Anyone with experience of fungus spores?

This is a looooong post, back out now if you have no time to read

The room next door to me has mouldy walls next to the window, and has had for some time now. A few months at least. The room is tiny and therefore doesn't get much ventilation and there's no doubt a lot of moisture from his washing when it's hung up to dry. The radiators are on for 4 hours a day which contributes to the humidity. And it STINKS. So much so that we've now noticed our flatmate (who's room it is) smells of it, his clothes, everything. He only really notices the smell when he's been away for a few days but he says he just gets used to it

He won't do anything about it as 1) he's worried the landlady will point the blame at him, 2) force him to pay for the clean up of it and 3) doesn't want the hassle of builders or whatever in and out of his room.

The weird thing is the landlady is actually aware of the problem but doesn't seem to understand the full extent of it. He has a habit of cleaning the mould off the walls (with water mainly) if he knows she's coming to the house so we don't think she's seen it in it's full "glory". But the fact that it's there should instil worry, however, she doesn't seem to be that bothered. Rather odd I think. Also, washing the walls just spreads the mould further as you are effectively "feeding" it and encouraging it to spread. We don't actually know the real cause of it, whether its just moisture from drying laundry or leak somewhere or even rubbish collecting in the room.

It wasn't there when he moved in a year and a half ago and he first mentioned we told him to let her know then but he couldn't be bothered, didn't realize it could get worse and just moved his pillow to the other end of the bed (as he was initially sleeping right next to the corner where it started from!!! )

We think (my housemate and I) that the fact she paints over the walls ready for new tenants may mean this is a re-occurring problem and would explain why she wouldn't be that fussed about it. However, we've read that painting does NOT solve the problem whatsoever as it just grows back.

Our main concern is the fact he's living that room and not only ingesting the spores on a regular basis but also spreading them about the house. We are now beginning to smell the mould from outside his room with the door shut which would imply that it's getting worse. This has prompted a few web searches on the effects of mould on human health and come up with some quite alarming results. After seeing him today with seemingly red watery eyes and bad skin (he usually has a good complexion by the way!) we are becoming increasingly worried!!!!


SOOOO, do we:

a) just find some sort of cleaning agent such as


however taking matters into our hands might become a problem as at the end of the day it's not our property and any damage to walls as a result of treatment could easily be turned round on us!!


or

b) contact the landlady of our own accord and explain it's a serious problem (she may be ignorant of the actual dangers which arise as a result of fungal spores) and suggest she invest in a dehumidifier.

or

c) do both a) and b).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, really do apologise for the huge essay but we need help before we all succumb to the fungal takeover!

Much obliged,

Maria

Tell the landlord. It's what they're for!

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

This is a looooong post, back out now if you have no time to read


Maria

ok, thanks

[dizzyblonde]

Also get a moisture trap and stand it on the window ledge. Little box, that holds calcium somaat or another crystals, that suck in the moisture of the room, then eventually lats it out into a container underneath. got about 6 in the shed, as metal sheds sweat buckets of water....and it aint' no god for bikes. They do work.....but only if you remember to empty them!

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

Also get a moisture trap and stand it on the window ledge. Little box, that holds calcium somaat or another crystals, that suck in the moisture of the room, then eventually lats it out into a container underneath.

Yeah we thought about the crystals but apparently they're not good for large scale problems. A humidifier is the better option apparently. Also it would take a lot of little bags of crystals to sort the problem as the mould covers a quite a large expanse of wall...

Still something to consider but its gonna be quite a big job, might help in the meantime though!

I think that the type of mould you describe only grows when fed with clean water. So any dampness on the wall will be from condensation and not from rising damp. rising damp is contaminated by salts. Lack of ventilation is a cause, as are drying clothes in the room and the fact that the walls are cold.

Clean the mould off with water and bleach as it appears and try to ventilate the room. You probably won't totally cure it but it should help to control it.

Originally Posted by madness

Clean the mould off with water and bleach as it appears and try to ventilate the room. You probably won't totally cure it but it should help to control it.

The walls are painted though, wouldn't the bleach cause damage to the walls even though it would be diluted down?

Shouldn't do if it's dilute enough, most emulsion paints are designed to be sponged down. Just don't scrub it.

Sounds to me like a problem that can't be ignored. Tell the landlady asap as it won't get better on it's own.

I think the wall needs to be stripped back (plaster/ plasterboard taken off or whatever) and you need a dehumidifier in to get rid of the moisture. The brickwork might need treating and then have it all put back together. The problem will get worse the longer it's left.

I wouldn't be happy sleeping next to it- I doubt if whatevers growing there could do you amy serious damage but it's a bit minging!

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

A humidifier is the better option apparently.

That'll be a de-humidifier. Yes was just going to suggest that if it was a big problem. Matt had one in his house. It worked a treat, that old chapel was like a leaky tap. But it helped a great deal. My parents had one in their bungalow because one of the back bedroom walls used to go black behind one of the wardrobes. You can get em pretty cheap these days.

I'd still have a word with the landlady about it, as you said it could be coming from a problem next door