no ventilation and mould growth in rented property

princeofpounds

You'll find that the debate over damp and mould continues interminably unfortunately.

As long as it is condensation damp, then lifestyle is the culprit.

Unfortunately, sometimes lifestyle can be something as inconsiderate as 'breathing' or 'cleaning one's body'.

Many houses are so badly designed to deal with even small amounts of moisture that even the most careful person can't stop the development of mould without leaving the windows open 24/7.

I've seen a couple of them in my lifetime. And new houses aren't always better - they can be so insulated that any concept of ventilation is killed stone dead.

So sometimes I find the accusation of lifestyle that people always reach for problematic. Yes, it's entirely probable that many people dry clothes inside because they have no outside space, take 2 showers a day because they exercise, and have the temerity to boil water to cook.

But whilst these accusations may be right, they often mask the fact that the problem at root is often excessively poor house design and construction, not always excessively humid lifestyles.

This means the housing stock doesn't improve and the problems persist, and persist, and persist.

We all know the landlord trick of painting over mould damage to lure in the next set of tenants, a particular favourite of HMO owners (where having 4+ showers a day is kind of unavoidable due to the number of occupants).

And yes, a disclaimer, many tenants are living excessively humid lifestyles. But I think that the unbending focus on lifestyle in the way condensation damp is treated often misses the wood for the trees.

Sadly none of that helps the OP.

OP - complain in writing frequently and keep records. Detail in writing everything you are doing to prevent damp (open window routine, restricting damp activities, drying clothes outside etc.). Buy a dehumidifier and run that too (not expensive). If you don't do all of this, the risk is you get the blame unilaterally and lose your deposit.

Also suggest you keep evidence of the surveyor's opinion. If you can demonstrate substandard ventilation (lack of trickle vents, air bricks, sealed windows etc.) then that can help.

You may want to involve environmental health, and suggest you also look to move at the earliest opportunity. This kind of thing will not get better.

moneyspendexpert

Humphrey10 wrote: »

Unless it's raining, there won't be water coming from outside, it will be coming from inside, so yes it is better that the window isn't sealed.

I think they need to run "baby's basic tips for living in a house" lessons at school - I really don't know how people reach adulthood without knowing how to ventilate a house.

that's a great tip from someone who has learned from uni that a leaking window really helps to prevent mould and dampness, unless of course it's raining.

I'm glad I didn't study "baby's basic tips for living in a house.

martin2345uk

How do people avoid drying clothes inside during the long periods in the UK where it's wet and cold?

Genuinely interested, as have this issue myself!

moneyspendexpert

princeofpounds wrote: »

OP - complain in writing frequently and keep records. Detail in writing everything you are doing to prevent damp (open window routine, restricting damp activities, drying clothes outside etc.). Buy a dehumidifier and run that too (not expensive). If you don't do all of this, the risk is you get the blame unilaterally and lose your deposit.

Also suggest you keep evidence of the surveyor's opinion. If you can demonstrate substandard ventilation (lack of trickle vents, air bricks, sealed windows etc.) then that can help.

You may want to involve environmental health, and suggest you also look to move at the earliest opportunity. This kind of thing will not get better.

thanks for the advice POP, I can understand alot of the speculation here being about lifestyle, but I'm not someone who showers and throws wet towels under the bed every other day.

princeofpounds

How do people avoid drying clothes inside during the long periods in the UK where it's wet and cold?

Genuinely interested, as have this issue myself!

Simple. You don't wash your clothes for weeks on end. It wouldn't be fair on the landlord to do so.

Or alternatively, you get the servants to install the shiny new Siemens tumble dryer in the utility room in the west wing of the house.

HOK3Y

I can only jump in with a personal experience. We have lived in various countries over the last 15 years and moved back to the UK last summer. We rented a small house approximately 10 years old. It had just been redecorated throughout with a new bathroom and all the new windows had dark brown frames.

Within 2 days, we were both acutely aware of ridiculous humidity. Everything we owned felt damp. The carpets felt damp. Getting into bed at night was not pleasant. We had all the windows open whenever we were home and it didn't help. When i went to use the washing machine, i opened the tray for the detergent and it was BLACK. We had an infestation of wood lice so bad that I would pick my daughters clothes from her wash basket and they would drip from the bottom. Those dark brown windows hid a rapid growth of mildew - even with windows open. My cream rug which I had owned for 7 years without problems turned grey.

