If you live in Huddersfield and rent a property or have a damp or mould problem, you may be entitled to claim compensation. This can be up to 25% of your rent, depending on the severity of the damage.

Damp and mould can cause serious health problems and affect your belongings. Getting rid of the problem is vital to your well-being.

Filing a Claim

If you’ve been ill because of damp or mould in your rented property, you may be able to claim compensation from the landlord. This could cover your medical expenses and pain and suffering, as well as your loss of quality of life.

It’s a legal requirement for your landlord to keep your home in good condition. This includes keeping your tenancy deposit safe and providing adequate ventilation and heating throughout the property.

You should also make sure your tenancy contract outlines any rights you have as a tenant to report structural problems. This might include a rule known as ‘set off’ which allows you to withhold rent until the problem is fixed.

Once you have reported the issue, your landlord should then carry out a thorough inspection. They will look at the cause of the damp and mould, and take action to address it.

Depending on the severity of the problem, they will have to carry out repairs, as well as improvements to your property. This might include repairing or replacing plaster, skirting boards and flooring. It could also involve installing a damp-proof course or a dehumidifier.

In addition to the health effects of mould, some people may experience financial difficulties as a result of the damage it does to their furniture and possessions. These can be claimed for, as can the cost of replacement items.

If you are unsure about how to proceed, you should speak with an experienced housing disrepair solicitor as soon as possible. They can help you work out a fair settlement and advise you on what evidence to gather.

You will need to prove that the problem was a result of your landlord’s negligence and that they were responsible for it. This can be done through a number of different ways, including expert reports from health experts and council building/health inspectors.

Once you have gathered the relevant evidence, you can then begin to work out how much you’ll be entitled to in compensation. Normally, you will be awarded a percentage of the property’s value.

Identifying the Problem

Mould is unsightly and often a sign of a much larger problem, so it’s important to get to the bottom of the cause as soon as possible. It can affect everything from your clothing and furniture to wooden window frames and it can cause a number of health problems including respiratory illnesses, allergies and asthma.

It can also make your house unliveable. In extreme cases, it can rot the wood of your windows and damage your carpets.

Identifying the problem is vital, as it will help you decide what course of action to take. This may be getting a damp survey done, which will give you an idea of how serious the problem is and how it can be resolved.

Damp can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors or rain trickling into your home from exterior damage to the roof or around the sealant window frames. It can also be a result of condensation, which occurs when moisture in the air comes into contact with a colder surface like walls, windows or mirrors and tiny water droplets form.

You might also notice a growth of black mould, particularly on colder surfaces such as walls or ceilings. Known as Stachybotrys chartarum, this kind of black mould is particularly toxic and can cause or worsen respiratory infections, allergies and asthma.

The best way to find out what’s causing your damp is to consult a qualified surveyor, who will be able to take a moisture reading at your property and determine the cause of the problem. They’ll also offer advice on what to do next and provide a quote for the work required.

In some instances, it’s possible to get compensation for damp and mould without having to go through court. For example, there are a number of grants and schemes that can be used to help with the cost of getting your damp resolved.

Penetrating damp can be caused by anything from a leaking pipe to porous brickwork, so it’s vital that you do your research before committing to getting it resolved. Ideally, you will want to contact a professional as soon as possible to make sure the issue is dealt with quickly and effectively.

Seeking Medical Attention

When the air inside a home is damp or humid, fungi can grow and cause health problems. Fungi can also produce spores that are released into the air, which are easily inhaled and can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms.

Mould is one of the most common types of fungi found in homes and buildings, especially where there has been water damage to walls or ceilings. Symptoms of mould exposure can range from mild to severe, but they are most likely to be experienced by infants, children, pregnant women, older people and those with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma.

If you notice mould in your home, it is important to take action quickly before the problem becomes worse. Mould can cause or exacerbate other respiratory infections such as colds and flu, so you should seek medical attention if the symptoms get worse over time.

It’s important to note that there are many different kinds of mould – some are toxic and may even be dangerous for you or your family. If you suspect that your home has a toxic type of mould, it is best to contact a medical professional for further advice.

There are some things you can do to reduce the risk of mould and mildew forming in your home. These include avoiding the use of fabric that can absorb moisture such as curtains and carpets, making sure your bathroom is well-ventilated and removing any objects in your home that have absorbed excess water.

In most cases, small areas of mould can be cleaned up by the owner or tenant without involving a professional. However, large areas of mould need to be assessed by a qualified professional to develop a remediation plan.

The best way to prevent mould and mildew is by making sure your home has a healthy ventilation system so that the air is clean and dry. You should also keep surfaces, furniture and flooring as dry as possible.

You should also make sure you dry your clothes and avoid using towels or carpets that are wet for long periods of time, as these can hold in moisture. If you notice that your house is not properly ventilated, you should talk to your landlord about how to improve the air quality in your home.

Collecting Evidence

If your landlord has failed to deal with damp and mould in a rented property, you can make a claim for compensation. Damp and mould can affect your health and the fabric of your home, making it difficult to live in. This can also lead to damage to your possessions, such as carpets, furniture and clothing.

Mould and damp problems can cause serious health issues, especially for children and the elderly. They can lead to infections, breathing problems and allergies.

Thankfully, new rules mean that if you have a problem with damp or mould in your rented property, you can make a legal claim against your landlord. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act came into effect last year, and it means that landlords must carry out repairs or remedial work to prevent problems from arising.

If your property is affected by damp and mould, it’s important to collect evidence as part of your claim for compensation. This could include proof of your request for a repair or improvements, photographs or videos of the damp and mould in your property, and medical evidence showing how the issue has affected you.

In addition, if you have suffered financial losses as a result of the damage caused by the mould and damp, this can be included in your claim. This would include any bills you have incurred, such as repair costs or replacement items.

The process of collecting and submitting evidence can be complex, but it’s worth taking the time to get it right. Standard procedures include recording where the evidence is located, marking it for identification and completing evidence submission forms.

It is a good idea to get professional help with the process, as you may be dealing with sensitive information that can be very personal. Your housing disrepair solicitor will be able to advise you on the best way to collect the evidence and how to prepare it for submission.

If you are unable to do this or are unsure of how to proceed with your claim, we can offer expert advice on how to make a successful damp and mould compensation claim. Our advisors will tell you whether you could be eligible to receive compensation, and how much it would be.