Category: News | Published on 20 Feb 2012 | Written by mark

Condensation and damp can be a source of frustration, concern and significant expense for landlords. However the good news is that, if the correct approach is taken, the vast majority of damp and condensation issues can be resolved cheaply and easily before significant damage is caused.

What signs are there that a damp and condensation problem exists in a property?

Often the first indication a landlord gets that there may be a damp and condensation problem in their property is when a tenant calls to complain about black mould starting to appear on window frames and walls. In actual fact, an earlier sign of a problem, which is often not recognised by tenants, is condensation streaming down windows and walls.

What are the main causes of condensation and damp?

It may surprise many people to hear that rising damp is hardly ever a factor in most cases of damp and condensation.

The Rising Damp Myth

Rising damp is an extremely rare phenomenon in modern properties, so rare in fact that many construction engineers have never actually seen it in a building!

Most properties now have a functioning damp course which will not be breached..  The unfortunate fact is that most diagnosed cases of rising damp in UK properties are the result of intentional mis-diagnosis by sales people, who call themselves ‘damp surveyors’,  working in the chemical damp proofing industry.  If you would like a detailed explanation of this issue you can get it from this article, The Rising Damp Myth, by Sunday Telegraph columnist, Jeff Howell. Suffice to say, it is extremely unlikely that rising damp is the cause of a damp problem in your property.

Inadequate Ventilation

Water ingress through holes in roofs and around windows is responsible for some cases of damp, but the most common cause of damp and condensation is undoubtedly  poor or inadequate ventilation.

Modern houses are now much more energy efficient than they were as little as 15 to 20 years ago.  Improvements such as double glazing and  cavity wall insulation are great for keeping heat in a property but an unfortunate side effect of this is that they tend to ‘seal up’  natural sources of ventilation in a property.

High occupancy levels and overcrowding also contribute to the build-up of moisture in a property caused by the daily routines of washing, bathing and cooking.

What can landlords do to prevent or reduce the occurrence of damp and condensation ?

There are a number of practical steps that can be taken to reduce this problem.

Ask Tenants to modify their behaviour

Most tenants are completely unaware that the most important factor in reducing damp and condensation is their own behaviour and use of the property.  A few simple steps can go a long way to eradicating the problem so it is important that you make the tenant aware that their co-operation is required at the start of their tenancy.

Landlords should advise their tenants to try to keep the temperature within the property relatively constant throughout the day and night. Clothes should never be dried on radiators and, if possible, should be dried outside. When this is not possible, tenants should be encouraged to use a clothes rack that is kept in a well ventilated room with the door shut. If a tumble dryer is used in the property they should ensure that it is properly vented and that the condensate reservoir is regularly emptied.

Tenants often disable extractor fans, particularly if they are noisy. You should instruct your tenant to never disable the fans and to ensure that they are switched on every time the bathroom and kitchen are in use. You should also ask your tenants to use pan lids when cooking to reduce the amount of steam released.

Make some practical improvements to the building

There are also some low cost, practical improvements that can be made to a building to reduce the chances of a damp problem occurring. These are well worth the investment when the alternative is having to regularly redecorate large parts of the property affected by mould.

Firstly you should invest in good quality extractor fans in all the high moisture rooms i.e. the kitchen, bathroom, toilet, utility room. It is preferable to install low noise fans where possible to ensure that the tenant doesn’t switch them off.

You should ensure that the property is well insulated as poor quality insulation can contribute to condensation issues. Your tenant may qualify for one of the government subsidies currently available to complete this type of  work. So now may be a good time to look in to insulation improvements.

You should also consider installing positive input ventilation units, such as those available from Envirovent,  to increase ventilation in the property.  Positive input ventilation delivers fresh filtered air in to a property, gently ventilating it.  This method of ventilation dilutes high humidity levels and therefore reduces surface condensation – the main cause of mould growth. It is also relatively quick and easy to install.

As you can see, the best way to deal with damp and condensation problems in a property is by means of prevention rather than cure.

Return - Print