Thanks mate this is really good advice you oviously wear your heart on your sleeve
1 Like
Well 2 dehumidifiers an air brick, some good advice, and not to hard on the pocket, but the main thing is to keep a good relationship with my landlord, 
1 Like
Hi @David122 ,
Found a PDF online -
https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/content/page/55794/Damp,%20mould%20and%20condensation%20leaflet%20-%20July%202017.pdf
My friend is searching for more materials to send to the tenants.
Thanks
1 Like
This seems to be a common problem with rented properties due to tenants usually never opening windows, drying washing indoors and seldom if ever putting the heating on when the weather outside is freezing . Basically banging your head against a brick wall
Wecbought a high end dehumidifier and insisted she use it and this has helped 95%
2 Likes
I understand everything that link says but why do social housing or council say 'does your current property have adequate heating and ‘Ventilation’. Now I do open the window obviously not so much in cold weather. But even so black patches still appear on the bedroom walls, regardless of anything. No where else in the flat. The room is not in use apart from heating opening window and wiping window and frame wiping and ‘scraping’ filth off walls. As much as I understand a tenants duty. I fulfill that 100% I’m quite sure quite alot of tenants do as it’s their home, it’s quite easy for a landlord to blaim the tenant to cut costs I understand that but it is still not right. But I also understand that mould builds up if condensation is not wiped. But I wipe. I don’t think it’s normal to wipe each wall area round the hole room. You would be better giving it a lick of paint ln that case.
I have a dehumidifier now we will see.
Dehumidifier is a great thing
2 Likes
I have found a common thing which is very obvious is, that some landlords may blaim mould on tenants even if it is not Thier doing though in some cases it is the tenants not fulfilling to do Thier duties but not always. There is alot of information online about the causes of condensation, dampness and also mould that, alot of landlords may show some of this information, not be very straightforward, even try confuse the tenant into thinking they are to blaim. Now it really depends on your landlord if they has common decency or not. In this world cash is king not for ever body, I personally am not money motivated and can get by on the essentials. Every body is trying to save money with the cost of living no matter if they are wealthy or not. So if you have condensation or damp, for sure heat the area, ventilate, with ‘window’ if need be, though there really should be adequate ventilation and heating, also wipe condensation from windows and frame and if you see condensation on the wall above your head board on your bed for example wipe it so it’s not creating mould, use a dehumidifier as been advised before by others, I even took that advice myself. But even if you do all you can, to stop condensation and damp and still black patches appear on the walls, and your landlord is still putting the blaim on the tenant even if you 100% are sure your not at fault, if you feel hard done by. As a last resort when you feel you have no other options, get some one official in, environment health seems to quite interested and very happy to make an appointment and come inspect. Now it does not necessarily mean environment health will help you get another property quicker, they are more likely to get the landlord to get there property up to scratch so you can continue living there, but if nothing gets done and they say the property is inhabitable you can then get a letter from them as evidence a supporting document, to give to your local council, for a more affordable tenancy as they ask for this if you put on your application that the condition of the property is not up to living standards. I have not done this, the environment health, can do so, as the council also say if you get a letter from your landlord to say the property is not up to scratch so both letters are supporting documents as evidence but not alot of landlords will do this, some will, but others are trying to save money, cuts costs but also keep tenants in the property as if not they would not receive the rental income each month. so remember there are officials out there who the landlord may act like they no better and even try act more intelligent than even if they have 50+ years of buy to let properties ,but the officials it’s Thier job and and some are very passionate about Thier job. So it could be in your best interests to always get a second opinion by someone who is not involved in actually renting your the property cause they will be straight to the point. I would say someone with 50+ years of renting out property may have to move with the times instead of being stuck in the past. And that is how it is, I understand some landlords may not like this. But hey someone had to be a voice of the minority 
Over 80% of so-called damp in Flats houses are Tenant lead. Fact. Drying clothes indoors, on Clothes horses or radiators creates condensation, bath washing again causes condensation, showering causes condensation but in this case it can be reduced if wiping the shower wall and doors down to reduce the amount of water that is going to evaporate into the air. Cooking in the kitchen, gas appliances, animals, every human produces a certain amount of humidity into the room or property, approx a pint and a half per day but will stand corrected on that number in cold weather, Variations in weather will cause condensation on the windows if not properly ventilated or wipe down daily, or add temperature differences.
