Case: Recurring Damp and Mould in UK Social and Private Housing

For the past few years (roughly 7 years) every autumn into winter we experience mould growth in our home. It starts with a damp feeling upstairs that leads to mould growth on the walls and furniture. We get really bad water marks on the ceiling and water dripping down the walls. The mould gets worse through the winter but by the middle of spring the dampness and water dripping stops and we are just left with mould on the wall, ceilings and furniture.

Lambeth council initially but when they were not dealing with the issue properly, we contacted a no win no fee solicitor. We have also contacted our GP as there has been health implications because of the mould. We sent a formal written complaint into Lambeth and when they didn't reply in the allocated timeframe, we contacted a solicitor. They have sent out a surveyor and been in touch with Lambeth council about getting the problems resolved within a reasonable time frame. Lambeth has come to do small jobs but often sign the jobs off as finished when they haven't completed them. Because the workers do this and no one comes to check, the council believes the works have been done but they haven't, which leads to the ongoing issue.

We have kept surfaces dry, wiped early signs of mould. Kept furniture away from the walls and also tried fitting ventilation spacers in the attic as that's where the problem seems to stem from.

It is currently still ongoing. Lambeth has come to the property many times to wipe the mould and redecorate affected areas but the source of the issue has not been resolved in the attic. They have sent roofers but it still hasn't solved the main cause of the mould.

Lambeth council currently have contractors come from Wates, these contractors don't complete the work, say they will request something then don't return to finish the job but sign it off as finished. For example, one of the rooms in the house was supposed to be thermal boarded and replastered, the contractor from Wates said they will need a plumber to take the radiator off the wall for this to be done. The plumber came and took the radiator off the wall but the Wates contractor closed the job as finished so now we haven't had a radiator on the wall in that room for over a year and they haven't revisited to do the initial job.