Damp question

[mk1fan]

A LLs obligation for repair is dependant upon being informed of disrepair.

[Miss_tenant]

Question: As a tenant is there a law in the UK that says that I'm obliged to report damp/mould problems to landlord?

[theartfullodger]

This case may be of interest...

Pike v Sefton MBC, Court of Appeal

September 2002

Condensation arose from tenant’s failure to use heating

[Leona]

This is what I use for the shower in my own home, ordinary bleach does not work. I buy it in Asda.

http://www.dettol.co.uk/mould-and-mildew

Thanks, helps to know what I'm looking for

[Mrs Mug]

I'll have a look for the mould and mildew cleaner mentioned (I've been cleaning with bleach) but I'm not sure what else we can do? Any ideas?

This is what I use for the shower in my own home, ordinary bleach does not work. I buy it in Asda.

http://www.dettol.co.uk/mould-and-mildew

[Leona]

As a tenant I'd like to ask some advice about damp, I'm open to suggestions. We have a couple of patches of damp/black mould. One is around the window in my sons bedroom, the window needs replacing anyway as there is condensation between the layers of double glazing and the seals have gone sufficiently to allow snow to come through! Presumably this will cure the problem in this room.
The other area is in a bottom corner above the skirting boards (just like the photo on this post. This is in the corner of my teenage daughter's room. Our letting agent has suggested not putting furniture near the external walls. This is impossible as it's the box room and the bed will only fit in the room in that corner, we could turn it 90 degrees but it would still be in that corner.
We don't dry washing inside, the heating has been on 5.30am-11pm for months, the windows are opened in the morning to get rid of sweaty bed smells but then closed whilst we're out at work. There is no mould anywhere else (like in the kitchen or bathroom where you might expect it).
I'll have a look for the mould and mildew cleaner mentioned (I've been cleaning with bleach) but I'm not sure what else we can do? Any ideas?
Also do you think it's a reasonable request to ask for the window to be replaced or repaired? I'd have thought that it would be in the landlords best interest to maintain his property but nearly every landlord I've had has only been interested in spending as little as possible whilst the house crumbles around us!

[Mrs Mug]

If it's a bedroom, it's probably a bedside table.

[Dottie]

My thought is that there's probably been furniture up against that corner so not allowing adequate air circulation. I had same in an apartment bedroom where bed was pushed up against one corner, moved it away and problem resolved.

[Hudson01]

Agree with above.... why do tenants not like fresh air !

[dotchas]

Thanks, that's what we are thinking so will keep a eye on it for a while.

[Mrs Mug]

Before and after mould and mildew cleaner

Looks like it's caused by condensation to me.

[Hudson01]

Nice, seems to work good.

[dotchas]

Before and after mould and mildew cleaner

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...-10_091509.jpg


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...-19_163344.jpg

[JK0]

Can anyone explain why I am unable to post pictures? It looks like its uploading it then I get a wee warning triangle.

I think it is to save Landlordzone's servers from having to retain the data. You can post a link to photobucket or somewhere though. This requires only a miniscule fraction of the data that a photo would tie up.

[dotchas]

Thanks for the replys.
The flat is on the middle floor and is 12 years old so modern construction.
There are no signs of render damage on the outside and the down pipe is a couple of feet away.
We are going to monitor it to see if it returns.
The tenant is happy with this and has been great through all of this.
Thinking about it, the corner affected would be the coldest part of the flat as it is external and North facing with very little sun. Also the tenants daughter has been away so her room may not have been getting heated as our tenant is on a budget.

In our other flat, we had a similar problem but it is a top flat and there was vegetation in the gutters, once that was removed the walls dried but the stains remained and required a little plastering,repapering and special paint.

I agree with the problems drying clothes in the winter. There is no airing cupboard, we have supplied a condensing dryer (probably not used due to cost) and the doors are fire doors so close automatically.

Thanks so much for the replies. Can anyone explain why I am unable to post pictures? It looks like its uploading it then I get a wee warning triangle.