glojo, we had ventilation in our first quarter. In the loft was a hole perhaps 3 inches in diameter. Outside the first bit of land was America. In the bedroom the plaster had a little bit of gypsum foam and was making advances towards the bed on the other side of the room.
A seagull lived in the kitchen cavity wall and used to watch Mrs PN through the hole.
The exterior of the house had been painted only the painters had neglected to open the windows before painting them. A later occupant solved the ventilation problem by bending the metal frame. We sealed it with a rolled up copy of an entire Sunday Times. The PSA man who came to fix it on the day we marched out was clumsy and broke the glass.
We had mould up the entire stairway but that was due to inadequate ventilation even though the washing machine and tumble drier in the cloakroom was vented through an open window.
It was ever thus.