Condensation in flat - rights as a tennant

BitterAndTwisted

dotchas wrote: »

Short term, write to her and say you have borrowed a dehumidifier temporarily and this is solving the problem. Ask her either to supply one or go halves with you. Keep an eye on freecycle and gumtree for one going cheap, maybe try posting a wanted ad. Remember if it belongs to you ,you can sell it on when you move on so that may be a better option.

NO! I would acknowledge her email or whatever it was by responding that you have acquired a dehumidifier and are now running that 24/7 to see whether this will address or, one hopes, solve the problem.

I have recommended a couple of times now that you do not respond to her blandishments to acknowledge that these vents are required. If they are required the cost is hers and most certainly not yours. I would avoid having any conversation about these whatsoever if possible.

Let the dehumidifier do its work and do nothing else for at least a fortnight.

If the landlady used a letting-agency as a tenant-finding service only, your relationship with them has now ended, so there would be no point at all in contacting them. They are or were the landlady's agent and not yours, so cannot be relied on to act as impartial arbitrators in any case.

I would respond to the landlady's communication as follows:

"Many thanks for your email/whatever about the condensation at property X. For the time being we have acquired a dehumidifier and are currently running it day and night to see whether this will have any effect on the problem.

We do not wish to communicate further about this issue for the time being until we are confident that we are absolutely certain of the possible cause and the likely remedies available to us both.

Thank you for your concern. We intend to report back to you on or around X date with our findings".

tbs624

As I said before OP, talk to the TRO - this is the sort of LL/T issue that they are there to help with. They will have seen it all a hundred times before. Their guidance does not cost you anything other than your phone call charges.

If it is a building maint/repair issue they will let the LL know and they can insist on certain works being undertaken.


Sorry B&T but I think part of your proposed letter (2nd & 3rd para) is likely to end with the T being served notice at the earliest possible opportunity.

neas

Some flats are worse than others for mould. We rented 3 different flats and 1 of them was soo bad with humidity (even with using a condensor tumbledryer)... that we had to run a dehumidifer for 3 hours a day... and strip windows.

We didnt get any mould tho as we used a humidify monitor to lower it to less than 60% humidity.

Must admit sounds like a 'dry clothes in house', take shower/bath , skimp on heating and then keep window shut typwe of situation. We all know siometimes as a tenant you get lazy (i was as a student lol :P).

We had vents on our windows open all the time BUT we still got humidify in one flat... mainly because it was ground floor and when it rained it seemed like the outside moisture kept in the group was somehow getitng into flat... Either way in a house now our humidity is much better, bigger space, tumble dryer in garage and heating it well. Plus we have these dehumidifier bags to keep clothes ok too...And the original dehumidifer.

dotchas

dotchas wrote: »

Short term ,write to her and say you have borrowed a dehimidifier temporarily and this is solving the problem. Ask her either to supply one or go halves with you. Keep an eye on freecycle and gumtree for one going cheap, maybe try posting a wanted ad. Remember if it belongs to you ,you can sell it on when you move on so that may be a better option.

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

NO! I would acknowledge her email or whatever it was by responding that you have acquired a dehumidifier and are now running that 24/7 to see whether this will address or, one hopes, solve the problem.

I have recommended a couple of times now that you do not respond to her blandishments to acknowledge that these vents are required. If they are required the cost is hers and most certainly not yours. I would avoid having any conversation about these whatsoever if possible.

Let the dehumidifier do its work and do nothing else for at least a fortnight.

Eh? what did I say that was wrong, as I said short term the dehumidifier seems to work so hopefully that will get LL off OPs back and reduce the stress shes causing.

Long term the OP needs to find somewhere else to live as its likely this LL will cause further problems.

BitterAndTwisted

The bit I had a problem with is the "is solving the problem" part. We don't know that and neither I assume does the tenant as they have only been running the dehumidifier for a short time, hence the suggestion that they continue to run it 24/7 for a decent length of time to see whether this has any effect or not.

Naturally, at the same time a sensible person would be taking other kinds of precautions like

Not cooking without lids on pans. Extractor-fan where present used.
Cooking with the door closed and a window open a crack.
Bathing with the door closed and a window opened afterwards. Extractor-fan where present used.
Keeping internal doors closed as much as possible.
Ensuring each room is aired once a day at the very least. This doesn't have to mean flung wide-open for hours on end.
Drying laundry indoors as little as possible. If laundry must be dried indoors the best way to do this is have it all in one room only with the door closed and a window opened a crack. Having the dehumidifier running in that room will cut drying times to a fraction.
All of these will have a noticeable effect and that's even without heating the property.

Also the dehumidifier will make the property automatically feel warmer: cold moist air feels much cooler than cold dry air. Win/win.

Evee2000

Insulating the walls would also prevent the moisture from seeking out the coldest surface to condense on. Not always possible in a flat - but still worthy of consideration. This will also help to retain any heat generated within the property.

Helsieboo

Ok, on the advice of various, we emailed them stating that we were in the process of cleaning - we are and that we have a dehumidifier and we will keep her updated.

The response:

Hi Geoff & Helen

Thank you for your message,

We would like the action that is stated in the report to be acted upon this is over 2 years of damage to the above property what concern us is the long term damage.

Can we remind you both that it is both your responsibility to ensure that no damage is done to the property under the terms of your tenancy agreement.

we were inform by other freeholder in the block that it was noticeable that windows of the property were never left ajar to enable the property to be ventilated due to both your action thus you have created this problem.

The steps that you are both taking at present to resolve the problem should never have accrued in the first place.

when you both realised that their was a problem you both should have inform us, so we could ascertain what was happening and what action we needed to take if any, and did we need to call in the professional.

It good to hear you are both taking steps to carry out remedial measure to combat the immediate problem.

what concern us both the steps that you both taking now will it resolve the problem long term or have both created a problem.

The damage has already been done this was so avoidable we are not happy people at present.

I do need to carry out a flat inspection this week, I here by give you both notice as of tonight

Please confirm time and date Mon -Fri only for this week.

We are happy for her to inspect - she has the right to anyway. However, I am fuming at our neighbours who are NOT telling the truth, if her email is to be believed. Additionally, there is no damp and therefore no structual damage - it is surface mould which can be cleaned.

I have been in the property for over 2 years and this problem only started to arise in November/December so I have not caused 2 years of damage.

I also reported it straight away, had it been inspected straight away, surely it could have been nipped in bud?

Worried about housemate as I'm off tomorrow to visit my grandmother so he's going to have to do this on his own. What are the next steps?

tbs624

See para 1, post 53.

You may also want to edit your first names from a couple of posts.

Helsieboo

Having a horrible afternoon. Am in tears and physically trembling after a really nasty phone call. She called me from an unknown number so I picked up and immediately started yelling at me and swearing at me accusing me of having a third person living here. I'm not sure she believes me.

Tried phoning CAB, Shelter and TRO and just not getting anywhere as no one ever answering. She's coming over Friday.

glitter123

Helsieboo wrote: »

we were inform by other freeholder in the block that it was noticeable that windows of the property were never left ajar to enable the property to be ventilated due to both your action thus you have created this problem.

Hearsay!

How many of us can categorically say whether we notice our neighbours windows open or not.