Duncan, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

17 January 2011

In August 2009 I moved into a well-located, beautiful house. My four friends and I thought we were getting a real bargain as the landlord let it to us at a bargain rate.

But as soon as we moved in the problems began.

The previous tenants had put wrapping paper on the walls in the corners of the some rooms, which we thought was strange until we removed it - revealing foul patches of black mould.

My room on the ground floor was one of the worst. Knowing the threat to health that damp houses pose, we immediately contacted the landlord and were pleasantly surprised when the bedroom was re-plastered within a few days.

Unfortunately, the plaster never really dried.

A few weeks later mould was growing anywhere and everywhere in my bedroom. I'd wake up in the mornings and the duvet would be wet, as well as my clothes. They too eventually went mouldy.

Re-plastering obviously wasn't the solution. The house needed damp-proofing and much better insulation, but the landlord clearly wasn't prepared to do that - not surprising given the low rent.

And the house cost hundreds of pounds to heat because the windows and doors were so draughty.

I was forced to break the terms of my contract and move out before winter came and the problems got worse.

Fortunately the landlord didn't take action against me, but he should never have been allowed to let the house in the first place.

My friends, owing to differing situations (financial, not being able to find alternative accommodation, etc.) were forced to stay in the house. Some of them got seriously ill that winter, suffering from bronchitis and continuous flus and colds.

No-one should have to live in such conditions and there should be laws to prevent landlords from renting inadequately insulated and damp-proofed homes - particularly in areas like mine where damp is a big problem due to the houses being built on marsh land.