Looking for some advice please 
. Tenants have been in for 6 months they insist on drying their clothes on airers in the small lounge and refuse to open the windows. I went round to fix a front door issue, to find the loungefurniture covered in mould and they have sprayed bleach all over the fabric to “clean it”!!
What are my next steps? Do I get them a dehumidifier? Do I replace the furniture and take if from their deposit? Suggest they source new furniture themselves? Any advice would be appreciated…I know I need to put all of this in writing to them
I would document what you have seen with images.
Is it anywhere else in the house?
Are there any structural issues that may be contributing to it?
Was the house heated properly during the winter?
Advise them this is a lifestyle issue and attach a leaflet on condensation and mould .
Advise them ref heating , drying clothes outside, opening windows.
I would not replace furniture . They have damaged it through lifestyle and then sprayed it with bleach.
They will just keep doing the same.
In my experience they unplug humidifiers as they are too noisy and needs the tenant to cooperate emptying the tank and they cost money to run.
You may consider a PIV unit but speaking from experience I put them in to cover myself legally.
I still find you scan get mould with them.
If the tenants aren’t heating the house or there lifestyle is contributing to mould you may still have a problem
Eviction would be my next step.
1 Like
Thank you for your wise words. I have taken photos today. When they moved in 6 months ago, I went round a few weeks after, the place was like a laundry, and all the windows shut, internal doors closed …you could feel the moisture in the air. I explained the “physics” of condensation and gave them a comprehensive leaflet of do’s/donn’ts for minimising moisture build up but they seemingly haven’t taken it on board!
Having read David’s post I think he has a valid point.
The damage they are creating will outweigh the rent you are getting .
In fact, I evicted tenants last year for the same reason ( the tenant put sellotape over the humidity sensor fan in the bathroom and the PiV unit adjacent to the bathroom ) . They had mould in the bathroom which should not have happened .
The fan had to be replaced as taping it burnt the sensor.
I spent thousands correcting his damages and lost 2.5 months dealing with his damages.
Having him as a tenant was actually resulting in losses.
How can tenants be such ignorant pigs???
That would have been the point where I would have said, if this continues, you will be getting a S21 when your fixed term expires.
Proceed with S21 now, ideally with a solicitor to help you get all your ducks in a row and make sure you don’t miss any. This is only going to get much worse as we move towards autumn/winter.
Following advice, I emailed my concerns to them, with photos to document the situation. I have had an immediate response, very apologetic, and acknowledging their error, and they will be replacing the furniture.For context, they are two young nurses, first time in the UK. And clearly have no idea how to manage our climate! They genuinely appear mortified as they had no idea the Cillit Bang mould spray was not for fabric! 
I may yet live to regret giving them the benefit of the doubt…but I will be monitoring things carefully going forward!
2 Likes
ah… in that case, they may simply be ignorant. I had two care workers, a married couple, move in recently, both from overseas. I recommended they get a condensing washer dryer which they did. No issues with drying clothes like you describe. Perhaps that is something you can suggest to them.
Whilst so think you have an issue with these tenants which this will not resolve, you can get tiny moisture/temp monitors so you can see what the humidity is. Above 60% is bad. Here is a pic- they cost about ÂŁ8 on Amazon. It may help a tenant understand.
3 Likes
Make sure the furniture is like for like as they could be buying some cheap rubbish which also is not to fire regulations, something that you will be liable for as they are replacing your furniture.
In writing state that they are in breach of contract and that you will need an inspection once they do a full deep clean, Have replaced the furniture, cleaned all walls done, have the carpets cleaned Yours professional cleaning equipment them self Remove the mould spores from the carpets and modify to a reasonable living standard to prevent this happening again. Should any walls have been impacted by the mould then they are responsible for removal, decorating to the standard when occupied .If you find it is happening again, you will start eviction procedures and their deposit will be in jeopardy plus any costs exceeding that.
If upon inspection you find things have not been done to the correct standard issue a section 21
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.