Letting agents blame tenants for damp and mould in rental homes

Letting agents blame tenants for damp and mould in rental homes

10:11 AM, 18th September 2024, About 3 hours ago 7

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Damp and mould in rental properties is usually caused by tenants, say letting agents.

A survey by the Property Ombudsman shows that most letting agents believe condensation caused by actions like drying clothes on radiators and cooking without using extractor fans are the main cause for damp and mould.

The study reveals the Property Ombudsman has received more than 1,000 enquiries relating to damp and mould.

Ongoing issues relating to damp and mould

According to the survey, 42% of lettings businesses had ongoing issues relating to damp and mould in properties.

Only 9% of agents surveyed said they were unconfident in landlords’ ability to recognise issues and 72% were confident of a quick resolution.

The majority of agents also considered that where construction issues were the cause of the damp and mould, a property should not be let until those issues had been resolved.

Tenants referred more than 1,000 enquiries about damp issues to The Property Ombudsman in 2023 which resulted in 200 cases and the award of more than £36,000 to tenants.

Opening windows and using extractor fans

The Property Ombudsman has now issued guidance to landlords and tenants on how to manage damp and mould.

The guide advises renters that proper heating and ventilation, such as opening windows and using extractor fans, are key to preventing damp and mould. It also recommends wiping away condensation and using anti-fungal products to treat mould.

If renters follow this advice and still experience problems, issues should be reported to the landlord or agent for investigation.

Separate guidance for landlords and agents covering construction and property defect issues has also been produced.

The Property Ombudsman recommends landlords and letting agents consider hiring specialists to fully identify the issues and the root causes of the problem.

Work with renters and landlords

Rebecca Marsh, The Property Ombudsman, said: “Our research shows what a complex issue this is. Condensation, damp and mould are interlinked and caused by a variety of factors: environmental, structural and behavioural but one thing is clear, we need to work with renters, landlords and agents to prevent it from occurring.

“We’ve published some simple guides which we’ll share with businesses, landlords and tenants to ensure greater awareness of the causes and symptoms, how to report it and the risks in living in damp and mouldy conditions.

“We welcome the government’s plans for further protections for tenants in the private sector as we’ve seen the devastating effects of properties not being adequately repaired or maintained.”

The Renters’ Rights Bill will apply Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector and apply a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time.

The full guide for renters and landlords can be viewed here


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Ross Tulloch

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11:24 AM, 18th September 2024, About 2 hours ago

One room I have had to be cleaned and repainted twice in one year because the tenant did not do what is needed to prevent mould. She left. The next tenant did what was needed and there was no mould whatever after two years. Same room, susceptible to mould. Entirely down to tenant

JB

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11:37 AM, 18th September 2024, About 2 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by Ross Tulloch at 18/09/2024 - 11:24
I have experienced this too, it is very common.

Raz

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11:42 AM, 18th September 2024, About 2 hours ago

I would have no problem hiring a specialist as long as the cost of this is allowed to be charged to whomever is proven to be responsible/at fault - be it landlord or tenant.

Chris @ Possession Friend

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12:14 PM, 18th September 2024, About An hour ago

I have watched the Ombudsman's webinar and their own survey of tenants reveal high numbers admitting to Not heating their properties because of energy costs.

We can call this Tenant responsibility, abiding by the Terms of their contract - Tenancy agreement - ( Lol ) Lifestyle, or whatever term you wish, but its a fact of life that the sad death of Awaab, won't change.
Yes there are properties that have building - fabric issues to address, but these are in the minority in any credible study that has or would be carried out.

The Ombudsman claims to want to look at the problem 'holistically' as in considering everything, behaviour fabric etc. However, holistic should also include historic.

What previous issues ( or lack thereof ) have occurred at this property by other occupants.
Or put another way, what other properties has the occupant complained of mould ( which has actually been of their own making.

Holistic - historic needs to be longer term focus, but then nobody is interested in finding or attributing the cause to tenants !

Paul Essex

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12:32 PM, 18th September 2024, About 49 minutes ago

Seems to be a lot of buck-passing in this article where agents are leaving landlords to 'diagnose' the problems - even when they are the ones doing the regular inspections!

Elizabeth Hill

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13:42 PM, 18th September 2024, Less than a minute ago

So how is it the landlords responsibility if, for example, the inventory shows no signs of mould at the start of the tenancy, or after years of renting it out there have been no complaints by previous tenants or mentions of it being seen at end of tenancy check outs. At what point is it deemed that it is down to that particular tenant's lifestyle or refusal to heat/ventilate the property and not dry clothes over radiators? Why should landlords have to take responsibility for tenants lifestyle or their inability to afford to pay their energy bills? If the property is provided to a good mould free standard that can be evidenced on inventory then I'm afraid tenants should shoulder the cost of remedying any damage/defects caused through their negligence. I don't dispute that in poorly maintained/damp properties but it seems like once again the heavy handed approach penalising the majority to target the few.

Cider Drinker

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13:54 PM, 18th September 2024, Less than a minute ago

Some tenants cause damp. Some properties are more prone to damp.

Modern living makes older houses unsuitable for tenants.

Showers create much more moisture than baths. And people shower twice per day rather than bathing twice per week.

It would be better to keep homes at a constant temperature. Instead, we heat our homes to boiling point and warmer air contains more moisture. Then, we turn the heating off and the moisture finds cold spots where it forms condensation and eventually, the dreaded mould.

Many of the older properties have been insulated so much that they can no longer breathe.

Insulating lofts and walls is like you wearing a big coat and hat. Unfortunately, you can’t take it off in the summer. Just as we weren’t designed to wear a big coat and hat, it’s not good for buildings that weren’t designed to be insulated so much.

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