Damp in rented property

mrmichaelf

I'm posting on behalf of my mum who lives in a rented cottage. It's a very old stone cottage, probably a few hundred years old.

There is a big problem with damp, with it being present on thew walls in most of the rooms.

She has contacted the letting agents who own several cottages in the same village.

They have told her that because the building is so old, they cannot do anything about the damp.

I think they're fobbing her off. She's called them several times, as it is especially bad in the winter. It has even got into telephone sockets and light switches making them unuseable.

Is there anything she can do, and what should the agents be doing? Is damp proofing a big and expensive job? I imagine it is hence them stating they can't do anything about it.

Jowo_2

This guide is aimed at landlords but its informative for tenants too, on the causes and treatment of mould and damp.

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/pdf/Mould.pdf

What is the cause of the damp? The info I have linked to splits this across tenant lifestyle (failure to adequately heat/ventilate the property), defects (leaking pipes, guttering) and aggravated by building design.

If the landlord or their agent won't help, then escalate it to the environmental health department of the local council. They can undertake a health and safety assessment of the property.

See the Shelter website for info on how to get repairs done - get your mum to report all the issues in writing and keep a copy. Sadly, some landlords prefer to serve notice rather than get the repairs done.