Hi,
My tenant is moving out in a week’s time. Property is a Bungalow (all rooms are in the ground floor). Recently, I noticed there is mould on the wall area close to the double glazing window and external doors. Tenant never mentioned about it when he was in the property.
As far as, he was always out and not using proper ventilation or heating. Who is responsible to fix the mould?
Is it the tenant responsible for it as he did not use proper ventilation or heating?
He is moving out, is the landlord allowed to use the deposit to fix the issue?
Thanks
Err, it depends what kind of mould, how serious it is, and whether or not you fulfilled your conditions as a landlord. E.g. did you provide heating for all rooms? Obviously electric and gas prices are crazy and we are all economising by stopping using tumble dryers (did you provide one?). Are the windows vented? Is the room vented with e.g. airbricks? Basically, is the high humidity causing mould because the house has some structural issue? It has been colder this year so cold rooms are hitting the dew point and water forms when it hits the coldest surface. If, with the knowledge that the house has structural issues preventing adequate ventilation, did you put it in the contract that the tenant has to ventilate by opening windows, etc? It all depends.
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Was it caused by the tenant or some structural issue? How would you prove that to the deposit scheme? Why didnt you pick up the problem on your regular inspections?
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It did not happen in the last winter or anytime in the past.
In a conversation tenant told me he is not turning on the heating for too long as the cost is high now.
I believe tenant is not even opening the windows.
But, like you said it is not easy to prove these to the deposit agency.
Thanks,
Id probably have a go if he said he hadnt heated the property. It wont cost you anything but just dont count on a result.
It’s a step too far to expect the tenant to fix your mould.
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just fix it but see what the cause is as well
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