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What Living With Mould Really Does To Your Body

Mould can have major health implications (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

When it comes to renting in London, there are all sorts of red flags to look out for, from a dodgy landlord to structural issues like damp.

Living with mould isn't just unpleasant to look at; it can also pose some serious health implications.

A staggering 85% of Brits have encountered the problem in their homes, and, according to figures from London borough Waltham Forest, more than 160 homes in the area have been impacted by damp and mould, while almost 1,800 other properties are in critical need of repairs.

As such, the Housing Ombudsman has ordered Waltham Forest to pay £18,800 in compensation across three cases brought against it in February.

While 27-year-old Jennifer Ross was living in a flatshare in Tooting, she experienced mould so bad that she had to move out.

She and her flatmates were paying a combined £2,420 in rent per month, and yet the landlord refused to deal with the issue. They moved into the flat in October 2021, but by Christmas they noticed that mould had started to appear through the flat's newly painted ceilings.

Jennifer Ross lived in a mouldy property in Tooting (Picture: Supplied)

They told their landlord about the issue, which had exacerbated as the cold weather crept in, but he didn't not respond. They mopped the ceilings with bleach, but their own efforts failed, and the mould grew back aggressively.

Later on, their landlord agreed to repaint the bathroom, but this did nothing to target the underlying issue that the black mould remained – and was now spreading into other rooms in the flat.

In spring 2022, the back bedroom started to leak during the rain, and the cause of the mould was identified. However, the landlord still failed to act and so, after two years, they decided to move out in October 2023.

New tenants have now moved into the flat and the mould has only worsened, yet they pay an extra £1,000 per month and the landlord is still refusing to help.

The health impacts of living with mould

Living in a mouldy home can pose all kinds of health risks, from respiratory problems to allergic reactions. And if you live with a lung condition like asthma, it can exacerbate symptoms.

'If you have a lung condition, like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), mould can also make your symptoms worse leading to a potentially life-threatening asthma attack or flare up,' Erika Radford, head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, tells Metro.Co.Uk.

'Damp and mould can also increase your risk of other things that can make you lung condition worse, like chest infections, colds and flu.

Jennifer's landlord did nothing about the mould (Picture: Supplied)

'Managing your asthma well is vital, this means taking your preventer medicines every day as prescribed, even if you feel well. And speak to your GP or asthma nurse, or pharmacist about antihistamines and nasal sprays to help you manage allergy symptoms.'

What's more, exposure to mould can actually trigger an allergic reaction, as mould spores produce allergens.

'This can result in an onset or increase in sneezing, runny nose, red eyes or skin rash. This can have an considerable impact on a person's lifestyle, such as sleep problems, and disrupt their quality of life. Allergic reactions can also worsen asthma symptoms,' Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click tells Metro.Co.Uk.

Living with mould can actually impact your sex life, too

Living with mould can creep into the bedroom too – and in an unexpected way, as it can, surprisingly, have an impact on your sex life.

Mould exposure can alter your hormone balance, as excess mould has 'been shown to have oestrogen-like properties' that can throw off hormone levels and lower testosterone, Abbas explains.

'This can have health implications for men because low testosterone levels can cause erectile dysfunction. This can also impact sleep patterns, mood and testicle size, as well as cause loss of armpit and pubic hair and low or zero sperm count. For women, weight gain, low libido and mood swings are all triggered by low testosterone levels,' Abbas details.

And, similarly disruptive, mould can cause mood swings as it's considered to be an endocrine disruptor.

'The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and organs which uses hormones to control and coordinate your body's metabolism, energy level, reproduction, growth and development, and response to injury, stress, and mood. When the system is disturbed, it can lead to mood swings, fatigue, weakness, unintended weight fluctuations and menstrual disturbances,' Abbas finalises.

When it comes to viewing a property, there are ways to identify mould, including discolouration on the walls, peeling paint or wallpaper; black mould on window seals, particularly in the bedroom and bathroom; excessive condensation; a musty or damp smell; stains on walls, and the smell of fresh paint, as this can sometimes be evidence of someone painting over visible mould.

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Experts Reveal The One Thing To Change To Stop Mould Growing Inside Your Home

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Experts have revealed their tips for removing mould from inside homes.

Mould is a form of fungus which can grow on walls, windows and corners of your home due to damp and humid conditions, and build-up of condensation.

When it comes to the nitty-gritty of dealing with damp and mould, condensation is at the root of the problem.

