Two young women renting a private property apartment claim the mould is so bad that it is starting to affect their health. The two friends moved into the flat earlier this year and said they began to notice a bad smell a few months into living there.
Ella, 22, and her flatmate were unable to view the flat in person before they moved in because all of the bookings were taken. The friends opted to do an online viewing, where everything looked fine at the time.
But a short time after moving in three months ago, Ella said they began to notice a strange smell and little bits of black mould appearing. In fact, the smell is so bad that Ella says they've resorted to spraying themselves with Febreeze before going to work, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Since then, she claims the mould has taken over the entire flat and is now affecting their health. Shocking pictures show large black marks on the kitchen ceiling, bits of mould under the women's beds, and clothes and shoes which have been ruined.
Ella claims her letting agent have failed to address the problem, and the pair are now desperately hunting for a new place to live. She says she successfully argued a freeze on their rent payments due to the living conditions - but says she was only able to do this by threatening the company with legal action.
She is now warning other young renters to insist on viewing properties before accepting them, and ensuring they understand their legal rights if the living standards don't match up to what they have agreed to pay for.
She said: "When we moved in, straight away there was this smell. We noticed little bits of black mould in the corners of the room and under the bed smelt really bad. There was mould in our wardrobes as well which we had to wipe down.
"Straight away I started taking photos and contacted the agency. They said they would get someone to take a look. I had to keep calling them to get someone out. Meanwhile, I have had to wash my sheets constantly because they stink. The damp mould is getting on our clothes as well."
Ella claims a few different contractors have come in to assess the mould, but have all advised different things. She claims nothing has been put in place to address the situation, and says she has made several reports to the letting agent that the mould is getting worse.
"My chest is currently really bad and I have had to book in for an ECG. I don’t know if it’s related but I’d never had any health problems before moving into the flat."
Ella and her flatmate are expected to pay £890 a month for the flat, but have now refused to continue paying until the mould has been treated. After finding 'legal documents' online, she claims the agency agreed they didn't have to pay, and would let them remain in the property until they find somewhere else to live.
"We asked them if they could put us up in private accommodation until we found somewhere but they flat out refused," she said. Obviously it's good we are not paying rent but I'd rather pay rent and live somewhere without mould. We asked if they had any other properties we could rent and they also said no.
