"condensation" "housing association"? (2023)

Who is responsible for condensation?

While condensation can be caused by issues where the onus of responsibility lies with the landlord, such as inadequate insulation or faulty heating systems, for the most part it's day-to-day living that is to blame.

Condensation is the most common type of damp. It's caused by a combination of excess moisture in the air and poor ventilation. It could start from something simple, such as steam from the kettle, running the hot water or cooking pasta on the hob.

Yes, if you have damp and mould in your home you're more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.

Advise the tenant which rooms might be prone to condensation forming and how to ventilate properly. When damp is noticed or reported, even if it's because of something the tenant has done or failed to do, you are responsible for removing mould and fixing the underlying problem.

If a rented property does have severe condensation issues and the tenant does not maintain it themselves, a landlord can claim the costs back to repair any damage caused by the condensation from a tenant's deposit.

The cures for condensation are heating (to keep surfaces above dew point temperature) and ventilation (to expel the warm, moisture-laden air to the outside).

Open a window or use a dehumidifier to minimise the spread of moisture indoors. If you have an extractor fan in the bathroom, always make sure it is running when you're having a shower or bath. If you have an extractor fan in the kitchen, you should also use it to disperse moisture and cooking smells.

If it's just a little bit of condensation, then it's not likely to have much of an effect on the value of your home. However, if the problem is more serious, such as rising or penetrating damp, it can devalue your property by up to 10%. In severe cases, the value of your home could be halved by up to 53%.

Is condensation damp a tenants responsibility?

Who's responsible for rising damp. In many cases, your landlord is responsible for dealing with rising damp. This is because there's a term implied into your tenancy agreement which says that it's their responsibility to keep the exterior and structure of your home in repair.

"Mold caused by water from excessive humidity, leaks, condensation or flooding is a maintenance issue for the property owner," Worters says. It's like termite or mildew prevention, and is not covered by a typical home insurance policy.

It is also very important that there is adequate ventilation in the room. Open a window or door so the mold spores can escape, instead of staying locked in your home.

Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin.

Open Your Window

This might seem obvious, but it's effective. Opening your windows will release the humid air outside, and therefore, will prevent the humidity from collecting onto your windows. So, if it's not too cold out and you're suffering from condensation, open a window.

Steps to reduce damp, mould and condensation in your home

Report it - If you are renting your property, it is your landlord's responsibility to fix repairs that may be causing damp. Report any issues to your landlord.

Most landlords want to know as soon as something needs fixing and want to fix things as promptly. Always tell your landlord when something needs repairing.

You don't have the right to withhold rent because of your landlord's failure to do repairs. If you withhold rent your landlord may start possession proceedings against you and put you at risk of eviction.

Condensation problems within a building are usually indicative of humidity and ventilation problems within a property. It is often believed to be caused by building defect, but that is usually not the case.

Structural Damage and Visual Deterioration from Condensation

When moisture becomes trapped within the structure of the building this where there the real problems for the property owner begin. The long term effects of condensation can cause structural damage such as wood rot.

Should I worry about condensation?

For the most part, a little condensation on your home's windows is nothing to worry about. It's only when you have excessive condensation on the windows, or the condensation is between the window panes that you should be concerned.

Salt is one of the most absorbent natural products available, helping to combat moisture around the home. Using salt is the most basic method when trying to make a homemade dehumidifier.

You can use vinegar on windows to stop condensation too, its a simple mix of two parts water, one part white vinegar. Its a very effective alternative condensation spray for windows in cold weather.

Will heating a room stop condensation? Keeping your home at a consistent temperature is one of the best ways to reduce condensation. It's recommended to keep your living spaces at between 19°C and 21°C, with bedrooms kept around 18°C.

Two things must be present for condensation to occur: warm moist air, and cool surface temperatures below the dew point. The proper control of these two factors can minimize condensation.

Condensation happens one of two ways: Either the air is cooled to its dew point or it becomes so saturated with water vapor that it cannot hold any more water. Dew point is the temperature at which condensation happens.

Tenants have duties to keep the renting house or apartment clean without molds in a sanitary condition. But if mold issues become apparent and visible, it's the tenant's responsibility to notify the landlord as soon as possible. It's important to note that mold inspection and testing aren't the tenant's duty.

Adequately heating your home can help to reduce condensation and damp, so keep temperature levels consistent, especially in those rooms that you may not use often. A heating thermostat can be useful for this. Avoid using paraffin heaters as these tend to create excess moisture.

To prevent condensation in the home you need a continuous source of fresh air. Good ventilation of kitchens when washing or drying clothes or cooking is essential along with a source of ventilation in your bathroom to remove moisture from taking a shower or bath.

