Associate
- Joined
- 20 Jun 2005
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- 457
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- Oxfordshire at the mo'
If the landlord isn't doing anything you could always get in-touch with environmental health and ask them to take a look.
Landlord/house issues
- Thread starter RandomNoob
- Start date
That doesnt look like damp to me, I would agree with it being condensation.
Caused by lack of suitable ventilation. You will probably find somewhere in the room there is a blocked up air brick which needs to be un blocked.
If not, you either leave a window open, or request to your landlord to have an air brick installed, which will cost about £100. Or a loftee system, but I doubt your landlord will want to pay for that. Airbrick should sort it. Typical of older properties this. Cavity insulation can help the issue, but not completeley. This can be done for as little as £99 with government grants, but depends on income and Im not sure if it would go off yours or your landlords.
Also leave the door to the room open as much as possible and try not to put things up against the wall.
Is it a gable end wall too by any chance, as that will make it worse? Would also be a good idea just to check the pointing if it is.
Caused by lack of suitable ventilation. You will probably find somewhere in the room there is a blocked up air brick which needs to be un blocked.
If not, you either leave a window open, or request to your landlord to have an air brick installed, which will cost about £100. Or a loftee system, but I doubt your landlord will want to pay for that. Airbrick should sort it. Typical of older properties this. Cavity insulation can help the issue, but not completeley. This can be done for as little as £99 with government grants, but depends on income and Im not sure if it would go off yours or your landlords.
Also leave the door to the room open as much as possible and try not to put things up against the wall.
Is it a gable end wall too by any chance, as that will make it worse? Would also be a good idea just to check the pointing if it is.
From the extent of the damp i would say that this is clearly not a condensation issue. You just dont get that level of water from condensation imho.
Pointing of the walls would be my educated guess. You explained that it looked like the facher was coming away from the top of the roof. That would give water access to the house.
There is no way you should be putting up with this kind of situation in a rented property. I would like to have a look at the contract and see if your landlord is actually in breach of terms.
This has big health implications and the risk of legionella related symptons is high when there is that level of mould.
You need to get it checked out by a professional at least i would then perhaps contact the landlord by recorded letter requesting some action to fix the problem and quote some items from the tenacy in this letter. If he then fails to fix it you have him and should be able to sue/claim on the lack of fix.
Either that or you could move out and find somewhere else to live. This problem will continue until its fixed.
Pointing of the walls would be my educated guess. You explained that it looked like the facher was coming away from the top of the roof. That would give water access to the house.
There is no way you should be putting up with this kind of situation in a rented property. I would like to have a look at the contract and see if your landlord is actually in breach of terms.
This has big health implications and the risk of legionella related symptons is high when there is that level of mould.
You need to get it checked out by a professional at least i would then perhaps contact the landlord by recorded letter requesting some action to fix the problem and quote some items from the tenacy in this letter. If he then fails to fix it you have him and should be able to sue/claim on the lack of fix.
Either that or you could move out and find somewhere else to live. This problem will continue until its fixed.
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2004
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- 14,315
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- Peoples Republic of Histonia, Cambridge
I've not heard of EASA, sounds like a bs sales person to me.I contacted him last week saying i wasnt happy about it coming back all the time and he kept saying "trust me its just condensation, nothing to worry about".
This morning my wife was home and had a visit from a guy from EASA, apparantly they specialise in government grants for insulating houses. He explained what they want to do which was pump insultion into the back walls of the house and re-insulate the loft. He also explained that he had received a call from our landlord last week asking him to call over, now the interesting part is the guy from this company is now asking for my wifes national insurance number etc. He cant even do anything about the front wall where this dampness is coming through.
My wife has refused to give him any details until we know whats going on with this front wall.
Getting annoyed about this to be honest
Just tell him you've spoken to the HSE and it definitely is something to worry about. Both for the people living in the house and him being the landlord.
Mold spores can cause serious (life threatening) lung infections.
