Forum Spotlight - treating and preventing damp, mould and condensation

The members-only forum on our website is a great place for landlords to seek advice and share experiences.

This month, we look at a member dealing with damp and mould issues in their end terrace property after their tenant left.

The landlord discovered mould on walls both upstairs and downstairs, only on the outside wall and wanted advice on who to call to sort out the issue  before, re-letting.

The member had never dealt with damp before and was keen to address the problem properly to ensure the property would be ready for new tenants.

What did other landlords say?

Most forum members strongly recommended getting a qualified damp specialist rather than a general builder to assess the situation. They emphasised that specialists use proper knowledge and equipment to identify the root cause, rather than relying on guesswork.

One member pointed out mould on walls is commonly a condensation issue rather than structural damp, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis before committing to expensive remedial work.

The advice from our Landlord Support Team 

Government guidance is clear that tenants should not be blamed for damp and mould growth in the property due to structural issues.

If there are any structural issues which are causing these issues, it is your job as a landlord to fix them.

If you find there are not structural issues causing the issues, then it is a good idea to spend time educating your tenant/prospective tenant - make them aware when the best time is to put on the radiators as well as having windows open when they can. It is a good idea to share tips like avoiding placing items on radiators.

They agreed with member that if the damp and mould persists, and the tenant has followed the steps, you should hire a professional damp and mould specialist to check the structural integrity and provide you with an in-depth assessment.

The advice also urged our member to keep records of the assessment, any improvement work carried out and any other correspondence to prove you have done all you can to reduce/resolve the damp and mould in the property should any action be taken against you

The Renters’ Rights Bill will introduce a new Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector compelling landlords to take action on damp and mould, as well as the extension of  Awaab’s Law, which will compel landlords to take action to tackle damp and mould within set timelines.

With fines of up to £40,000 for getting wrong it is vital you take action to tackle the issue as soon as possible

We also offer courses on how to identify and tackle the issue. Click here to read the original post.

Join the conversation on Community Connect

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Click here  to see what other members are talking about and have your say.