All of this causes condensation in the property so you have a combination of tenancy lead Contribution and weather.
Add in the lack of ventilation in the property due to either of the tenant not opening not just a window but windows on either side of the property to cause an airflow, no or inadequate ventilation in the bathroom, shower room if applicable and kitchen due to inadequate extractor fans or none at all, and the issue is compounded.
Cavity wall double glazing, trickle vents and roofing insulation all help to keep heating cost down, but that does not obviate the need for ventilation.
Then you consider the type of building, sometimes there are issues of damp and this can be addressed in the appropriate manner by the owner of the property, the council have some cheek in saying that landlords are bad when the council doesn’t even look after their own stock as recently approved by the number of payout out Compensation Payments having to make, as they are not always mandated by the same legislation with some exemption .
So back to your problem, Opening a window in one place isn’t the solution opening multiple windows to allow an airflow significantly improves airflow in the property. You haven’t stated whether you have fans in your kitchen or your bathroom. For both you need fans that run on after you turn the light off as this continues to extract humidity. The better ones are humidistat extractors which work on the level of humidity in a room and function full-time, when humidity levels are high they’re not an expensive thing to run. Alternatively there are full flow air systems which constantly change the air in the system again running on pence. There is a system on the market, forgive me, I forget the name of it, it’s used commonly in Europe, where it produces frequencies that actually hold back water in a property, I know that sounds bizarre but it works in the most damp of places. I’ve seen this myself in action and it’s very good, maybe a bit of googling will help.
If you do any of the items as suggested in the first paragraph I suggest during wet periods which I appreciate is very difficult that you put items in the bathroom and close the door open the windows, or close the windows put in a dehumidifier and it will dry not only the room, but also the clothes reducing Humidity the rest of the property which would’ve transferred naturally
You asked why your bedroom was getting mouldy the simple answer is the transference of humidity. Humidity in the air will go to the coldest point in the property and will transfer from areas where the humidity is being generated i.e. the kitchen bathroom this is a common occurrence. If you are also sleeping in the bedroom, then the humidity you produce will add to this . You can reduce, not stop the amount of condensation by closing the bathroom doors at all times. Of course that means you need to ventilate the bathroom or the offending humidity area.
Referring to the council will not solve your problem they will come to say it the landlord’s fault.
Therefore, the options are;
1 Reduce. The tenant contributions.
2 Ensure that the electric fans are working in the bathroom and kitchen and that you have run-on fans to continue extracting the humidity for at least 10 minutes. And the doors are closed as this is an action.
3 Work with your landlord showing that you have done the above as this will help the landlord to identify Where the real issue is If not the above. Remember North walls are the worst in every property.
4 Appreciating you have to dry clothes and it’s not practical outside When you have the option of using a Laundrette or a specialised tumble dryer, if you have space or a dehumidifier in the bathroom as suggested.
5 when you have exhausted all of the above if you and the landlord agree to evaluate whether there is a contribution and what actions needs to be taken. You may reduce significantly you may never reduce all of it, but it may come to an acceptable level due to your way of life accommodation of factors
6 You have the option as you say you have a health problem to move out. You don’t have to stay in the property. No financial reason justifies your health being affected…
I have many years experience of working with tenants and landlords to identify, reduce or eliminate so-called damp or condensation in properties.
The above I would suggest would significantly aid reduction in any property.
My final point is always clean any mould appearing, it matters not how many times this is done, there are mould reducing spray, specialist paints, bleach if used appropriately and in the right volumes, so there is never an excuse in leaving mould appearing on the wall.
Wipe the walls down before the humidity arrives, and in a bizarre way you’re getting your daily exercise .
And as one landlord has said, it may have been Colin who is a major contributor, you look as though you’re going to go to the Council anyway. When the above will significantly help you resolve the issue.
It’s quite bizarre really when you look at the number of landlords who rent their own property and who truthfully don’t have an issue when they use the property themselves because it’s their own they take more care.
Good landlords Landlords will go through the above As a way of working with the tenant to build lasting and long tenancies together with a good relationship. That’s the way the PRS should work.
But as they say, it takes 2 to tango and you need good tenants to work with landlords
2 Likes