During the winter months, it’s not uncommon for homes to suffer from damp and mould growth. In this article, we’ll discuss why mould can be a risk for tenants and how to prevent the problem before it takes root.
A build-up of mould in the home can quickly impact the look and feel of your home, quickly turning a comfortable space into an unpleasant environment.
Aside from being unsightly and difficult to clear, some moulds also have negative health implications, potentially causing several debilitating symptoms.
Stachybotrys for example, is commonly referred to as ‘black mould’ and is typically regarded as one of the most dangerous types of mould found in damp homes. Its symptoms can include flu-like ailments, diarrhoea, headaches, memory loss and even severe respiratory damage.
Furthermore, once mould has become established, it can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds to rectify the problem, especially if mould is present in several rooms throughout the home.
Establishing responsibility for the cost of mould removal can be more tricky than you might imagine.
According to Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, it is the landlord’s responsibility to resolve mould issues caused by structural faults.
However, where internal condensation leading to mould is caused by the inhabitants of a property, responsibility for fixing the problem can shift to the tenant.
Issues leading to condensation in the home can include:
Identifying who is responsible for the cost of rectifying dampness and mould in a rented home can take time and sour the relationship between the tenant and the landlord. In the worst cases, it could cause the problem to drag on for longer while responsibility is established, causing greater headaches for all involved.
Given the potential health implications and the unwanted stress of solving the problem, prevention is clearly much better than cure when dealing with dampness and mould.
There are several things to watch out for to prevent the appearance of mould, which will help keep tenant’s homes safe and comfortable. However, if mould is discovered the landlord or housing agency should be contacted right away.
This will help to resolve any problems quickly and ultimately reduce the amount of stress for everyone.
Condensation is one of the most common causes of mould. Warm air, such as steam from showering or cooking, can hold a lot of moisture that turns to water and causes dampness when it encounters a cool surface like a wall or ceiling.
The first signs of mould will often appear as pinpoint black spots. When checking for mould, pay close attention to external walls, poorly vented areas and corners. These are all potential ‘danger zones’ that could be prone to mould.
Pay attention to walls behind furniture and wardrobes, as warm air can reach these areas and be difficult to vent.
To help limit the build-up of dampness in these areas, think about heating, insulation and ventilation.
Heating the exposed surfaces within the home will help reduce the temperature difference between warm air and anything it comes into contact with. This will help to limit how much condensation forms whenever moisture is present in the air.
Keeping a home heated during the current cost of living crisis may sound expensive, but even a low level of temperature can go a long way in helping to keep a property mould-free.
Remember, that ideally heating should be kept constant whenever possible to achieve the best results. Heating a property in short bursts may not heat surfaces enough to prevent condensation from forming.
Good thermal insulation will help retain heat in the home and reduce the build-up of damp. cavity wall insulation, draught proofing and double glazing will all help to reduce the amount of heat that escapes a property.
These features will help keep the temperature up and heating bills down. However, convincing landlords to invest in double-glazing and insulation where they are not present could be challenging.
Where possible, try to ensure that a property has adequate insulation before agreeing to rent.
Regardless of how well-heated and insulated a house is, effective ventilation is one of the best ways to allow moisture-laden air to escape before condensation has a chance to occur.
The advantage of good ventilation is that it can be employed as and when it is needed, unlike heating which needs to be run continuously to achieve the best effect. Extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, for example, can quickly and effectively remove warm air from a home before it spreads to cooler surfaces and settles to form damp.
Extractor fans can be fitted with humidistat controls so that they run automatically whenever a high level of moisture is detected in the air.
For a more low-tech solution, don’t underestimate the power of simply opening a window. Opening a kitchen window while you are cooking, for example, can quickly and efficiently draw all the excess heat outside and away from your internal walls.
Think also about how space is used throughout the home. It may be possible to pull furniture and wardrobes forward to stop warm air from collecting behind these units. If possible, keeping the tops of wardrobes clear will also help to stop trapped air – although at the cost of reduced storage.
Sometimes you’ll encounter problems regardless of the steps you take, or if your home lacks adequate insulation. In these instances, a dehumidifier can help to extract moisture from the air. Larger units can be expensive to run over time, but they can be highly effective in an emergency.
Other less costly solutions include simply wiping down surfaces regularly that are affected by condensation to prevent the growth of mould.
Where mould does begin to appear, cleaning products such as disinfectant or fungicidal washes can remove the problem before it becomes too prevalent.
Mould-resistant paints and inhibiting sprays can also be used to help protect problem areas. In some cases, your landlord will be able to apply these for tenants, otherwise, it may be down to the occupier to apply these solutions.
Although moisture from warm air is one of the most common causes of damp within the home, it’s not the only cause of moisture that can eventually lead to mould.
Everything from leaking pipes to eroded pointing and high garden levels can all lead to water ingress and penetrating damp.
Penetrating damp can be a significant concern for ground floor flats, especially where the ground outside is higher than the floor of the property. This can lead to ‘tidemarks’ where the outer wall is exposed to the cold earth outside.
These kinds of issues are likely to be regarded as structural problems and should be reported to landlords or building associations right away.
If you are an Edward Mellor tenant and would like more information on how to prevent and spot mould or need to report a maintenance issue with your property, simply contact us using the link below.
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