Renting/ mould issue being ignored by LL ?

pippitypip_2

Hi all,

First things first, I have done a search but still not entirely sure, so please – any advice greatly appreciated.

My friend noticed damp and mould over a year ago in a rented home and reported it. Reported it getting worse and over time and is now at the point where they are having to throw out clothes, property, bed etc. Partner is asthmatic and is being impacted (coughing a lot, over long period of time and only when at home).

They have handed 1 month’s notice in as they are now buying a home and want to get out of the house as soon as they can (even if it means staying with family and furniture stored).

They have followed all usual ventilation rules – windows open, using extractor fan etc. This was the only advice provided by the letting agent.

The question is, can they claim any compensation for the damaged items they’re throwing out? Given the LL ignored the problem and did not fix?[FONT=&quot] And if yes, how do they go about this by the book?[/FONT]

Many thanks,
pippitypip

19lottie82

I would very much doubt it.

vectistim

What sort of mould and where?

What have you done in the line of wiping it off with a bleach covered cloth, or similar?

Fire_Fox

It's worth spending time on an advanced search, damp and mould issues, damage to property come up several times a week. You haven't answered the basic questions we always ask.

What kind of damp - rising, penetrating, condensation? How was it reported to the landlord and how was it investigated? Were Environmental Health contacted and was the health status of the tenants emphasised?
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/disrepair_in_rented_accommodation/repairs_in_private_lets/reporting_repairs_to_a_landlord

IF the issue is condensation ventilation is only half the story you also need to stop the water at source. Were they air drying laundry indoors and keeping the shower door closed during and after? Did they try an electric dehumidifier? Letting agents are not responsible for advising the tenant how to live, there is advice all over the internet on preventing condensation (councils, housing associations, damp specialists).

Landlord is only responsible for the damage to property IF there is an issue with rising or penetrating damp or an internal leak, the issue has been properly reported by the tenants AND the landlord failed in his repairing obligations. The tenants may find the items are covered under their contents insurance. Landlords are not responsible for damage to tenants property caused by lifestyle condensation.

pippitypip_2

I'm not sure what kind of damp or how to determine that. The kitchen has had damp treatment the first few weeks they moved in but is back again (2 years later).

There is black mould in 3 bedrooms and the bathroom upstairs too.

There has been no investigation, no one has contacted Environmental Health (didn't know to until today when I searched here); health status of tenants has been emphasised in writing on several occasions.

bathroom door closed, window open in bathroom. They do air dry laundry as no dryer or room for a dryer so no choice on that front (apart from in Summer when outside instead). They haven't purchased a dehumidifier as they are moving out and don't want rising costs. Do open windows when cooking and use the extractor fan/ lids on pans when boiling. I've been there and seen that they do all of this on a regular basis.

They have notified landlord and letting agent multiple times over the last year but not interested.

To be honest, they've handed their notice in so guess they will just have to lump it until they move out, it's not long now.

Thank you for your advice, very helpful. I will ask them to check home insurance too.

Best,
pippitypip

Fire_Fox

pippitypip wrote: »

I'm not sure what kind of damp or how to determine that. The kitchen has had damp treatment the first few weeks they moved in but is back again (2 years later).

There is black mould in 3 bedrooms and the bathroom upstairs too.

There has been no investigation, no one has contacted Environmental Health (didn't know to until today when I searched here); health status of tenants has been emphasised in writing on several occasions.

bathroom door closed, window open in bathroom. They do air dry laundry as no dryer or room for a dryer so no choice on that front (apart from in Summer when outside instead). They haven't purchased a dehumidifier as they are moving out and don't want rising costs. Do open windows when cooking and use the extractor fan/ lids on pans when boiling. I've been there and seen that they do all of this on a regular basis.

They have notified landlord and letting agent multiple times over the last year but not interested.

To be honest, they've handed their notice in so guess they will just have to lump it until they move out, it's not long now.

Thank you for your advice, very helpful. I will ask them to check home insurance too.

Best,
pippitypip

You are being very vague, it's impossible to help without the facts. What damp treatment? How was it reported to the landlord/ agent? Generally mould signifies condensation damp, rising and penetrating damp draw salts out of the plaster that inhibits mould growth, but the only way to be sure is to have a damp specialist/ Environmental Health investigate.

