My landlord says the mould is my fault and I should just bleach and paint it. Is that right?Beta*

Not necessarily. Mould is the landlord's job to fix when it comes from disrepair: leaks, rising damp, broken extractor fans, windows that won't open, or poor insulation. A home must also be fit to live in under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, and serious damp makes it unfit. Painting over mould doesn't fix the cause. Report it in writing with photos, and say if anyone in the home is a baby, elderly, or has a health condition, because that raises the urgency. If the landlord won't act, ask the council's environmental health team to inspect. They can order the landlord to do the work, and being away abroad is no excuse.

Sources: Shelter: damp and mould in private rented homesGOV.UK: fitness for human habitation guide for tenants