We left before our lease was up and just bit the additional rent. Moved into a lovely apartment and have not had any problems - never had any problems like that in any other house we have lived in. Sounds like you need to consider moving on. I know it's a PITA to move but it sounds like the best thing you can do. Best of luck to you.

Arthien

I feel for you OP! My OH and I have the exact same issue.

Our rented house was built some time in the 1700s, so has little to no insulation, and it is listed, so the single-glazed wooden sash windows have to stay (at least until the LL finally decides to replace like-for-like the ones which have rotten with the condensation). We actually had a builder round to look at the windows a few months back and he said he'd never seen windows so wet. Even when we finally managed to get the LL to buy a dehumidifier, he bought a value one which costs a fortune to run and only collects a tiny amount of water.

And it's all very well saying 'well just open the windows' but how practical is that for two people who work all day? We don't have trickle vents, so we would be leaving the property unsecured. Also, we have rubbish electric storage heaters (no radiators or instant heaters) so if we open the windows, the small amount of heat that has managed to build up goes straight outside, with no hope of us getting warm again until the heater comes back on the next night!

We're in the process of buying our first house, and we can't wait to move out. Bleach doesn't stop mould spores from getting into your rugs, bedding, clothes etc. We've had to stop using the wardrobe because the smell and the mould was unbearable.

We had an inspection a while back which highlighted the issue, and the LL tried to blame us, despite us doing everything we could to counteract it. The fact is, there are no air bricks and nothing to encourage airflow on a regular basis and it turns out the roof is in a pitiful state, which is why the black mould has now reappeared on our bedroom ceiling!

I'm fed up of waking up coughing, and smelling the horrible musty smell on my clothes, even when they're freshly washed.

Sorry for the rant OP, but just wanted to say that you're not alone, and I feel your pain! Good luck with your LL. I doubt you'll get any recompense, but I recommend looking at the Old Style board for suggestions on how to reclaim your clothes and furniture from the black stuff

DaftyDuck

Unfortunately, bleach is actually one of the worst "solutions" to mould problems. It doesn't, in fact, kill the spores or the hyphae, and actually encourages regrowth. Mould loves the ammonia, uses it as a foodstuff. There's some evidence that it helps select some of the more harmful strains, the ones people most react to. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

There really isn't a good wet clean-up method. It's down to avoidance, the house structure (removal of sources of damp, leaks, thermal conduction insulation, convective heating and intelligent heating controls; active circulation of air, trickle vents) and the lifestyle of those inside. Sometimes it's the house, sometimes the residents... and mostly a combination of the two.

But, as I said earlier, I'd think the OP would be better moving (since he's denied being amphibious ) and seek a property where there's better ventilation from the off. Just a thought though; if the LL intends to/starts putting in better ventilation, that should help him get his deposit back, as it's pretty much tantamount to the LL accepting responsibility (in the main). I still think it'd be a fishing trip trying to claim compo for the damaged goods myself, and is more likely to make the LL chase the tenant in response.

Easier to find another pond... er... flat

moneyspendexpert

DaftyDuck wrote: »

But, as I said earlier, I'd think the OP would be better moving (since he's denied being amphibious )

Easier to find another pond... er... flat

ok, I'm an amphibian in denial but don't tell my LL as I'd be in breach of clause 16.5(a) (ii) of my tenancy agreement. No pets or amphibious creatures to reside at the property.

Arthien

DaftyDuck wrote: »

Unfortunately, bleach is actually one of the worst "solutions" to mould problems. It doesn't, in fact, kill the spores or the hyphae, and actually encourages regrowth. Mould loves the ammonia, uses it as a foodstuff. There's some evidence that it helps select some of the more harmful strains, the ones people most react to. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

I'll be sure to let our LL know this if he tries to withhold our deposit then, he insisted on us bleaching the walls clean! Although I suspect the fact that he's currently getting quotes from builders to redo the roof will be enough to show where the fault lies...

Ah the joys of renting :cool: