When condensation and mould is caused by the tenant?

Reply to the comment left by Robert at 11/02/2024 - 12:01
Quite happy to deal with any edicts the government gives BUT the rent must increase with every improvement.

Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 11/02/2024 - 12:49
(Thanks for reminding). Of course. As all were very happy with the result on the day, we proposed the rent increase. Accepted.

It used to be that all double glazed windows had trickle vents to ensure ventilation. Why isn't this still the case?

The answer to condensation is very simple - VENTILATION. This is not good for ‘energy efficiency’ because it enforces "air changes" and takes the hot air out and lets cold air in. Sealing buildings to German Passivhaus standards means you have to ventilate mechanically. But with Air Conditioning there are two major benefits.


Sealing an existing building to Passivhaus standards is prohibitively expensive. Having a leaky building in the first place means you can dehumidify the internal air with a basic dehumidifier - or use individual room Air Conditioning units. (With a heating option these units cost about £250). Unlike a dehumidifier which just cools the air already inside the building, AC units force fresh air inside and increase the building's internal air pressure. Internal air will still escape naturally from a moderately well-sealed building. But, when passed over a cold 'fridge' AC element, the moisture in the air condenses out. Result - no Tenant Induced Condensation.


The AC unit also beneficially acts like a heat pump. By using outside air as a source of energy it is possible to get 5 kiloWatts of useful heat into a building from one kiloWatt of electricity - that's from the best AC units. The problem is, with the privatised National Grid, to use electricity for heating, landlords are forced to pay four times as much compared to burning gas. So to get maximum payback from their heat pumps landlords will need PV to supply FREE electricity. They will then have the option to tell the National Grid where it can stick its standing charges !

The expense of green upgrades can simply be passed on to benefit the hoards of nice new green tenants. The government should pay landlords £500 p.a. Winter Fuel Payment for doing the National Grid's job for them - but don't hold your breath.

Reply to the comment left by Lady Accidental at 22/02/2024 - 20:17
Yes Positive Ventilation. 4 properties (Victorian, Georgian) no issues with condensation or black mould. Longest installation 5 years. The tenants were so pleased we are able to pay back the investment within one year from the agreed rent increase. All happy.

Check out this post I made recently. Current ongoing matter with a tenant.

Effectively, yes, landlords have to sort it out. Can’t blame tenants, even when it’s crystal clear.

Depends on the tenant - if they are financially credible (ie care about their credit score), have common sense and are rationale, you can educate them and discuss what to do to move forward.

If it’s a tenant from the other end of the spectrum, they have nothing to lose and landlords have it all to lose. Can’t educate someone who doesn’t care enough for someone else’s property. Law is essentially on their side, and to prove your case, you’ll lose financially anyway via legal fees and headspace.

https://www.property118.com/how-should-landlords-handle-damp-and-mould-issues/#comments

Hi,
This tenant now has slight mould/damp areas. (no damp/mould issues for previous tenants) this property is a 3 bed concrete construction walls built in 60/70s.
in a bid to future proof against other tenants, Will the install of 1 PIV resolve this fully, Can this be stopped/blocked/turned off by tenant?
My letting agent said we could give them a de humidifier as other tenants have benefited/they work really well!!..
All advise and recommendations would be greatly appreciated as I have 2 other properties (all mortgages so being clobbered for the 'income'). I am concerned given the the government have now made this the landlord responsibility. even though its a tenants lifestyle that causes this in these homes that have ability to ventilate etc...

Reply to the comment left by Julie Goodchild at 16/09/2024 - 11:06
Give them a dehumidifier, and they will argue that the electricity should be paid for by the landlord despite the fact that it costs them nothing to run as all the electricity used contributes to warming the property. When they leave, they will take the dehumidifier or, worse, sell it and claim that it was broken.
Anything supplied to tenants must be 'tenant proof', indestructible and bolted down to be immovable.

We don't muck around with this one. Mould and damp is now #1 in property hazards listing. The odds are stacked against landlords.
Look into Awaab's Law. This is incorporated into Social Housing regulation and to be adopted in the new Reform Bill, reaching private landlords.
Waiting for the Bill but as a taster - 48 hours response in case of emergency, 14 days to determine solution, 7 days to install (not practical given the waiting list)..
For condensation leading to mould we install positive ventilation, which is on in the background all the time, wired in. .
We focus on bathrooms, hot spots and as necessary the flat (Victorian and Georgian) in general. In one urgent case the tenants were so pleased, they were happy to increase the rent, and we paid it off in one year. .
We use Envirovent, but there are others. They will come and do a free survey which is useful if there are questions. A year after installation we get a return visit to inspect and a report.

Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 11/02/2024 - 12:49
I think the only way to deal with mould is not to rent as they are the main cause of the mould, or knock the property down and rebuild, but the tenants will soon make that mouldy.As for raising rent you can be sure Labour will shortly rent cap.