Mould in rental house

chilli_green

Hi all, feel free to link me elsewhere if this has already been answered. I have a question about landlords and letting agents dealing with mould in a rental property. We've been in our current place for a year, the ground floor of a 2-story terrace house.

After about 8 months (around once the winter set in) it became clear that we have a problem with black mould growing in various places in the flat. We highlighted this to the letting agent and all they came back with was a list of suggestions that you could find just by Googling 'how to deal with mould', and confirmation that the landlord says they fully damp-proofed the property before we moved in.

Since then we've taken as many measures as we can think of - buying both a mains-powered dehumidifier and single-use moisture collectors, ventilating, etc, etc as well as cleaning all patches with heavy-duty mould cleaner. The mould keeps growing without change.

The thing is, the landlord is effectively saying it's our problem, i.e. from drying washing, cooking, etc. But half the mould is growing at the other end of the house from where we dry clothes and cook, and is pretty clearly a problem with the house itself. The letting agent even mentioned they'd had a problem with it in previous tenancies when we first came to view. So what actions can we take? I don't want to sour the relationship with the letting agent but we've had clothes ruined by mould infesting wardrobes, plus definite coughs since the growth really set in in the winter.

Suggestions or previous experience welcome!

emmsie123

Have you got the heating on and the windows open?
Do you put lids on saucepans, have window open when in shower or bath.
Most mould is down to how you live.

seven-day-weekend

Most mould is to do with lack of ventilation, inadequate heating and putting moisture into the atmosphere, i.e. drying clothes on radiators.

However, it can also occur on houses with inadequate insulation. If this is the case with you, I don't think there is much you can do about it, other than heat, ventilate and keep washing it off.

I had one room in one house I lived in, on the second floor (three storey house), which got infested with mould every winter. It was nowhere near any drying washing or other moisture source; however, it faced north, was not insulated and not heated. I just washed the mould off every winter with a mild bleach solution.

Keep furniture away from the walls so that air can circulate.

[Deleted User]

I am sorry you are in this situation. As you already realise, you will be told over and over again that its all down to how you live. I had mould in my rental house.., was told it was down to me of course, but I've never had mould anywhere else, use a heat pump tumble dryer, ventilate, dehumidifier. Part of the mould stopped occuring once a caved in ceiling was repaired. Apparently, now I've moved out they've replaced another roof area.

I'm afraid the only thing you can do is move if nothing you are doing is helping, the LL won't look into the problem properly and you are sure its not you. There is this generally held idea that its down to the person living in the house.

But I'm sorry, all this won't stop you getting 80% of people telling you its down to you.

csgohan4

I had to get a dehumidifier for my rental, rather than have magic mushrooms keep growing in my room.

skivenov

Very good page on the subject

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/common_problems/damp_and_mould_problems_in_rented_homes

ognum

chilli_green wrote: »

Hi all, feel free to link me elsewhere if this has already been answered. I have a question about landlords and letting agents dealing with mould in a rental property. We've been in our current place for a year, the ground floor of a 2-story terrace house.

After about 8 months (around once the winter set in) it became clear that we have a problem with black mould growing in various places in the flat. We highlighted this to the letting agent and all they came back with was a list of suggestions that you could find just by Googling 'how to deal with mould', and confirmation that the landlord says they fully damp-proofed the property before we moved in.

Since then we've taken as many measures as we can think of - buying both a mains-powered dehumidifier and single-use moisture collectors, ventilating, etc, etc as well as cleaning all patches with heavy-duty mould cleaner. The mould keeps growing without change.

The thing is, the landlord is effectively saying it's our problem, i.e. from drying washing, cooking, etc. But half the mould is growing at the other end of the house from where we dry clothes and cook, and is pretty clearly a problem with the house itself. The letting agent even mentioned they'd had a problem with it in previous tenancies when we first came to view. So what actions can we take? I don't want to sour the relationship with the letting agent but we've had clothes ruined by mould infesting wardrobes, plus definite coughs since the growth really set in in the winter.

Suggestions or previous experience welcome!

OP sorry you have this problem and of course it may not be down to your lifestyle but often it is.

I have rental properties and in one a particular tenant complained of severe mould issues, these had not occurred with the tenant before and when this tenant moved out they didn't occur again. The only difference was the tenant.

DRP

chilli_green wrote: »

The thing is, the landlord is effectively saying it's our problem, i.e. from drying washing, cooking, etc. But half the mould is growing at the other end of the house from where we dry clothes and cook, and is pretty clearly a problem with the house itself. !

I'm not sure that it has to follow that the mould is in the same place as where the moisture is generated - presumably you will see mould in the cooler, and/or less ventilated areas.

HappyMJ

chilli_green wrote: »

Hi all, feel free to link me elsewhere if this has already been answered. I have a question about landlords and letting agents dealing with mould in a rental property. We've been in our current place for a year, the ground floor of a 2-story terrace house.

After about 8 months (around once the winter set in) it became clear that we have a problem with black mould growing in various places in the flat. We highlighted this to the letting agent and all they came back with was a list of suggestions that you could find just by Googling 'how to deal with mould', and confirmation that the landlord says they fully damp-proofed the property before we moved in.

Since then we've taken as many measures as we can think of - buying both a mains-powered dehumidifier and single-use moisture collectors, ventilating, etc, etc as well as cleaning all patches with heavy-duty mould cleaner. The mould keeps growing without change.

The thing is, the landlord is effectively saying it's our problem, i.e. from drying washing, cooking, etc. But half the mould is growing at the other end of the house from where we dry clothes and cook, and is pretty clearly a problem with the house itself. The letting agent even mentioned they'd had a problem with it in previous tenancies when we first came to view. So what actions can we take? I don't want to sour the relationship with the letting agent but we've had clothes ruined by mould infesting wardrobes, plus definite coughs since the growth really set in in the winter.

Suggestions or previous experience welcome!

If you're not getting mould and damp patches in the summer then technically yes it's the down to the tenant to resolve.

I know opening the windows makes the place feel cold but you've really got to open them as much as you possibly can.

And...keep the place warm.

Carl31

We have this problem (amongst others), our house was lived in by the landlord just before we moved in, so i think they lived with it

Ours is an old, cold house, we have tried what we can and manage it with decent ventilation, leaving doors / windows open, cupboard doors etc.. making sure air can cirulate

LL doesn't want to know, and i cant be bothered to argue

Kynthia

DRP wrote: »

I'm not sure that it has to follow that the mould is in the same place as where the moisture is generated - presumably you will see mould in the cooler, and/or less ventilated areas.

I agree. Moisture created in the air will travel and settle on the coldest walls/surfaces in the property. That's why preventing additional moisture getting in the air is key, and using heat and ventilation to deal with moisture you can't prevent.

OP it's possible the property is the issue due to lack of insulation or perhaps a leak or water ingress somewhere (guttering or perhaps a breached damp - proof course). Can you see any possible structural issues if you look inside and outside the property? However you don't say whether you've followed guidance on reducing moisture production, although it's good that you have a dehumidifier and ventilate. So follow the advice about not drying clothes inside, lids on pans, use extractor fans, ventilate daily with internal doors open to create a draft, keep furniture a few cms away from external walls, heat regularly, open any trickle vents on the windows, etc. Then you'll know whether it's lifestyle or the property.