I’m sure many of you will have, over the last few days read or heard about the tragic death of 2-year-old boy, Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to mould. Whilst this was in social housing and not the private rental sector, it has opened the industry up to more exposure and you also probably watched the Panorama programme.
You will no doubt have dealt with mould issues in the past very successfully and where the landlord has agreed to any action where they are responsible, but I thought it may be worth a moment to reflect on your current processes.
Who is Responsible?
One of the questions often asked by landlords and tenants is ‘whose responsibility is it’ and that is probably not quite as straightforward as it sounds. Let us consider the most common causes of damp/mould in a property.
We know that properties have a damp proof course to prevent rising damp getting into the property but on occasions, this can fail, and this can lead to issues with dampness and mould.
There is then the damp which is caused by water entering the building usually by maintenance issues to guttering’s either blocked or broken, damaged roof tiles, and rotten window and door frames.
These two causes above are more than likely to be a landlord’s responsibility as the cause will be linked to the fabric of the property.
The third one, and the most common one, is damp which is caused by condensation. Whilst each case is different, usually damp caused by condensation would be a tenant issue as it is likely caused by; poor ventilation, lack of heat in the property, letting steam drift from room to room (kitchens and bathrooms) all of which over a period of time can result in mould issues.
What actions can you take?
Damp and Mould are part of the Homes (fitness for human habitation) Act; so, when you are taking on a new rental property check that there are no visible issues.
At the commencement of tenancy provide the tenant with information on the simple actions they can take to avoid excess condensation. This will really help should any tenant caused issues arise in the future
On interim inspections look out for any visible signs of mould or potential issues and record your findings as part of your inspection report.
Deal with any reported issues in line with your maintenance procedures.
Working with your landlords you can help contribute to everyone having a right to live in a safe home.
Mould in Rental Properties
