold is toxic potentially lethal and I dont think I should have to clear his house out for him!! (He was meant to have done this yesterday when I got the keys).

The LL is not property owner but a friend of his and I am a single mum with a young daughter so although I dont want to make trouble so soon I feel I have been taken for a ride and dont want to put myself or my daughter in danger due to the mold.

I felt we were very lucky as I have to leave my current place and didnt have anywhere to go but never realised the extent to which this new place needed care.

Please please can someone advise me on the black mold and if I should insist on him clearing out garage etc as they left all their cr*p lying around everywhere!

The tenancy starts from Monday.

Thanks in advance, sorry its so long just wanted you to see the whole picture!

[mind the gap]

[QUOTE=firefly;112186]On further inspection of the property there is 2 quite large areas of black mold. One in the bedroom along the bottom of one of the walls which looks as though its been scraped off and a large patch over the shower which looks a little fuzzy (so I dont think they have touched this at all). There are a few little areas in the lounge but it looks quite old.
Im just so upset, I have read that black mold is toxic potentially lethal and I dont think I should have to clear his house out for him!! (He was meant to have done this yesterday when I got the keys).


Don't panic - the mould will have been caused by condensation/inadequate ventilation of the property over a period of time and can be elimated and prevented, with a few basic measures. Read this link :

http://www.esecure.co.uk/newbiokilsh...0Treatment.pdf

There are other products on the market- you don't have to use theirs. Having eradicated the existing mould, it's important to keep the house heated and ventilated in winter, avoid drying clothes indoors (use a tumble drier ventilated to the outside, or a rotary drier in garden). Mould (of different types) is relatively common problem in houses where no-one has opened the windows in months. Having a good extractor fan fitted in the bathroom (near bath or shower), and kitchen (above cooker, ideally) will make a big difference.

Also the guy that lived there has left cuboards, drawers, the garage and shed filled with junk that has to be moved! The garage is unusable as there is a 3 piece suite in there (not usable!) and basically left all his kids toys, nail varnish, clothes, brushes and toliet brushes!! eww

There is ALOT of cleaning to be done before I can consider moving in and the whole place desperately needs painting. The main bedroom door wont close as it wasnt hung properly .... !
Please please can someone advise me on the black mold and if I should insist on him clearing out garage etc as they left all their cr*p lying around everywhere!

The tenancy starts from Monday.

I think you need to contact the LL and ask whether he has plans (a) to decorate and clean and (b) remove his possessions or not (assuming it says in the Tenancy Contract that you have the right to use the garage?) Take it from there. If you like the house enough, it may be worth compromising over these things in the short term, to stay on good terms with your LL. He should do them - they are his responsibility - and may well be willing to, if asked. The mould is the priority and he should pay for that - write to, or phone him explaining what needs doing and ask him to pay. The Environmental Health Officer can compel him to, if necessary, but it's worth just asking him, first!
If you are willing to do the cleaning yourself (or even the decorating) he may be willing to pay you to do it.Hope this helps.

[firefly]

Hi thanks for replying, I will bring it up but Im afraid that although what I am asking for is reasonable, he may just think Im being awkward.

The mould bothers me the most as I have read online that it can be very dangerous and even fatal and we are both asthma sufferers.

The LL is a friend of the guy who owns the property and he has left to go live abroad already, he was the guy that was supposed to have cleared it out before he left but also the LL inspected the property and didnt say anything.

What worries me is that I am on my own (with various health issues) and a young daughter, he told me I have a garage which I was pleased about but as I said nothing can be put in there let alone a car as 2 old sofas are in there with alot of baby toys etc... I spent all this morning there and have 12 bin bags full of old broken toys, make up and xmas cards, school reports etc and Im nowhere half way through yet! Its so daunting and theres no way I can move in by Monday ... I feel I should be given my 1st rent money back until the place is ready to move in but do you think I am being unreasonable asking him to rectify these things first??

Sorry I know I have repeated myself but still cannot get over the things that need doing!

[mind the gap]

Originally Posted by firefly

Hi thanks for replying, I will bring it up but Im afraid that although what I am asking for is reasonable, he may just think Im being awkward.

The mould bothers me the most as I have read online that it can be very dangerous and even fatal and we are both asthma sufferers.

The LL is a friend of the guy who owns the property and he has left to go live abroad already, he was the guy that was supposed to have cleared it out before he left but also the LL inspected the property and didnt say anything.