"Mould can show up in various forms, however it usually appears as dark spots or clusters around your house," notes Edward Jonkler from Remora Cleaning.

"Mould will continue to grow in your home if not treated or cleaned, and the conditions you are living in are not altered," he warns.

Here's how to prevent the growth.

Mould in the bathroom

"Black mould growing in your bathroom is an awful sight," highlights Jonkler. "If your bathroom is not well ventilated, condensation can build up, which can result in mould growth."

He says there are a few ways you can deal with it…

1. Install an extractor fan and ensure it has a delay on it, so it stays running past the time you use your shower and toilet in the bathroom.

2. Checking your vents are working and open in the bathroom will help the air to circulate better.

3. The heat from bathroom radiators helps to dry out damp patches on walls and windows, resulting in less condensation and helps reduce the build-up of mould.

4. Ensure you're using the right paint. There are special paints designed to be used in bathrooms and kitchens; or opt for an anti-mould paint with mould-resistant formulas to stop growths specifically in wet and damp areas, like your bathroom.

Mould around windows

"If you've experienced the build-up of black mould around your windows or sealant, you can attempt to remove these using washing-up liquid or white vinegar," suggests Jonkler.

"While this solution has been tried and tested and can work depending on the severity of mould build-up, the best way to avoid a recurrence is to remove the sealant from the windows entirely before resealing them."

An expert offers tips on preventing mould growth (Alamy/PA)

Jonkler says it's also worth checking your window frames while inspecting the extent of your mould build-up.

"Mould could be a result of cracks in your windows, with air being let in, so it's important to ensure your windows are sealed properly once you've removed the mould present – to ensure no further build-up occurs."

Mould in the bedroom

Condensation in bedrooms is something commonly overlooked, especially if you're not spending that much time in it – other than sleeping at night, notes Jonkler.

His top tips to prevent mould growing and stop it occurring again include…

1. Invest in a dehumidifier and use it daily to collect accumulation of water in your bedroom.

2. Opening the windows regularly/everyday helps circulate the air in and out, helping to prevent mould forming; especially if your room gets hot and stuffy.

3. Keep the heating on a low temperature. At night your body heats up, which can cause a build-up of condensation in your room, so try keeping it to a minimum.

Mould on external walls

"While mould inside our homes is due to a build-up of condensation, exterior mould can be down to a number of factors, including a leak inside your property, or moisture getting trapped in exterior walls," notes Jonkler.

"You can buy fungicidal chemicals designed for cleaning mould off exterior walls, which should be used when cleaning the damaged area."

He continues: "From here there are various other tactics homeowners can take. But the first thing is to identify the cause of the penetrated damp – and go from there."

Mould build-up on exterior walls of houses is trickier to deal with, warns Jonkler. So seeking professional advice and guidance on the best solution is the recommended approach.

Family Of Four Sleeping In One Room After Mould 'consumes Home'

A family of four say they are forced to sleep in one room and they could have 'fell through the ceiling' at bath time as mould has consumed their home.

Matthew Parry, 33, and his partner, Katie Torrington, 34, from Birkenhead, claim they have been forced to live in one room with their two children, aged 4 and 6. The dad says he fears the piling list of maintenance issues in their home could leave his children sick or injured.

The dad told the ECHO how his children's bedroom, living room and kitchen is covered with thick black mould, how his roof leaks and his plug sockets in his kitchen don't work meaning he has to feed a family of four with one microwave. He also claimed that mushrooms are growing on the outside of his damp walls and how a huge hole in the floor next to the bath, left his kids in danger of falling through the ceiling.

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Matthew said: "There is damp and mould right across the property, there are sockets that don't work in the kitchen and a hole in the bathroom which has been sealed, but the workmanship I'm not satisfied with."

The property is managed by Roach Estates in Liverpool, who the dad claims he struggles to get maintenance jobs approved through. Roach Estates said that a roofer and electrician have both carried out works on the property and, in the past 18 months, £7,000 has been spent on maintenance with these having "been signed off by both the council and tenant himself".

Matthew told the ECHO: "On occasions we get approval they tell us they have booked jobs in and say he [the maintenance] will be coming. But no-one comes. We are passed from pillar to post.

"Because we are under the selective licencing order we put in a complaint to the council in February. Work was started to fix the damp and the leaking roof, they said the roof was fixed but I don't think it is - it's going to be a problem in the winter.

