condensation resulting in mould growth in rental property

Pennylane

haven't read all this thread but enough of it to say what I'd do.

I'd write to the tenants and say that any damage caused by condensation is now down to them as they are using portable gas appliances which they are not supposed to be doing. remind them that there is no condensation problem when the house is empty and they have been provided with a dehumidifier.

How often is your daughter doing a property inspection? She needs to do those every six months.

a house near us is being rented out and the tenants keep complaining about black mould and condensation but the people who owned it before never had a problem. They kept the house well heated, well ventilated and didn't drape wet clothes everywhere. These tenants have been given a dehumidifier by the landlord which is really as much as he can do.

They have never had any heating oil in the year they've lived there and moaned to my husband that they can't afford it. They choose to spend their money on fags, booze, tattoos and feeding pets they can't really afford to keep. The House is freezing cold, there are 2 adults and 2 dogs who never go out and are confined in a very small space 24/7. all the windows are running wet with condensation whenever you walk past. You can't help some people ..... They've been told how to avoid these problems but they do their own thing.

pd001

Pennylane wrote: »

haven't read all this thread but enough of it to say what I'd do.

I'd write to the tenants and say that any damage caused by condensation is now down to them as they are using portable gas appliances which they are not supposed to be doing. remind them that there is no condensation problem when the house is empty and they have been provided with a dehumidifier.

How often is your daughter doing a property inspection? She needs to do those every six months.

a house near us is being rented out and the tenants keep complaining about black mould and condensation but the people who owned it before never had a problem. They kept the house well heated, well ventilated and didn't drape wet clothes everywhere. These tenants have been given a dehumidifier by the landlord which is really as much as he can do.

They have never had any heating oil in the year they've lived there and moaned to my husband that they can't afford it. They choose to spend their money on fags, booze, tattoos and feeding pets they can't really afford to keep. The House is freezing cold, there are 2 adults and 2 dogs who never go out and are confined in a very small space 24/7. all the windows are running wet with condensation whenever you walk past. You can't help some people ..... They've been told how to avoid these problems but they do their own thing.

My daughter doesn't inspect the property very often. It is normally about every 6 ish months. The letting agent also inspects the property, roughly every three months.

The portable gas appliance problem was hopefully dealt with by the letting agent very late last week. I will ensure that my daughter follows this up.
I wouldn't mind betting that they are still using it, because they are getting cheap, maybe even free, bottled gas from a friend of theirs.

The tenant has already stated that they are running the dehumidifier as intended. However both me and my daughter think that this is not the case.
We think that if they were running it, then they would not have a condensation/mould issue in the room that they are complaining about.

For everyone's information, and I think that I have actually mentioned this before..
the mould is forming on the window sill of the main bedroom

This must mean that condensation is running down the inside of that window, and collecting on the window sill.

buggu

If its just around the window, I would get that checked too, seals could be broken. Just get your daughter deal with things that is her responsibility, like the loft, the vents and the windows so no comebacks.

As for the tenants, make sure they made aware of the measures taken by your daughter, and also remind them of what there responsilities are, both verbally and in writing.

So long as they stop using that heater, ensure they keep vents up when appropriate, clean condensation from windows and try to keep the whole house house heated, if not compensate it with extra ventilation in those rooms nearest to the heated rooms(as they the ones more likely to get damp), they should be fine. Oh and use a dehumidifier if drying clothes inside, though if it was a big house you probably could get away without one.

The dehumidifier and opening the windows , should help clear the current damp, surely they can pop out somewhere for a day or two.

pd001

buggu wrote: »

If its just around the window, I would get that checked too, seals could be broken. Just get your daughter deal with things that is her responsibility, like the loft, the vents and the windows so no comebacks.

As for the tenants, make sure they made aware of the measures taken by your daughter, and also remind them of what there responsilities are, both verbally and in writing.

So long as they stop using that heater, ensure they keep vents up when appropriate, clean condensation from windows and try to keep the whole house house heated, if not compensate it with extra ventilation in those rooms nearest to the heated rooms(as they the ones more likely to get damp), they should be fine. Oh and use a dehumidifier if drying clothes inside, though if it was a big house you probably could get away without one.

The dehumidifier and opening the windows , should help clear the current damp, surely they can pop out somewhere for a day or two.

Thanks for that
My daughter will indeed do her bit, and only after that will the tenants will be guided as to the error of their ways.

Norman_Castle

Its possible the tenants are avoiding using the dehumidifier due to cost. Could you advise them of the actual running costs which may be less than they believe.

http://electricheatingcosts.com/dehumidifier-running-costs/

pd001

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Its possible the tenants are avoiding using the dehumidifier due to cost. Could you advise them of the actual running costs which may be less than they believe.

http://electricheatingcosts.com/dehumidifier-running-costs/

Thanks for that, we appreciate your input

pd001

A couple of quotes to expand the loft hatch with a pre formed hatch.
(we didn't know such a thing existed)
Anyway, one quote at £120.00 and another £150.00.
So we ll go for the cheaper quote.

