When condensation and mould is caused by the tenant?

When condensation and mould is caused by the tenant?

9:32 AM, 24th January 2024, About 4 months ago 65

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Hello, We are currently dealing with a tenant who has complained to environmental health about the damp in their property. We have been instructed to re-decorate the whole property which we do not mind, but every time we go to the property, all the windows are shut, there is no central heating on, clothes are being dried, etc.

I bought a brand new 16l Dehumidifier for the tenant, when I went back to the property the dehumidifier was in the box without a fuse and fuse cover and unused.

We have told the tenant about what can cause condensation in the property and supplied him with a condensation fact sheet. A couple of months down the line we are back in the property and once again, all the above was still taking place, and considering the cold weather we have had the past couple of weeks there was no heating on as the tenant was not there.

I put his heating on in the end as the way he is living is simply damaging our property. The tenant then complained that all his heating had been used up.

I believe this tenant is in breach of contract as he is not keeping the property in a good condition, I have told the council about this. I have even recorded all the furniture right up against the walls and clothes being dried inside, but the council still indicate it is down to us to manage the problem.

Does anyone have advice on this or had a similar experience?

Thank you,

Harry


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Comments

TheMaluka

12:49 PM, 11th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert at 11/02/2024 - 12:01
Quite happy to deal with any edicts the government gives BUT the rent must increase with every improvement.

Robert

13:01 PM, 11th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 11/02/2024 - 12:49
(Thanks for reminding). Of course. As all were very happy with the result on the day, we proposed the rent increase. Accepted.

Christine Reynolds

20:36 PM, 14th February 2024, About 3 months ago

It used to be that all double glazed windows had trickle vents to ensure ventilation. Why isn't this still the case?

Lady Accidental

20:17 PM, 22nd February 2024, About 3 months ago

The answer to condensation is very simple - VENTILATION. This is not good for ‘energy efficiency’ because it enforces "air changes" and takes the hot air out and lets cold air in. Sealing buildings to German Passivhaus standards means you have to ventilate mechanically. But with Air Conditioning there are two major benefits.


Sealing an existing building to Passivhaus standards is prohibitively expensive. Having a leaky building in the first place means you can dehumidify the internal air with a basic dehumidifier - or use individual room Air Conditioning units. (With a heating option these units cost about £250). Unlike a dehumidifier which just cools the air already inside the building, AC units force fresh air inside and increase the building's internal air pressure. Internal air will still escape naturally from a moderately well-sealed building. But, when passed over a cold 'fridge' AC element, the moisture in the air condenses out. Result - no Tenant Induced Condensation.


The AC unit also beneficially acts like a heat pump. By using outside air as a source of energy it is possible to get 5 kiloWatts of useful heat into a building from one kiloWatt of electricity - that's from the best AC units. The problem is, with the privatised National Grid, to use electricity for heating, landlords are forced to pay four times as much compared to burning gas. So to get maximum payback from their heat pumps landlords will need PV to supply FREE electricity. They will then have the option to tell the National Grid where it can stick its standing charges !

The expense of green upgrades can simply be passed on to benefit the hoards of nice new green tenants. The government should pay landlords £500 p.a. Winter Fuel Payment for doing the National Grid's job for them - but don't hold your breath.

Robert

7:57 AM, 23rd February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Lady Accidental at 22/02/2024 - 20:17
Yes Positive Ventilation. 4 properties (Victorian, Georgian) no issues with condensation or black mould. Longest installation 5 years. The tenants were so pleased we are able to pay back the investment within one year from the agreed rent increase. All happy.

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