landlord expecting us to by a dehumidifier for his flat...reasonable?

MacRS4 · 22 Nov 2014 at 20:13

mjt said:
Buy one and deduct it from next month's rent.

If he'd like one for the flat then he should pay for it.

Agree they should supply (am also a landlord) - but do not do what is suggested above. Contractually nobody will care about the humidifier, but they will care about you breaking your side of your contract.

mjt · 22 Nov 2014 at 20:19

MacRS4 said:
Agree they should supply (am also a landlord) - but do not do what is suggested above. Contractually nobody will care about the humidifier, but they will care about you breaking your side of your contract.

Skeeter · 22 Nov 2014 at 20:21

Yep. Withholding rent is a bad idea.

Ask him what he's planning on doing if you don't.

Andrew_McP · 22 Nov 2014 at 21:39

scotty365 said:
If it is nesessary to have a dehumidifier in the property due to lack of ventilation then he should provide one or both items.

Although the owner has no right to demand tenants buy a dehumidifier, there was a relevant question on LBC Radio's legal hour this week. The lawyer said that unless there is a structural issue leading to damp (ie a leak somewhere) then it is absolutely the tenants responsibility to ensure adequate ventilation to avoid condensation/mould issues.

I know in my (own) flat, with good double glazing, I have to ventilate daily at this time of year, otherwise condensation soon builds up in the window areas and quickly generates mould.

The_Baron · 22 Nov 2014 at 21:43

You might ask him for a tumble dryer then dehumidifier not needed.

malfunkshun · 22 Nov 2014 at 23:40

As said tell him to do one, also tell him that a dehumidifier is not the correct tool for the job, it should be an HRV.

Duke · 23 Nov 2014 at 09:20

The_Baron said:
You might ask him for a tumble dryer then dehumidifier not needed.

As above; if you're drying so many clothes inside that its causing damp then it might be worth getting a tumble dryer as you don't get the problem in the first case?

Simon · 23 Nov 2014 at 18:02

Duke said:
As above; if you're drying so many clothes inside that its causing damp then it might be worth getting a tumble dryer as you don't get the problem in the first case?

What damp? OP has already said there is no damp.

user100monkey · 23 Nov 2014 at 18:35

its not fair for him to ask that of you.

depending on your relationship, say that you will def purchase one then don't
or ask him to provide it for his property

HangTime · 23 Nov 2014 at 19:03

snow patrol said:
one of the stipulations of getting a new lease would be for us to get a dehumidifier for his flat, out of our own pocket. He's saying they're about 150 quid and sugarcoating by saying we'll be able to take it with us when we go

If a dehumidifier is necessary now, presumably he will still need one when new tenants move in so I would suggest he buys it himself. Sounds to me like he's just trying to pull a fast one.

Duke · 23 Nov 2014 at 20:29

Simon said:
What damp? OP has already said there is no damp.

"Doesn't really" sounds like there was/is some damp issue. Sounds like the LL is concerned about it at least.

pitchfork · 24 Nov 2014 at 10:09

Why should you shoulder the cost of buying and running a dehumidifier?

Admittedly you shouldn't be drying clothes on a rack indoors - if you've ever seen how much water comes out of a condenser tumble dryer you'll know why.

Landlord should pay if he wants a dehumidifier.

the_r_sole · 24 Nov 2014 at 10:16

is there nothing in the lease about it?
I seem to remember my last lease said that you weren't allowed to dry washing inside…
seems a bit much to expect op to buy a dehumidifier but at the same time, it's incredibly annoying if someone is living in your property and making potential problems by not taking care of it.
Would guess there should be something in the lease and if not you're either going to end up getting your notice

peige · 25 Nov 2014 at 15:47

Its odd that the landlord is requesting this unless they are worried about it due to another property.
Ether way it would be up to them to supply it and then up to you to use it.

My tenant phoned a month after moving in to report all the front windows were leaking, turned out to be condensation due to them drying stuff in the front room. People renting seem to be especially bad at ventilating properties, or even opening the curtains now I think about it.

Spook187 · 25 Nov 2014 at 18:54

Can't believe the op is even asking this question, tell him to sod off simple as.

adam98150 · 25 Nov 2014 at 19:01

That's the landlords job to buy it. It's his flat afterall. And they have to make sure it's in reasonable condition. Especially when it comes to health hazards such as damp.

pinkowl · 25 Nov 2014 at 23:21

We are renting a flat and I bought a little dehumidifier as I hated getting into bed and it feeling damp the whole time. But in your case the landlord should be getting it as he has asked for it.
We could go without one but I just cant stand any damp, it feels horrible. I also wipe the condensation from windows every morning and open windows when possible.

EddScott · 26 Nov 2014 at 14:21

Don't know why your being asked this but a friend of my mothers rented a flat to some east europeans who for some reason did endless washing of clothes (think they did that clothes bank thing) and had heating on full chat with lots of clothes on racks.

Ruined the flat with damp. Had to have walls re-skimmed etc.