Flaking, peeling paint in bathroom

CandyApocalypse

Hi,

We are currently renting a house, it is very prone to damp, which we didn't realise until after we were living here, as the whole place was redecorated prior to us viewing.

Anyway, we started with problems in the bedroom, including black mould, and condensation running down the wall. Windows were kept open daily, but nothing helped really.

Our current issue is the bathroom. Over time the paint has started to flake and peel off the wall. There is no fan in the bathroom and only a very small window. When we shower we always have the window wide open, and the bathroom door as well.

The bathroom now looks awful, and I will have to mention to the landlord. I try not to mention things really as he never seems impressed if anything needs repaired, but then the previous tenants were nightmares, so he is probably tired of fixing things!

My question is, will he hold us liable for the paint flaking and peeling, or can we point out that there is a severe lack of ventilation in the room, which has caused this to happen?

The whole house is the same shade of magnolia, which leads me to suspect that he just had the whole place painted with the same type of paint, it does look like a very thin single coat of paint, and he has put the same stuff on the walls and the tiles.

I would just like to have an idea of what to say really when I tell him. I also have to mention the fact that the roof started leaking today during the rain.

I'm sure he's going to be so happy.

G_M

CandyApocalypse wrote: »

My question is, will he hold us liable for the paint flaking and peeling, or can we point out that there is a severe lack of ventilation in the room, which has caused this to happen?

.. I also have to mention the fact that the roof started leaking today during the rain.

I'm sure he's going to be so happy.

You are more likely to be held liable if the first he knows is when he does a check-out inspection when you leave.

Report all repair issues in writing. Leaking roof and condensation. You have a duty to act in a tenant-like manner, and that includes bringing problems to the LL's attention before more damage is done.

By all means try speaking to him as a friendly chat can be less confrontational, but follow up with a letter.

If nothing is done you can ask Environmental Health to assess whether the property is in a fit state.

CandyApocalypse

Thank you for the advice.

I think I'd rather speak to him informally first, as mentioned, and then can follow up with the more formal letter. I wouldn't have left it until check out, especially with the roof.

The condensation has been mentioned to the landlord before, he just said to open the windows wider (which wasn't great as it was December and snowing).

But, I think the bathroom needs something done, and although we can live with it the way it is, really he should see the state of it.

I was more wondering if we can be held liable, in spite of the fact we do all we can ventilation wise

Mrs_Arcanum

Almost sounds like emulsion painted over a gloss/silk finish rather than a proper paint job.

CandyApocalypse

See, that is what I think it is as well (not that I'm a paint expert obviously). If it makes it any clearer, when we moved in and turned the heating on, we found the walls in the bathroom were wet, and if you brushed up against it, you'd wind up with paint on you. It has always been a bit like that, but lately, paint has started to peel off the walls and tiles, which is why we need to mention it to him.