Last edited:
yes you do, and more
imo, this is condensation.
even so , its not healthy to live in with the mold that grows.
its a difficult one becuase technically condensation is caused by living conditions and the landlord can blame how you live
the right thing though is for the landlord to fit one of those machines (from my earlier post) which will cure the problem almost over night
call in a free damp check company to evauate it, then you will know for sure
Is there anything normally blocking that area i.e cupboard?
if yes, condensation
if no, damp
Had a sofa in a front room block the bay window section, the amount of growth on that wall was incredible!
If the heating is off for a while on a cold day, how warm/cold is that room compared to others?
if yes, condensation
if no, damp
Had a sofa in a front room block the bay window section, the amount of growth on that wall was incredible!
If the heating is off for a while on a cold day, how warm/cold is that room compared to others?
Without knowing the make up of your house no one can give you a definitive answer but an expert damp surveyor
if it was my home I'd check the structure above that wall for any leaks in the roof, leaks in guttering or a blockage causing an overflow, maybe a water tank or pipe above, I'd also look out for any cold areas in the room above (attic?) that water vapor can condense on and drip down onto the wall below
it could have course just be condensation in the room but you've already said you have tried to keep it ventilated so I would be suprised if that level of damp was appearing but I wouldn't rule it out
if it was my home I'd check the structure above that wall for any leaks in the roof, leaks in guttering or a blockage causing an overflow, maybe a water tank or pipe above, I'd also look out for any cold areas in the room above (attic?) that water vapor can condense on and drip down onto the wall below
it could have course just be condensation in the room but you've already said you have tried to keep it ventilated so I would be suprised if that level of damp was appearing but I wouldn't rule it out
Soldato
- Joined
- 25 Aug 2010
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- 3,030
is there a kitchen or bathroom below this room??
from what I remember by my time in social housing (this sort of thing appeared a lot) damp doesnt really manifest over 1.5metres from the outside floor! so if its upstairs be looking for a leak / condensation
(ps this is based on a lot of our residents complaining about this and returning the complaints after a surveyor had been to the property this was in 99% of the cases the surveyor reported condensation/leak)
I'm sure someone will come over and correct me! infact I do expect it in the following post
(ps this is based on a lot of our residents complaining about this and returning the complaints after a surveyor had been to the property this was in 99% of the cases the surveyor reported condensation/leak)
I'm sure someone will come over and correct me! infact I do expect it in the following post
Just to add to everyone else's two pence, I see it as four options:
Rising Damp
Condensation
Penetrating Damp
Leak from water services / guttering
I don't think it's rising damp as it's on the first floor and it doesn't have the trademark white efflorescence which is shown when mineral salts from the ground are deposited on the inside wall.
I'd be surprised if it's condensation - it seems very local but I don't know how well the room is ventilated or heated.
My vote goes for penetrating damp if it's an external wall or leaky guttering.
I'd call a damp specialist and in the meantime heat the room and use a dehumidifier. Good luck! With so many contributions I think this should be turned into a Poll....
EDIT - note, I am not correcting Rah!
Rising Damp
Condensation
Penetrating Damp
Leak from water services / guttering
I don't think it's rising damp as it's on the first floor and it doesn't have the trademark white efflorescence which is shown when mineral salts from the ground are deposited on the inside wall.
I'd be surprised if it's condensation - it seems very local but I don't know how well the room is ventilated or heated.
My vote goes for penetrating damp if it's an external wall or leaky guttering.
I'd call a damp specialist and in the meantime heat the room and use a dehumidifier. Good luck! With so many contributions I think this should be turned into a Poll....
EDIT - note, I am not correcting Rah!
- Joined
- 27 Jan 2010
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- 729
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- Swansea
It is/was penetrating damp, The guy that came out to look at it found it in other parts of the house also. Landlord not willing to do anything about it so were in the process of moving.
Thanks guys for all your input and advice, was really helpful.
Thanks guys for all your input and advice, was really helpful.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 13 May 2003
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- 34,593
- Location
- Warwickshire
He'll have fun renting it out next time then.
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2011
- Posts
- 7,490
Wow! thats kinda nasty,thats the worst case of damp ive seen in an occupied house.
Did they find the source of it RN ? Usually things like that are pretty simple to clear up unless its complete mortar or roofing felt failure. It’s usually something as innocuous as a blocked gutter or a detached down pipe. Can’t imagine why he would be reluctant to fix it if that was the case.