Condensation in flat - rights as a tennant

FTBFun

I just bought a dehumidifier and put it next to me washing whilst it dries. Seems to sort it out.

Those of you saying "laundry shouldn't be dried indoors" obviously don't live in the real world where not everyone has the ability or space to do so.

ceegee

Dehumidifiers are brilliant for getting rid of moisture in the air. I am fortunate to have a garden and a washing line which I always use for drying my washing, except when the weather is rubbish! When I can't dry it outside, I put it all on clothes horses, turn the dehumidifier on and shut the door. Brilliant....and so much cheaper than a tumble drier (which I haven't got anyway!)

One thing I would say though, is don't be in the room with the dehumidifier on....it will draw the moisture from your skin, too.:eek:

sooz

FTBFun wrote: »

I just bought a humidifier and put it next to me washing whilst it dries.

Hope you mean a dehumidifier

Maestro.

FTBFun wrote: »

I just bought a humidifier and put it next to me washing whilst it dries. Seems to sort it out.

Those of you saying "laundry shouldn't be dried indoors" obviously don't live in the real world where not everyone has the ability or space to do so.

or in Scotland where for 364 days a year it either pours down outside or blows gales so strong the roof slates are blown away.

tbs624

OP - as the others have indicated as occupying Ts you have to do what you can to minimise condensation. Google Bath Council and Haringey Council - they both have useful pdfs on damp and condensation.

If you are sure that you are doing everything you can you may also want to have a chat with the local Council's tenancy relations office (private sector rentals) and /or Env Health Officer for an independent view on the property and any potential shortcomings which may be the LLs ( or the FH management's) responsibility to sort out.

Damp and condensation are "housing hazards" under what is called HHSRS ( Housing Health and Safety Rating System) and the council officers can inspect the property and advise accordingly.

Once there is a disagreement between LL and T on repairs/ maintenance etc v tenant responsibility there is obviously always the threat of a retaliatory eviction at the earliest possible opportunity but if you have independent guidance on what the likely cause is then it may help protect you against potential deposit deductions.

You could also go over on to the old style board on here and ask for cleaning recommendations for mould etc


Edited to add: You mentioned that one of the property's extractor fans has never worked - was this noted in writing on an inventory/via letter to the LA/LL?

tbs624

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Along with rights come responsibilities. Your responsibilities as a tenant is to not cause condensation.

Bit of an impossibility B&T since everyday living creates condensation - you presumably don't want to the T to cease breathing.;)

The Ts responsibility is to minimise the effects of condensation and to report in writing any issues with damp/mould etc.

FTBFun

sooz wrote: »

Hope you mean a dehumidifier

Well spotted!

Koicarp

tbs624 wrote: »

Bit of an impossibility B&T since everyday living creates condensation - you presumably don't want to the T to cease breathing.;)

This is an important point, the biggest cause of condensation in bedrooms is breathing, people tend to be in there with the door shut (in shared flats) for around a third of their lives, and breathing creates lots of moisture!

kmmr

Helsieboo wrote: »

Anyway, the damp-man came over and had a look. He was very helpful and explained it wasn't damp, but condensation as the landlady suspected. He did say to us that it wasn't entirely our fault or to do with the way we'd been living and that all it would take would be cleaning the mould off the walls with a possible paint job. He said that installing vents would help to prevent the problem, but that as tennants, that probably wasn't anything to do with us. Anyway, he submitted his report to the landlady and she contacted us today.

Long story short, she wants a thousand pounds off of us to install vents, she's wanting to withhold our deposit and it also seems like she wants us out. ...

I am willing to accept the cost for cleaning the mould and repainting, but I don't see why we should pay the bill for installing vents. I do admit to keeping the window closed for a couple of weeks when it was really cold, but I had kept the window open prior to that and the mould had already set in. Also, despite the window being closed, the "trickle vents" were kept open, so there was never no air not being circulated. The heating is also on every day for a few hours. We were not told when we moved in that the entire block is prone to condensation and that extra care would need to be taken. We do not have access to outdoor drying space for clothes so they are dried on racks inside, but this is in the living room, never the bedrooms. My bedroom is the most mouldy - that said, it is not inhabitable in my opinion and my housemate has a fraction of mould in his. There is none anywhere else in the house. The doors are left open when we are not in and my bed has been moved away from the wall to allow air circulation.

I'm just really worried. Do we have any rights here at all? Anyone else experienced similar?

So you are in a building with a known structural problem/characteristic which causes damp, and the 'damp man' has agreed the problem is probably due to lack of vents. Alongside this you have a non-working fan, and haven't been given a viable option to dry your clothes.

This sounds to me like structural problems that it is clearly the LL's problem to solve. I don't think threads where the condensation issue is placed solely at the door of the tenant are really fair - I think homes should have a bare minimum of condensation 'resistance' such that normal living can take place.

To say that people drying clothes (in a flat with no provided alternative) and not leaving the windows open in a cold country in winter is wrong is hard to take. And that's before the crime of breathing! In australia it is complusory to provide a clothes drying option in all homes - if there is no outside space then you have to provide a vented dryer. I think I see why now. If my tenants called up with condensation, I'd have a quick chat to see if they were doing anything silly, and if not I would take it upon myself to see what has gone wrong or changed with the building to cause this problem.

Edit to add: Plus - meant to say, surely by accepting that something structural has to change she admits is a structural problem and that is always the responsibility of the LL IMHO:
"Long story short, she wants a thousand pounds off of us to install vents, she's wanting to withhold our deposit and it also seems like she wants us out. ..."

tbs624

kmmr wrote: »

I don't think threads where the condensation issue is placed solely at the door of the tenant are really fair - I think homes should have a bare minimum of condensation 'resistance' such that normal living can take place.

Note that "the thread" does not place the issue "solely at the door of the T" - the opinions of *some* posters may appear that way. Note my suggestion that the OP gets independent guidance via the local Council.

I'd agree with you that the proposal that vents are needed suggests that there may be a building related problem but it could also be a case of "if your Ts can't be relied on to ventilate the property regularly then here's what we recommend you to get done"

kmmr wrote: »

To say that people drying clothes (in a flat with no provided alternative) and not leaving the windows open in a cold country in winter is wrong is hard to take.

Even if you didn't dry clothes off on racks/radiators etc you would still need to open the windows on a regular basis, as well as heating the property.