UK Landlord Forum / Life

Yes, it's that time of year again. Tenant complaining of damp and mould. Small two bed downstairs apartment. I took a look and mould is quite bad in one bedroom, some in another bedroom and bathroom ceiling. To be fair they open the windows, put on the fan when showering etc. and try to resolve issues themselves. Also plaster bursting on an internal wall (this has happened before and been re plastered with ready mixed renovation plaster last year). I suspect the majority is due to condensation from cooking, washing and two people, baby and small dog but wonder if some could be due to perhaps defective build (built around 25 yrs ago)? How would I find that out? No obvious signs of issues from outside. I've been in touch with a damp co. but feel they will just survey and suggest fitting an expensive PIV system. Grateful for  any advice on how to diagnose issues and resolve? Thanks.

If it was built 25 years ago, chances are it isn't defective building work, it's just not designed to cope with 21st century lifestyles and habits. People shower and wash more than they used to.

A PIV may be the answer. If they're opening windows etc and trying to manage it and failing, there's not much else they can do.

Welcome to my world

Have had a difficult tenant who didn't

Understand the heat and air the concept of the flat

Trying to keep heating bills down is another factor, more likely now than ever. I know it's hard to believe, but sometimes tenants are not ventillating,  using bleach etc.as often as they claim. 
 

Would buying a de humidifier be useful - they cost about £80.00

my tenant once rang me up to say heating isn't working correctly. it was minus 3 outside and inside, it was 24 degrees in almost all the house and around 18 degrees in bathroom. all windows and doors shut, i nearly passed out of how hot it was