So, what happens during rain? Well, it's pretty common for windows to be closed – and without any other ventilation options available, you can easily see how humidity could build within a home, leading to a higher level of condensation and a general feeling of 'dampness'.

Do you have to declare condensation when selling a house?

It is a legal requirement for sellers to disclose issues such as damp within the property to any potential buyers. Failing to disclose any damp problems to potential buyers may have serious legal ramifications.

Condensation takes place ON surfaces, but it can also happen INSIDE building materials - like rock, brick and timber. So don't think it only happens on surfaces - if your walls are cold, it happens INSIDE the wall, dwhich is the real cause of the symptoms called 'rising damp'.

Condensation is less likely to build up on a warm surface, so insulating a whole property reduces risk. But if condensation is found in one place, it may be that this is an uninsulated part of the house when everything else is insulated. This can occur when your wall is insulated but you have single glazing.

Condensation will normally dry out over the course of the day, but it can soak into nearby surfaces, and while the condensation itself does not pose a risk to your health, it can develop into other problems in your home that may affect you in the future.

Tenants Rights To Damp And Mould Compensation

If you have experienced illness or worsening of pre-existing illnesses because of penetrating damp or mould, and you can prove this, then you may be able to make a personal injury claim against your landlord if they had failed to do anything about the damp and mould.

Ventilate so the moist air leaves the house – always use the extractor fan when you're cooking, showering or bathing, leave any window vents open, and don't block off any other vents. Make sure air can circulate by leaving gaps between furniture and the wall.

Termites and insect damage, bird or rodent damage, rust, rot, mold, and general wear and tear are not covered. Damage caused by smog or smoke from industrial or agricultural operations is also not covered. If something is poorly made or has a hidden defect, this is generally excluded and won't be covered.

You should never admit any fault or even partial liability for what occurred. Often, the less you say, the better. Don't offer theories about the damage. All repair and replacement costs should be substantiated rather than based on your opinion.

“Water damage” refers to any type of physical damage caused to property that has come into direct contact with water. It can stem from natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, or torrential downpours. Other causes of water damage in the home include leaky plumbing, burst pipes, or even a leaking roof.

The ideal temperature is between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. During the summer months, temperatures are often higher than normal inside the home. Make an effort to keep temperatures inside the home lower during the summer months. Setting the thermostat to the low 70s makes it more difficult for mold to grow.

Do air purifiers help with mold?

Do air purifiers help with mold? Air purifiers help capture mold spores from the air, preventing them from reproducing and spreading throughout your home. While air purifiers won't help treat active mold that's already present on surfaces, they are a great way to control the spread of airborne mold particles.

Mould will easily grow and spread if the right conditions are present. So, dehumidifiers don't kill mould, but they can help to prevent it from growing inside your home by reducing humidity.

Respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, watery eyes, and skin irritation are the predominant symptoms. Mold is also known to cause asthma and life-threatening primary and secondary infections in immune-compromised patients that have been exposed.

When mold spores are inhaled, immune system cells surround and destroy them. But people who have a weakened immune system from illness or immunosuppressant medications have fewer infection-fighting cells. This allows aspergillus to take hold, invading the lungs and, in the most serious cases, other parts of the body.

Condensation happens when your home is too humid and the warm air hits cold surfaces. This leads to the air cooling quickly and forming droplets on nearby surfaces such as walls/windows.

Condensation is caused by warm moist air coming into contact with cold surfaces such as windows and walls. It happens mainly during the colder months, regardless of whether the weather is wet or dry. Condensation is completely normal and is the most common cause of dampness in the home, especially in colder rooms.

Droplets can form on other surfaces too, like on the walls of a property. Without good insulation, the cold outside temperature will seep through external walls, and make internal walls cold as well. Then when the humid air comes into contact with the cool wall, the vapour turns into condensation.

Condensation happens when your home is too humid and the warm air hits cold surfaces. This leads to the air cooling quickly and forming droplets on nearby surfaces such as walls/windows.

If your landlord needs to get into the property to inspect it and do repairs, they should give you at least 24-hours written notice and arrange a suitable time to visit (unless there's an emergency). You must allow them at least 14 days to let you know what they are going to do about the problems.

What temperature should I keep my house to prevent condensation?

It's recommended to keep your living spaces at between 19°C and 21°C, with bedrooms kept around 18°C. Under-heating is one of the biggest causes of condensation inside the home when combined with poor ventilation, as warm moist air can't escape and forms as condensation on cold surfaces like windows and walls.

Why adequate ventilation is key. If you open your windows regularly to vent your home, you lower its moisture levels and make it less likely that condensation will form inside it.

Open Your Window

This might seem obvious, but it's effective. Opening your windows will release the humid air outside, and therefore, will prevent the humidity from collecting onto your windows. So, if it's not too cold out and you're suffering from condensation, open a window.