New build flat damp/mould

version2014

Hi All,

I got a new build flat...its about a year old. I moved in 6 months ago.

I am starting to see mould appear on things like the slats under my bed, and on some shoes.

There is also a wierd smell from the back of the flat rooms.

Is this normal ?

How do I fix the problem? I read that I should ventilate the flat which I do with the windows open or locked open when I am in. There is no trickle vents on the double glazing.

What can I do ? Have the builder built it wrong ? Will there be damp for the first 12 months in a newly occupied flat?

geek1981

Not 'normal' with all new built flat. Did you check how humid is it inside the flat? Do you always use the extractor fan in the shower room? Also it's not ideal to dry your clothes on an airer inside your flat. Always use tumble dryer if you have one.

budgetdiyer

Its not unusual to have some moisture in a new build property as the property might still be drying out. However it sounds like you have a fair amount...

If you are getting mould growth its 99% to be condensation, i get condensation in my flat and one of the main causes are us breathing, drying clothes indoors (can't do alot else in this weather) and we have no extractor fan in our bathroom.

A month or so ago i bought a dehumidifier and we've been running it whenever we've been drying clothes and it has minimised our problem, we still get a bit of misting on our bedroom window in the morning but previously the window & some areas of the wall would be running in moisture.