Matthew Parry shows mould in the children's bedroom of his house in Birkenhead (Image: Liverpool Echo)

"There is still so much work that needs doing and it's just not getting done. There are mushrooms growing outside, they are now going into the living room. There is a hole in the bathroom - right next to the bath - which they 'boarded over' - I have two kids and getting them in and out the bath is an issue, they could have easily gone through the floor if they stepped out the bath into the hole. It is a worry as a parent, it's dangerous.

"The shower doesn't give out hot water, we were told that we can still get baths but that is taking a huge hit on our gas bill, we are a family of four we can't afford four baths a day. We are having to limit baths because we can't afford to have four baths a day.

"And, our kids are sleeping on a mattress on the floor because we have had to move them out of their bedroom because it is covered in mould. The kids' bedroom is out of bounds. My kids are sleeping on a mattress on our floor because they can't go in there. There are four of us living in one room. It means our kids are not getting enough sleep either.

"We can't use our living room either because that is out of bounds from the mould, everything is moved into the back room and the kitchen. There is a leak and damp in the kitchen, which has been caused by the shower. The electrics don't work either, we have no oven so we can't cook, we're having to rely on our microwave. It's hard to feed a family of four out of a microwave.

Inside Matthew Parry and Katie Torrington's house in Birkenhead (Image: Liverpool Echo)

"The plugs don't work in the kitchen so we are having to keep our freezer in the front room, where the mould is and it impacts us with space."

Matthew worries about his children's health, he says his son has been diagnosed with asthma after being exposed to the mould for so long. He said: "I have never suffered with my chest before and now I have had four chest infections, my son currently has a chest infection.

"I really worry about the health of my two children, it's them I worry about. I have no doubt my son will have a long term health issue."

The stress the living situation has inflicted on the family is causing Matthew and Katie's mental health to plummet. He said: "We are so stressed as a family, we are trying to get time off for people to come and fix things, meaning we are losing money at work.

"We have had to throw out loads of furniture, the wardrobes, kids' stuff in their bedrooms and their toys because of the damp, clothes have been thrown away too, all of this costs. We are throwing away £100s of pounds. It's really stressful, I try to get out of the house as much as I can because I don't want to be in it.

Inside Matthew Parry and Katie Torrington's house in Birkenhead (Image: Liverpool Echo)

"It is stressful, you get down about it. I physically can't do anything about it either. It's impacting our mental health massively, it's impacting everything. We have tried everything to resolve it."

A spokesman for Roach Estates said: "A damp issue was reported to the bedroom of the property and on instruction from the landlord the wall was knocked back to the brick dehumidifiers supplied to dry walls then boarded and skimmed. A roofer was organised to repair the guttering and roof which has been completed. An Electrician has attended again and checked and further advised that the cooker and hob were both working with no issues.

"We took over management of the property around 18 months ago and in this period the landlord has spent around £7000 on maintenance and repairs/upgrades with these having been signed off by both the council and tenant himself.

"Despite in this period receiving numerous complaints of anti-social behaviour from neighbours and with the tenant being abusive and aggressive to our members of staff we have continued to send contractors and staff to carry out work and inspections, further more I would like to add that due to the tenants' arrears in excess of £12,000.00 the landlord was put in a position where he was forced to sell the property with the auction taking place in Feb 2024.

Matthew Parry and Katie Torrington at their house in Birkenhead (Image: Liverpool Echo)

"In conclusion the tenants' issues in the property have not been ignored and we will continue to carry out the required maintenance and allow contractors to finish works in the property until we receive instruction that the property sale has completed and our management ceases."

A spokesperson for Wirral Council said: "Officers from the Council's Housing Standards Team carried out an inspection of this property earlier this year and an Improvement Notice under the Housing Act 2004 was subsequently served. This property is registered under the Selective Licensing scheme and the notice placed an obligation on the licensee to carry out works to address a number of hazards at the property, including damp and mould and electrical issues, before 5th May 2024.

"The tenants have been supported during this time by one of the Council's Healthy Homes team who has been encouraging Mr Parry to facilitate access for the landlord's contractors. Works carried out since the notice was served include roof repairs, damp and mould affected plaster being removed then replastered, and rotten flooring in the bathroom being replaced.

"There are still additional works scheduled to be carried out at the property and the council will follow up with the licensee to make sure that the outstanding works items are completed, and the property is left in a safe condition for the tenants."

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