Tenant wants compensation for mould?

Tenant wants compensation for mould?

Tenant holding a compensation claim form in a mould-damaged flat with visible black mould on walls
8:02 AM, 18th May 2026, 4 hours ago 3

Hi, I am after a bit of advice, please, from the Property118 community. I have a flat which is managed by a letting agent, and a while ago there was mould in the flat, which the handyman sorted, but warned that the same thing would happen if the windows aren’t opened. Well, this did happen a few weeks later.

At the time, the tenant said he was looking to get out of his contract. He’s still there and will be there till the end of June. He is asking for compensation for the handyman being in his room.

I bought him a dehumidifier, and he’s asking for compensation for using it. I have asked him to send copies of the energy bills to the letting agent. The office is a minute from the flat. He has refused to do this, but continues to send passive-aggressive emails.

He has also said a number of items were ruined, though there are no photos, nor has he shown a backpack or bedding, which he says were ruined.

He is asking for £381 in compensation. I am unsure how to go about this. Do I accept these things were ruined and the price he’s asking is correct, or do I negotiate?

The rent is due on the first of the month, and as of yet, he hasn’t paid this month’s rent. I should also say that I am in the process of selling the flat, which is likely to be in the next week or so.

Any advice on this matter would be welcome. I’ve found the letting agent to offer no advice.

Thanks,

Debra


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Comments

  • Member Since November 2015 - Comments: 83

    10:15 AM, 18th May 2026, About 2 hours ago

    We believe there will be a lot of opportunistic tenants attempting to claim so we would not agree to compensation as that would cause a precedent for tenants to simply claim maliciously. In many cases, mould is created through the tenant’s lifestyle habits refusing to manage condensation for example and also not willing to educate themselves on the subject how to avoid it and the landlord should demonstrate that kind of behavour and cause instead of allowing the public and tenants to use us as easy scapegoat yet in another area.

  • Member Since November 2018 - Comments: 9

    10:50 AM, 18th May 2026, About 55 minutes ago

    Reply to the comment left by Private Housing Provider at 18/05/2026 – 10:15
    I agree with the previous person . You documents to prove he does not open windows. You provided a dehumidifier for his disregard for your flat .
    I would make a claim against his deposit for failure to pay his rent and the cost of contractor work .
    He was the cause of the problem.

  • Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 407

    11:45 AM, 18th May 2026, About 30 seconds ago

    I have a property that has the original 100 year old wooden sash windows as I refuse to install plastic windows! Granted there’s a slight draft which suits as most tenants dry their clothes indoors due to the wet weather but ventilation makes all the difference and in 30 years I’ve never seen or had a complaint regarding mould or cold! They got it right all those year’s ago!

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