UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello Landlords,

I am wondering if anyone can give me some constructive advice. I am a tenant with a dispute with my landlord and need some advice from experienced professional landlords.

In brief; We have just begun the 3rd month of a 6 month short hold tenancy agreement, which was discussed would carry on into the long term. Two and a half weeks after moving in damp and mould appeared in the two front bedrooms, around windows and on exterior walls, the wallpaper itself was soaking and lifting, my 19 month old sons chest of drawers had mould growing on the back panel. We informed our landlord who got a firm out to view the property in their presence who advised condensation, landlord said that we had not been ventilating the property properly and it was our fault. We have never experienced damp in previous homes and were ventilating the same amount. We called environmental health who confirmed that the property would have become damp no matter who the tenant was due to the nature of the building and put us forward for free cavity wall insulation (as we have a toddler). Landlord would not accept this and hired an architect to assess the property and it was found that the front wall had structural problems which was causing the damp. We now have not had use of my sons bedroom nice week 3 of the tenancy due to Walls being stripped and the application of anti fungal wash, he is in his cot in the small bedroom which has office equipment in (my partner works from home), it is very cramped and prevents my partner using the room a an office, also my son should be in his bed but that is not possible in that room. Also it has been decided that air bricks need to replace some bricks at the front of the house so scaffolding will have to go up while work is carried out, also our bedroom will need stripping and anti fungal washing as there is mould growing on the wallpaper and it is lifting, and the wash has to be on for 2.5 weeks before painting! I am very upset about the whole situation, we have always been excellent tenants, receiving our full bond back on previous property, we are both professionals and don't claim any benefits. Basically I want to broach mutual surrender with landlord or find a way due to the state of the property in which we can terminate the agreement. Landlord is still demanding full rent although we are not able to use the property to it's full extent. Any advice welcome, sorry for the long winded "in brief"!!!

Hi Alice,

Sorry to hear about your problem. Damp and mold are a pain in the ass for landlords and tenants. Just want to make a few points.

1) In my experience mold and damp walls (especially those that have never had damp problems) are nearly always caused by condensation. This condensation is nearly always caused by the tenants (not on purpose of course!) as you produce water vapor when you have showers, dry clothes on radiators and even when you breathe. The cure is good ventilation (landlord to do) and for the tenant to look at and change the way moisture gets in the air (your responsibility). The problem I find is that most tenants are also conscious of heat loss and their gas and electric bills (especially after the cold winter we have just had) so they don't open windows to ventilate or taken to the extreme block up extractor fans etc. Please have a think about what you as the tenant what you might do to reduce moisture in the house, do you have a dryer for your clothes in the house as they, drying clothes on radiators and not opening windows when in the shower are the main culprits. I would suggest that in the day you leave some windows open when your out to fully ventilate the property.

2) Environmental health dont know their arse from their elbow. Suggesting cavity wall insulation would only make this problem potentially worse.

3) It also sounds that your landlord is taking measures to get this sorted. I know this will cause some inconvienance to you but what would you be doing if you owned the house? If i were the landlord i would probably let you move out so if you can't take any more why not ask. As you were some part responsible (unwittingly I know) responsible for much of this he will probably be happy to see you go!

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