hi

firstly, i assume you have reported the damp problems to the HA? What did they say about it? They have a responsibility to resolve any repair issues but often, what people believe is damp, is actually condensation and is caused by inadequate heating & ventillation. you can do a lot to help this by keeping the property warm and by letting out steam in the bathroom & kitchen when using them.if the damp is black spots on the walls & ceillings, that is probably condensation. If the damp is caused by a leak in the roof or rising up from the ground, it is possibly a damp problem.

As for their legal responsibility, they are not legally obliged to move you because you are pregnant as they housed you adequately when you moved into the property, and they are not responsible for your circs changing. You need to address your rent arrears as this will be a barrier to you getting another property - you are in breach of your tenancy agreement if you are in arrears so they are not obliged to offer you somewhere else.

Saying that, most HA's will be understanding of your situation. However, waiting lists are very long and there will always be a wait involved, his is nobodies fault, there is just more demand for housing than supply. Some HA's will let you move if you have a small amount of arrears as long as you maintain a payment agreement and continue to pay the arrears after you move. If you haven't reported the damp, you need to do this and get a surveyor around to look at.

Your other option is to exchange with another HA or Local Authority tenant, if you can find someone who would want to swap properties with you, you would need both landlords permission to do this and you would have to clear your rent arrears before an exchange could be agreed.

Good Luck

At least you've got the ball rolling, with the report from your EHO saying the conditions are detrimental to the health of you and your new born, the council will have very little option left other than to find you alternative suitable housing and take swift action.

Ask for a report to be drawn up and submitted, although I think that will be a part of their normal procedure. It would be to your advantage to have your health visitor agreeing with the EHO as well, then the evidence in your favour is overwhelming.

You could also take photographs of the damp and mould and unhygeinic cramped conditions & ask for them to be included with the reports, visual evidence speaks for itself and could sway any borderline decision in your favour.

Well on CK's advice I contacted the local environmental health office, and someone is coming to assess the flat on the 5th. Should I ask them to write up a report and submit that to my HA? I've already gotten a transfer application form from them and cited damp, mould and cramped conditions as reasons for wanting a transfer, so I figure if I can back that up with a EHO report it might help move things along. And will I be able to get my health visitor involved as well, is there anything she'll be able to do?

Legally it's your local council that's responsible for housing you should your current accommodation be so unfit that it would not be reasonable to expect you to stay there. (the first part of getting yourself declared statutorily homeless). If your LA is one of the increasing number of LAs that don't have their own housing stock that means they'll either try and secure a nomination to appropriate HA stock or put you into private stock / bed and breakfast.

The poster above is spot on; report the state of the flat to the HA (if you haven't already) and ask them to write to you about what they intend to do to return it to a fit state. Report the state of the flat to the local council's EHO, and insist that they give you a written report on their findings.

I'm astonished by the HA's policy on transfers when there's a change of housing need in the offing - make sure they know of your pregnancy and get them to put it in writing that they won't give you a transfer even if you have a child - in law that's a priority need (the second part of the defintion of being statutorily homeless is being in priority need)..

Discuss all this with your local CAB or housing advice centre. Make your local councillor's life a misery (in the nicest possible way - most welsh unitary councillors are quite well paid for what they do...)

Oh, and have a happy safe pregnancy...

Speak initially to the local council environmental health officer and explain the situation, as you are in a vulnerable position with the health concerns of your circumstances, they will let you know what the council is legally obliged to offer you.

I've been with a housing association in Wales for 7 years, I have some rent arrears but I'm paying them back steadily. I recently found out I'm expecting a baby (in July 09) and I'm concerned because the flat I'm in is not only small (1 bedroom) but also has black mould growing on the ceiling of the living room and corners of the kitchen. I know this can be poisonous and I'm worried for my baby's health - not to mention the fact that the flat is damp anyway.

I've applied for a transfer with the HA but they go by date order, not a points system, so it could be months. I don't want to be moving when I'm heavily pregnant, and I can't afford anywhere privately rented. I'm getting really worried about what to do. Legally, what must my housing association do for me? Do they have to move me somewhere bigger and dry? I'm on my own so I can't see them giving me a house :-(