As an aside, we asked one of the builders to have a look to see if there was a portable gas fire in the lounge
ITS STILL THERE!!!
So, the tenant has ignored a request from my daughters agent to remove it.

As I mentioned above we will not press the point home until...
1) the loft hatch has been made bigger (next week),
2) the loft has been insulated (hopefully not long after number 1 just above)
3) a fan has been installed in the bathroom (when my daughter settles on one that she wants at the right price point)
The Nuaire fan looks like a great piece of kit, but it is expensive. Surely there has to be a suitable fan that is priced more competitively priced?

I will update as we go along.

richardc1983

There's another 2 options:

An anline fan - http://www.amazon.co.uk/MANROSE-MF100T-IN-LINE-EXTRACTOR-MIXEDFLOW/dp/B005F41YOM/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421268067&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=Extractor+fab at £59 or can be found cheaper here: http://powerdiscount.co.uk/manrose-mf100t-in-line-mixed-flow-extractor-fan-with-timer-932-p.asp for £39.90.

You would then need some acoustic ducting http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hydroponics-Acoustic-Foam-Sono-Ducting/dp/B00O25VDAU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421268197&sr=8-3&keywords=Acoustic+ducting at £11.99

Then you will need an air intake vent as this extracts from a hole cut in the bathroom ceiling and then through the ducting to the fan and then out through the fan back into the ducting out out through a vent in the soffit.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adjustable-Air-Valve-Round-White/dp/B004BON7YW/ref=pd_sim_kh_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1SXC20APY6YSWA7FC328 @ £5.08 - This goes on the inside of the bathroom and then you need this for the soffit vent: http://www.amazon.co.uk/F4904W-External-Louvre-Grille-ducting/dp/B00M2X9K7C/ref=pd_sim_kh_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=1SXC20APY6YSWA7FC328 @ £6.99

Once you've added the price of the fan up and the ducting and vents etc it's cheaper than the cyfan. The fan Is instslled in the loft so is out of site and very neat. I would mount it suspended from the roof rafters rsther than the ceiling joists to avoid vibrations. Hang it via picture/mirror cord off of hook and eye and this cord is designed to hold 30kg and the fan prob weighs 2kg if that. This is how the Drimastercondense hangs in my loft and is recommended to be installed this way. If you choose to mount on the ceiling joists you will need to install on sound insulating matting otherw sue vibrations will resonate through the house.

Or the bare minimum you should be going for is http://www.amazon.co.uk/Envirovent-Silent-Bathroom-Extractor-Humidistat/dp/B00E7UXIVM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421272071&sr=8-2&keywords=envirovent+extractor+fan you need powerful ventilation and I will link to some appropriate videos further down highlighting this, if she goes for a cheap nasty extractor fan with a standard impeller like you see all over the place e she might as well not bother as they move next to nothing, you need minimum extract of say 30l/s when showering etc. The manrose fan will be more than adequate on speed. Electrician should be able to do it all for you.

Honestly try and hit home with your daughter about the extractor fan. She will have to spend a little bit to resolve this issue. Done properly and this will last. Take my advice I know this comes across as rather direct but I do this for a living and also have a keen interest in HVAC.

The reason the cyfan is a bit more expensive is it's an all in one very powerful fan with 5 year warrnaty. One fan fits all so to speak. It can also be mounted on the ceiling and ducted out through ducting via the loft the same way as the other fan I have referenced to. Take a look at the Amazon reviews. Nothing but positive.

Hope this helps

richardc1983

Just found a video showing you how the manrose fan above is different to an axial cheap option fan.

http://youtu.be/lb6Gxbe_nrs

And another video showing cheap fans and a decent fan in action. The decent fan will cost similar to the other priced fans above.

http://youtu.be/m1UChufAkFo

And another http://youtu.be/k5rlDfWPAgw - Many similar videos I was just browsing through. There's a decent axial fan in the last video I would say and can be had for £65 on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Envirovent-Silent-Bathroom-Extractor-Humidistat/dp/B00E7UXIVM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421272071&sr=8-2&keywords=envirovent+extractor+fan

The videos highlight the difference between your bog standard fans on the market whuch your daughter may think are acceptable.

pd001

Hello Richard,

Once again, We/I thank you for your input into this subject.
Your insight is very much appreciated.

If the decision were to be mine, then I would probably go for the Nuaire extractor. However I am virtually certain that my daughter will not.

Thank you