What would you ask Michael Gove, if you could?

I certainly have noted a shift in Michael Gove’s attitude to policy as more time passes since his dialogue with NRLA.

He is prioritising vote winning comments over sense.

We can expect some vote winning actions such as the scrapping of S21 during 2024.

But this is an issue where the cause can be either due to tenant behaviour or the building management. Often a combination of the two.

Sensible landlords who wish to manage risk will be putting into place actions to minimise the opportunities for damp and mould growth and these will provide a more robust defence to tenants and local authorities.

Actions include addressing the heating and insulation opportunities in vulnerable areas, installing the very effective PIV units, ensuring there is adequate ventilation (regularly cleaned trickle vents), support with dehumidifiers if necessary and educating tenants in measures to minimise the risk of damp and to treat mould when it is apparent.

HMO landlords that have converted houses to all en suites need to recognise that the houses now generate a huge amount more water internally and somehow that has to get out into the atmosphere.

Dear Mr Gove, Stop acting like a socialist with their brains removed and think about what you plan to do. Your buddy George Osbourne did a favour for the anti-Tories by banishing the sensible tax relief on mortgage interest. If you want to kick out more landlords, continue. The state of either colour can't finance the rental market.

What the £*c*&g planet are you on you complete £w@t?

Q. I have a tenant who dries their washing on a clothes horse in the lounge causing damp. If it’s not the tenant’s lifestyle choice who’s lifestyle choice is it ?

There are solutions to clean mould, you can also use simple bleach in a well ventilated environment. It costs pennies to do. We live in England, landlords cannot control the climate! A well ventilated home environment is the issue, but I've had tenants deliberately block up vents. And if they don't allow the landlord access what can a landlord do? The balance in favour of the tenant has gone too far, that's why landlords are leaving and selling up. Isn't the message clear yet? 300,000 rented homes less now compared to 2016,,,, with an immigrant population of +745,000 in one year! The incompetence and isolation of the MPs to the real world is ridiculous. Grow up Gove... if all the landlords chucked it in tomorrow what would you lot do then?

Why has no one commented on the need to ensure that there are no STRUCTURAL causes of damp?
Its all well and good proposing suggestions for tenants to minimize the occurrence of damp condensation but we must equally be honest that structural disrepair of properties is a primary cause.
Awaab Isaak the two year who died as a result of the failings of the landlord ( an RSL) to address the structural not 'tenant lifestyle cause of the black mould.
One should never prioritize profits above human lives.
But that's just my opinion....

There will always be rogue private slum landlords who seem able to fly under the council radar in their localities.
They let to those who can afford only the worst type of property, often numerous people to a room, sleeping in shifts, and cannot afford to complain. Yet landlords who do their level best, often going the extra mile, and charging below market rents, are easy targets to fill profligate council coffers.

But what is now becoming public knowledge is the truly awful state of so much social housing. Where is Shelter then?

Reply to the comment left by Ma'at Housing Solutions at 14/02/2024 - 12:23
It's not been the primary cause in any of my properties, that's why I've not mentioned it, I don't know about others. Yet still I get problems.

I wonder what the cause is in a house of mine where they stuck cardboard over the airbricks? Or following the installation of a PIV unit on the landing with the isolator hidden in the loft to prevent them switching it off, I found toilet paper stuffed into It's ventilation grills?

And of course that is all over and above not heating, not opening windows, drying clothes indoors and even using a vented tumble dryer unvented!!

Are you for real??

I have had up to 47 properties on rent since 1992 and I've yet to come across a structural reason for any mould in my rentals.

Reply to the comment left by Paul landlord at 14/02/2024 - 12:37Completely agree with you Paul. I had two houses rented out. Both had ongoing damp/mould problems.
I gave tenants some advice on how to deal with this 'lifestyle' issue. All of it ignored.
I provided dehumidifiers for both but they failed to use them. Condensation and black mould continued. They failed to clean it off on a regular basis. They dried clothes on the radiators. Never opened the windows.
So I served section 21 notices .Once the tenants were gone I Sold the houses. New owner occupiers. Now not a trace of damp/mould to be seen. Different mind set, different lifestyle = different result. Wake up Gove .

What annoys me is the dishonesty of this Gove creature. Why can’t he tell it like it is and say in some cases it’s the lifestyle choice of the tenant and in other cases it’s nothing to do with lifestyle choice and is a structural issue. We all know that’s the truth at the end of the day. He’s just making himself look plain stupid but we’re now in an environment where they just don’t care what we think of them. Things are going to be way worse under Labour that’s for sure but at least it will give the Tories the huge kicking they well and truly deserve. All we can do is take some comfort from that.