Do I need a bathroom extractor?

Do I need a bathroom extractor?

0:01 AM, 31st March 2023, About A year ago 9

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Hello, I have a flat in a listed building with an existing window in the bathroom which is suitably sized. IF it is opened as needed there would be no need for an extractor.

Two previous tenants lived here, a single guy and then a family of 4 with no issues of excessive condensation, ie mould on the walls. The current tenant with 2 small kids is not putting on heating in the flat nor ventilating the bathroom.

Just had an ECO 4 bod go over and he says they can top up the insulation in the loft space for free but the bathroom may need an extractor. This inevitably would need LB consent (I own the building so no freeholder consent is additionally required).

Is an extractor actually needed though?

New build regs seem to state if there is a window in a bathroom then no need for an extractor – surely the same for old buildings?

If I did install an extractor, the chances are she won’t use it (electric use = cost) so the whole things seems an exercise in futility.

Suggestions anyone?

Reluctant Landlord


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Comments

Judith Wordsworth

11:09 AM, 31st March 2023, About A year ago

To get ventilation if tenant doesn’t open the window or adequately heat the property I’d put in an EcoStat humidity extractor fan that runs as soon as the humidity reaches a certain point.
Granted the tenant may turn it off but then at least you can claim any mould damage against the deposit as have done everything you could do to mitigate mould.

John

12:37 PM, 31st March 2023, About A year ago

Extraction is a must in most properties.

Not heating the place is not good but you can’t enforce that.

Can a window extractor fan be fitted ?

If the grade 2 regs mean you have to go through hoops what about providing a dehumidifier for her and explain it will cost 10p per h to run (maybe less).

£120 for a decent one from screwfix

Bill O'Dell

19:37 PM, 31st March 2023, About A year ago

Fitting an extractor will protect your property from additional mould. Judith is right, put in one with a humidistat. Envirovent do an excellent one that runs all the time to create air movement and speeds up when it gets too humid.
Mould is rarely an issue but when it does it can kill - remember the boy from Rochdale? Take it seriously and get one fitted!

Chris Rattew

12:24 PM, 1st April 2023, About A year ago

I would say that something is needed. A bathroom can get very cold in winter with open windows. We have heat-recovery ventilation running at a trickle continuously. Humidity control could be included if desired. This should reduce heat losses and mould. Tenants will be happier. Landlords will have fewer damp issues to deal with.

michaelwgroves

13:19 PM, 1st April 2023, About A year ago

Where are you reading in the regs you don’t need a fan. My understanding is it is mandatory, albeit not retrospective.
But in any event, you would be mad not to install a fan.
Look at the Nuaire Cyfan. AKA, the landlords fan.
It records how long it has run for, so you can check if it’s been turned off.
Set for continuous run, costs less than £2 per year. It will boost when light comes on, or high humidity.
I fit in all my properties, they are not cheap, but easy to repair and ultimately cheaper than redecorating.
Remember, not all fans are the same. You get what you pay for. A £20 fan will spin, but it won’t actually do anything.
Tenants typically only turn fans off because they are noisy, so get a quiet one. AKA, Nuaire, you can’t hear it.

Chris Rattew

13:58 PM, 1st April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by michaelwgroves at 01/04/2023 - 13:19
That is true about tenants turning off noisy fans. Some are barely audible.

Contendedted

10:23 AM, 13th April 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by michaelwgroves at 01/04/2023 - 13:19
Thanks Michael. Just checked price £136 and as you say cheaper than a mouldy ceiling.

RichM

17:52 PM, 13th April 2023, About 12 months ago

In Social Housing we stopped fitting humidistat fans because of the fact that they would come on at anytime the humidity exceeded a certain level. That could be 3.00am in the morning and who wouldn't switch the fan off in those circumstances.
Instead we started specifying Xpellair constant trickle fans which, as someone else referred to, cost pennies to run and were silent inoperation. They came with a boost mode so the tenant could use it, for example, after showering.
The only slight downside is that the model we specified had no LED to indicate that it was operating and because it was so quite we had a few instances whereby a tenant reported it as not working when in fact it was.

Chris Rattew

19:53 PM, 13th April 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by RichM at 13/04/2023 - 17:52
We use heat recovery fans on a constant slow trickle.

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