What worries me is that I am on my own (with various health issues) and a young daughter, he told me I have a garage which I was pleased about but as I said nothing can be put in there let alone a car as 2 old sofas are in there with alot of baby toys etc... I spent all this morning there and have 12 bin bags full of old broken toys, make up and xmas cards, school reports etc and Im nowhere half way through yet! Its so daunting and theres no way I can move in by Monday ... I feel I should be given my 1st rent money back until the place is ready to move in but do you think I am being unreasonable asking him to rectify these things first??

Sorry I know I have repeated myself but still cannot get over the things that need doing!

Yes, I think it is a reasonable request. Strictly speaking the owner of the property is your LL (unless he has transferred this duty by law to someone else, e.g if he is incapable, etc). Otherwise the friend of the owner is his agent.

I point this out because it is the LL's (ie the owner's) responsibility to ensure the property is safe and complies with minimum requirements in terms of heating, water supply, electrical and gas safety etc. You have a choice:

1 clean and clear the house yourself, or
2 ring the LL or agent, politely explain your grievances and ask for them to be put right. You sould ask for a schedule showing when the work will be done. Ask if it's OK to get the mould treated as a matter of urgency because of the potential risk to your health and your daughter's.

If LL fails to respond to your request, get a quote for the mould treatment and advise him using a Letter Before Action that you intend to instruct a tradesperson to do it and that you will deduct cost from rent. Then inform the EHO at your council.

[firefly]

Thank you very much for your advice. I will contact him and see what happens!

[Rodent1]

Be careful that you have agreement to dispose of owners possessions as this could backfire on you if he suddenly wants them back!

Get agreement in writing.

You said in 1st post
"(He was meant to have done this yesterday when I got the keys)."
Do you mean sort all problems ? if so have you got this in writing ?

I do not think you are being at all unreasonable in your requests.
Local council will prob remove sofas for you and "agent" should arrange for all other problems to be sorted asap .....

I would be pleasan but firm about this and indicate your time spent on the task already, If a t approached me with ths problem i would not consider it "awkward" at all.

But then i'm a perfect LL!!! ha ha

The Rodent

[mind the gap]

Originally Posted by Rodent1

But then i'm a perfect LL!!! ha ha The Rodent

Rodent, that makes three things I have discovered we have in common (much against my better judgement)!

[Bel]

Its great that you dont have to pay a deposit because if things dont improve, you will not be worrying about losing the deposit if you feel you need to make a quick getaway.

I think you need to ask these questions at the beginning of the tenancy; they seem reasonable to me; its the way you do it that is important..use tact at the outset. If at all possible do not resort to EHO as this is bound to drive a wedge between you and LL. It really would be a last resort.

If the rent is market price then the LL should try harder, but if the rent is cheap, then I would probably just get on with it myself.

Otherwise get out the mould killer spray and be merciless until you have beaten it into submission.

Make sure you keep the shower room well ventilated after use (to the outside, not into the rest of the house) and keep furniture away from the wall so that air can circulate. It may be that there was furniture against the wall that allowed condensation to sit and grow mould

[Rodent1]

Originally Posted by mind the gap

Rodent, that makes three things I have discovered we have in common (much against my better judgement)!

Eh !
Did i miss the first 2 ?

The Rodent

[mind the gap]

Originally Posted by Bel

Its great that you dont have to pay a deposit because if things dont improve, you will not be worrying about losing the deposit if you feel you need to make a quick getaway.

I think you need to ask these questions at the beginning of the tenancy; they seem reasonable to me; its the way you do it that is important..use tact at the outset. If at all possible do not resort to EHO as this is bound to drive a wedge between you and LL. It really would be a last resort.

Otherwise get out the mould killer spray and be merciless until you have beaten it into submission.

Make sure you keep the shower room well ventilated after use (to the outside, not into the rest of the house) and keep furniture away from the wall so that air can circulate. It may be that there was furniture against the wall that allowed condensation to sit and grow mould

Bel, OP has paid a month's rent in advance and I assume she has signed a tenancy agreement, or will have by Monday, so I don't think she will be in a position to make 'a quick getaway' - she will be bound by the terms of the AST, won't she?

Also, if she and daughter are asthmatic, perhaps it's best if she doesn't so the spraying herself?