Damp/condensation - whose responsibility?

jd87

I've recently moved into a property which seems to have quite a severe problem with condensation. We are doing everything we can ventilation wise but the problem persists. A dehumidifier is needed, and the place probably needs some proper air vents too.

Dehumidifiers are expensive, and it's not my fault the place is poorly designed. Should the landlord pay or am I going to have to fork out?

BitterAndTwisted

"Expensive" is all relative. Unless this property has seen problems with condensation and consequential mounld before, and the landlord is prepared to admit it, it's possible that your own behaviour is likely to be pinpointed as the cause. Especially if windows aren't opened on a regular basis, the place isn't heated adequately and laundry dried indoors in winter. If the windows are streaming with condensation and yyou wipe them down don't dry the cloths indoors or you'll just go round in circles.

In any case, dehumidifiers aren't particularly expensive to run and they make the place feel much warmer. Cool dry air feels much warner than cool moist air.

If you're confident that you're not contributing to the problems, contact your landlord.

jd87

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

If you're confident that you're not contributing to the problems, contact your landlord.

That's the problem really. I have contacted them and they're going to send someone to "take a look" but I'm not sure what they think they're going to be coming to look at really.

I'm confident it's not my fault (windows open twice a day, bathroom door shut and window open when showering, clothes dried in condensing dryer, extractor hood always used), so I just want to know what's it's reasonable for me to demand.

Do I leave the mould there for them to see, or as a responsible tenant have I already cleaned it off?

LittleMissAspie

I got a dehumidifier second hand from eBay, it was like £60 for one that would cost twice as much brand new. It doesn't seem to have increased electricity usage and we sometimes leave it on all day.

BitterAndTwisted

You are not in a position to demand anything. Think about making reasonable requests. If you are doing everything in your power to mitigate the condensation then you are not likely to have been that cause. If the landlord has not had this particular problem in the property before it may prove difficult for them to accept this. Some landlords know that their properties are shoddy and at risk of condensation and one which has been freshly painted between tenancies can sometimes be a signal.

Leave the mould for the agent to see it for the moment. They will be coming to inspect and will be looking at the outside of the property as well as inside. Mould is a potential health-hazard and will need to be removed before you start experiencing problems.

mossford

My tenant called me about condensation in the flat I let to them. This had never been a problem before. I am not unreasonable, nor are they. My husband popped around to have a look, we made suggestions about changes in behaviour and it was a very ordinary decent conversation. In the end we lent them a de-humidifier. This was 6/8 weeks ago and it must have solved teh problem as I have heard nothing further.

As mentioned above, you are making a reasonable request. In all probability your landlord is decent and doesn't want bigger problems caused by condensation and will therefore try & help you. Try not to be demanding, just reasonable and see where that gets you

lanavdt

We've had an absolute nightmare with our landlady. We've got one storage heater working in our 1 bedroom flat and really bad condensation. Leaving the windows open makes no difference and if there's the least bit of wind they slam open and shut. Our landlady's attitude is "it's an old building there's nothing I can do". We've been trying to get things fixed for weeks now. We're running a dehumidifier and a fan heater and the flat doesn't get above 15 degrees. Not sure what else we can do.