Mould and condensation – a guide for tenants
by Ed Firmin
Posted on Friday, October 30th, 2015 at 10:00
Mould and condensation can be a big problem for tenants. Too much moisture in your home can lead to damp and mould conditions, and it’s often due to condensation.
As the weather gets colder, you’re more likely to see condensation within your property. It forms where warm moist air or steam is produced and it comes into contact with a cold surface. So you’ll most likely find it on or near windows, corners of rooms, or behind cupboards or wardrobes.
How can you prevent your property from getting condensation?
As a tenant, you are responsible for taking reasonable steps to ensure that your property is properly ventilated, you’re not producing too much moisture and that you are keeping your property properly heated.
So, what should you do? Taking the steps below will ensure that you are less likely to produce condensation, and therefore stop mould growing within your property.
Ventilation
- Keep a window ajar when someone is in the room. Some windows may have ventilators within them, if yours do, then ensure they are open
- If you’ve got a fan in the bathroom and/or kitchen, ensure they are switched on when you’re cooking, or having a shower. If you don’t have a fan, then open the windows wide
- Close the kitchen and bathroom doors when you’re using them, so that you stop moisture reaching other rooms which might be colder
- Try not to overload cupboards and wardrobes, as this prevents air circulating
- Don’t block any air vents
Heating
- Try and keep the temperature in your property so that it’s properly heated. When you’re in the property, you should try and keep the temperature between about 16-22 degrees celsius – warmer in the bedrooms that aren’t used as much in the day
- When you are away from the property, then you still need to make sure that there’s some heat going through, particularly in the winter
Moisture
- Don’t dry washing on radiators
- If you are drying washing inside, then put into the bathroom with the door closed and the window open
- Cover saucepans when boiling
If you do have mould in your home, then you should inform your landlord or letting agent, you may have to treat it yourself. To do that, then you need to wipe down walls and windows with a fungicidal wash. You may have to shampoo carpets and dry-clean any clothes that have mildew on them.
Following all of the below will help to keep condensation and mould at bay. If you are suffering, especially in the winter, then please get in touch and I can advise you how to prevent and treat it.
Tags: condensation, Mould, rental properties, student houses, Tenant referencing