Fears grow over rise of dangerous ‘SUMMER mould’ coating homes & putting millions at risk – & the £1 way to tackle it
MILLIONS of homes across the country are riddled with ‘summer mould’ but there’s a cheap solution to keep your family safe.
Almost half of private renters in England are living in homes that are cold, damp or mouldy, Citizens Advice has warned.
Mould can cause allergic reactions like sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and skin irritation.
Prolonged exposure can also lead to respiratory problems, sinus infections, Asthma attacks and fungal infections.
During the summer months, humidity and lack of ventilation provides the perfect environment for mould to manifest in homes.
The combination of hot spells and heavy rain has sent humidity levels soaring.
Experts at Clear It Waste have revealed simple and cost-effective ways to banish mould from your home.
The first solution is mixing one part warm water and one part white vinegar in a spray bottle.
White vinegar kills up to 82 percent of mould species and it is eco-friendly.
Clear It Waste suggests to spray the liquid on the mould and leave it for at least an hour before wiping the vinegar away with a damp cloth.
Another cheap mould buster is baking soda, which contains no harmful chemicals – perfect for homes with children or pets.
Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with warm water in a spray bottle, shake well and then spray on the affected area.
Josh Clarke, manager at Clear It Waste said: “This method is natural and effective, and if you want some added prevention, simply spray the solution onto the area once finished, and allow it to dry naturally.
“This can help provide a layer of protection to prevent mould from returning quickly.
“However, if your case of mould is quite severe, this may not be the method for you, due to the lack of chemicals in this formula.”
Bleach has been suggested as a tougher method for removing mould.
Mix one part bleach to four parts water before washing the surface with the solution.
What are your rights if you find mould in a rented property?
Firstly, tell your landlord about the problem. Keep a record of all conversations, emails and messages. Government guidance says that landlords should take damp and mould seriously.
Once it has been flagged to your landlord, they are obligated to try and find out what is causing the problem.
They will need access to your home with at least 24 hours notice.
According to Shelter, how fast the landlord acts depends on how severe the problem is and if you or anyone you live with is vulnerable.
Landlords MUST fix problems that cause damp such as a structural problem or faulty insulation.
Other things they must fix include:
- leaking internal pipes
- not enough ventilation
- broken boilers and heating systems
- cracked walls or rotten window frames
- leaking roofs, missing roof files or faulty guttering
After, rinse the area with water to remove any bleach residue and dry with a towel or cloth.
Josh suggests this method is only for bathrooms and tiles and shouldn’t be used on wallpaper or paints.
Other ways to keep mould at bay include keeping windows open to ensure your home is well-ventilated.
Extractor fans and dehumidifiers also help to reduce moisture build-up in rooms.
A survey by Citizen’s Advice found 45 per cent of private renters are currently experiencing damp, mould or excessive cold in their home, and 48 per cent of these households have been living with the disrepair for more than a year.
More than a third of renters who have lived with damp, cold or mould said they had never complained to their landlord, with 51 per cent citing the fear of retaliation, including eviction or a rent increase, as the reason.
Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said: “A warm, safe home, free of damp and mould, should be a fundamental right. Yet private renters are paying through the roof for increasingly decrepit housing which eats up their hard-earned cash and puts their health at risk.”
“To make matters worse, renters have little power and live with the constant threat of eviction hanging over their heads.
“The Government must follow through on its promises and improve the lives of private renters. This means raising the quality of privately rented housing, tackling runaway rents, and bringing in a watertight ban of section 21 evictions so renters aren’t afraid to challenge poor conditions.”
This comes as rental costs have hit record highs with the average rent being asked outside London reaching £1,314 per month.
Advertised rents in London have also risen to a record of £2,661, up from £2,567 a year earlier.
Despite overall rental supply slowly improving from last year, the number of available properties is still below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, the property website said.
Its latest rental figures cover the second quarter of 2024.
Enquiries for rental properties have also shot up, with each property home receiving 17 inquiries from prospective tenants.
Rightmove’s director of property science Tim Bannister said: “With 17 inquiries for every available rental property, the market remains out of balance and difficult for tenants.
“We need landlord investment to increase stock and help achieve a healthier supply and demand balance in the market.
“Support for both tenants and landlords will be key to achieving long-term stability in the rental market.”