Air drying laundry indoors is very likely the cause or a major contributing factor, this releases pints of water with every load on top of the pints of water from breathing and showering. Your friends need to use a dehumidifier, tumble dryer, outdoors airer or launderette. Of everything you can do to cause condensation, air drying laundry indoors is the cardinal 'sin' and every authority advises not to do this.

Recommend spraying with Dettox mould and mildew remover, stop air drying laundry indoors or use a dehumidifier because the landlord could try to charge the damage deposit for any damp or mould damage caused by their lifestyle habits (not behaving in a tenant like manner).

pippitypip_2

Apologies for being vague but as it's not me I'm going by as much as I know. Appreciate the general advice anyway and will pass it on.

However I really don't understand what people are supposed to do when they live on a tight budget, have no room or money for a tumble dryer (not very MSE anyway), have no local launderette and work during the day, so do washing and drying at night using an airer to dry. Outside not practical in Winter.

I do this in my own house and have no issues with condensation and most people I know dry clothes this way, though when possible outside is quicker in the Summer.

However it does seem to me that the house had damp issues before they moved in. They have 4 weeks left of their notice and won't be buying a dehumidifer as they won't need it in their new place.

Kitchen had damp walls and cupboards were wet when they moved in (literally the day they moved in and property had been vacant for 1 month previously I think). I don't know what treatment was given though.

The bathroom has a very tiny window that doesn't open very far and I'm sure they had a workman (can't remember) suggest there wasn't sufficient ventilation in there (even with window open and door shut).

They hadn't cleared the mould as they wanted the LL to come and see it for himself (they have taken lots of photos). Will tell them just to go at it with the Dettox.

Anyhoo, I'll let them know not to contest anything and just to check with their home insurance.

Thanks for all your help,
pippitypip

Fire_Fox

pippitypip wrote: »

Apologies for being vague but as it's not me I'm going by as much as I know. Appreciate the general advice anyway and will pass it on.

However I really don't understand what people are supposed to do when they live on a tight budget, have no room or money for a tumble dryer (not very MSE anyway), have no local launderette and work during the day, so do washing and drying at night using an airer to dry. Outside not practical in Winter.

I do this in my own house and have no issues with condensation and most people I know dry clothes this way, though when possible outside is quicker in the Summer.

However it does seem to me that the house had damp issues before they moved in. They have 4 weeks left of their notice and won't be buying a dehumidifer as they won't need it in their new place.

Kitchen had damp walls and cupboards were wet when they moved in (literally the day they moved in and property had been vacant for 1 month previously I think). I don't know what treatment was given though.

The bathroom has a very tiny window that doesn't open very far and I'm sure they had a workman (can't remember) suggest there wasn't sufficient ventilation in there (even with window open and door shut).

Anyhoo, I'll let them know not to contest anything and just to check with their home insurance.

Thanks for all your help,
pippitypip

The most MSE option is an electric dehumidifier in the winter: they really are not that expensive to run just when you are drying laundry, save on damaged property and save on heating because damp air will always make you feel colder. :money: Different houses/ flats have different levels of natural and deliberate ventilation (eg. chimneys, floorboards and air bricks). Lifestyle vary massively from household to household. It may be there are two problems at play here - lifestyle and another cause of damp but again contact EH.

My block of flats is a PITA for condensation (metal window frames, windowless bathroom, useless extractors) but as an owner-occupier I have nobody else to hold accountable. I am on a low income, barely use the heating and I do air dry laundry indoors so I break many rules. Despite that I have the least mould of the flats I have seen in this block. I open all the windows daily all year round, wipe the whole window area down with kitchen roll religiously, only turn the shower on when wetting and rinsing, use fabrics that don't hold a lot of water when they come out of the washing machine (microfibre towels, thin t-shirts, sweat wicking gym kit).

Not saying everyone should or wants to live as I do, those are the adjustments I choose to make rather than spend money I don't have on heating or tumble dryer. BTW I notice a substantial increase when there are two bodies breathing and showering in the flat, and a substantial decrease when I don't air dry laundry indoors.

pippitypip_2

Thanks Fire Fox - those tips are really helpful and I'll pass them on.

vectistim

Black mould generally equals condensation - if people wipe down whenever condensation appears on windows over night and clean the bathroom after a shower generally not a problem.

If you leave mould in situ its likely to grow and get worse. Use a cloth with diluted bleach or some sort of anti-mould spray when cleaning.