UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi there!

I was wondering if anyone had any advice about a problem tenant. There has been some damp in a couple of the rooms caused by her. There wasn't any when she moved in and it has grown and got worse. I had a builder go in to have a look but he said it was from condensation. Basically she has the heating on full blast all day every day, never opens a window and even shut the window vents. We did buy her a small dehumidifier but the builder said she hadn't even emptied that. According to her the dehumidifier doesn't work and she cant clean the mould because there is wallpaper. When I told her she can take up the wallpaper I was told "my daughter can't sleep in a room with without wallpaper". Anyways the builder told her turn down the heating, open a window etc etc. Now she is still asking me when is the builder going to fix it. I quite frankly just don't know what to say. This is my first rental and its exactly been plain sailing.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks

I recently had a query from one of my Tenants about condensation and mould in a property I lived in myself for 12 years - never experiencing any kind of issue myself.

I politely explained to them that this is most likely down to their lifestyle - in a non-accusatory way - and asked some questions about the level of heating, leaving windows slightly ajar, ensuring the window trickle vents are open, drying clothes indoors etc. and offered some advice on how to reduce the risk of this happening. At the same time I sent them a booklet produced by my local Council (Sheffield) - for two reasons - 1) being that it gives pretty good advice and 2) it concludes by stating that "If the landlord has provided correct levels of insulation, suitable heating and ventilation then it will usually be the responsibility of the tenant to treat for mould." - as I am confident the house has enough insulation, suitable heating and ventilation then the onus of responsibility leans towards the Tenants.

I also pointed out that this winter has - really - been one of the longest and wettest on record - and the situation has been rather conducive to condensation, against the norm. I also then mentioned that I had noticed, on previous visits, that the Tenants kept the house a lot warmer than I ever did - and a bigger difference between inside and outside temperature won't help. I ended by saying that while there was 1 of me, there was 3 of them - and Humans do produce a lot of moisture!

A link to the booklet my Council has on their website - maybe your Council has similar advice for Tenants... https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/dms/scc/management/corporate-communications/documents/housing/private-sector-housing/Damp-and-Mould-booklet/Damp%20and%20Mould%20booklet.pdf

Hope it helps... it probably amounts to the same advice the Builder has given the Tenant - but you can, maybe, go in a little bit harder, while still educating the Tenant. Of course, all this assumes there is no inherent problem with your property.

P.S. - what get rid of mould best? Not fancy, expensive products - diluted bleach.

Yep, get an old spray bottle, dilute bleach, spray on wall paper, leave 20 minutes, mold gone.

It should not be an issue.

White vinyl silk walls to start with best!

You have done more than enough, don't fret.

You could also look to take the moving section out of the window vents to prevent them from being closed.

I fitted an air brick in the fitted wardrobe which resolved my tenants condensation issue.