How should landlords handle damp and mould issues?

I have one property I have owned for 28 years.
After 20 years as an HMO, with no damp or mould issues whatsover, I decided to refurbish it and let it as a single family home for less tenant turnover and an easier life.
Within 2 months of reletting, the tenant sent me a stroppy email with about 40 photos of damp and mould throughout the whole house completely ruining most of the decoration that I had literally just paid for. I felt so low about that. Somewhat baffled I then had a PIV system fitted and upgraded all the extractors and did some remedial redecoration.
About a month after that the next door neighbour started complaining. "Do you know you tenant cooks 24/7 for her brother's restaurant? We are sick of the smell all day and all night." Well I didn't, but it explained everything. A quick check showed that the new cooker hood was literally caked in grease. I turned a bit sour on them after this and thankfully they left after a year. I returned the house to being an HMO and to this day I haven't had another issue with damp or mould.
I do fear that the way things are going, I could have been on the receiving end of big trouble for the condensation and subsequent mould effects of their "business." This is one of the many, many, reasons why I am gradually selling up.

I have a similar property with walls that do attract damp and mould. With one tenant I had to entirely repaint the room twice in one year after cleaning it. She left and was fine with the tenant the next tenant I explained the issue he kept it well ventilated and there was zero problem and zero damp and Mould. In my experience this is partly education and partly Tenant And little more

I have this with a tenant complaining about damp and mould. I am managing the flat for an elderly relative who can no longer tent out the flat and has moved into residential care. The relative needs to sell the flat. The tenant has lived there 15 years. Suddenly now they have an issue with damp and mould. Accusing my relative of not doing anything about it which I know would not be the case. My relative has even paid for maintenance for the tenants small garden since he’s been unable to do it due to ill health. The tenant refuses to move and now we need to get them evicted even though they are single and young. They are waiting for council housing and they work for the council. It’s proving to be a nightmare.

Running a commercial kitchen is not residential lifestyle so certainly a cause.

I would report your tenant to HMRC, to the Local Authority's Food Safety Team, also check to see if the tenant's food business is registered https://consumeradvisory.co.uk/how-to-check-if-a-food-business-is-registered/

I would hope that your Tenancy Agreement states for residential purposes only and that no trade or business may be undertaken in the property.

You may also find that you yourself are breaching the terms of your Lease ie property being used for a business.

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 10/07/2024 - 10:18
Yes it’s certainly a breach, but it’s one word against the other. I can’t prove it, but she said it. And I included it in my report which she reviewed and ok’d (I assume she didn’t review). So that’s my only proof, but she could then say she’s not doing it anymore.

I mean, the food/cooking is one thing, my struggle is how can a landlord physically accommodate the variety of different lifestyles, and be on the hook for damp and mould always.

I have a house with a gable end that attracts condensation.

I removed a brick to see if it was the wall ties. Some of them are breached with bits of cement - probably since the property was built in the 1950s. However, it was also evident that the cavity wall insulation was poorly installed and there are large voids where it hasn’t spread properly.

The cost of remedial action would probably be many thousands and the property is only worth around £90k. So, I bought the tenant a dehumidifier and I keep the rent low. The dehumidifier does a cracking job and when the tenant leaves (next year) I’ll change it to a holiday let (if CGT is increased) or sell it.

Sounds like you have gone above and beyond on this.If they are unreasonable tenants and it sounds like using it for a business get rid of them now and even consider selling the property as a lesson learned.You can go on paying for work following surveys and because the tenants create a lot of moisture, doesn't dry it up, doesn't ventilate they will continue to complain that it's your fault.
I have one property where various tenants have complained about different degrees of mould yet my new tenant has no issues, because, guess what he opens his windows.

I have a flat that I have rented to various people for nearly 30 years and never had a mould problem until 3 guys move in.
They did not ventilate set up a washing line in the Lounge where they dried all their clothes and refused to used the tumble drier.
Within 2 months of them moving in the room was covered in black mould, luckily I got rid of them after 6 months.

Yet every time I hear anyone speak on this subject they are so blinkered that they always have to blame the Landlord and would not dream of suggesting that the tenants lifestyle might possibly be causing the problem!

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 10/07/2024 - 10:18
Of there's a business being run, it may affect your insurance.

It would be very helpful if government/ local authority led an education program for tenants re mold and damp issues ( most landlords are well informed).
Most of my tenants who have an issue with mold automatically say that the property is damp etc.
Sometimes I instal a new extractor fan, though not needed. Most tenants begin to understand the problem regarding their usage of the property and realise they need to ventilate etc.
My local authority officer recently told a tenant to open windows and wipe condensation, and the property was not 'faulty'. The tenant complained about damp mold to the authority under the licensing scheme,