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Damp flat anything we can do?

ColdAsIce

ColdAsIce

ColdAsIce

Soldato
Joined
26 May 2006
Posts
6,461
Location
Edinburgh
Me and the Girlfriend recently moved into a new flat. Although the aesthetics are nice and it's been well decorated we have some problems.

The main bedroom in which we sleep in is suffering from dampness, we first noticed when half of my girlfriends clothes/shoes were entirely mouldy. It was disgusting. We then noticed that a bunch of stuff we have stored in a little alcove within the room has also went completely mouldy (Wooden jewellery boxes, anything made of leather etc)

There is a noticeable coldness/damp smell within the two bedrooms of the flat and I think the windows need replaced as when it rains wetness seeps through the edges, so there is mould growing on all the window frames.

Now the Landlord has been responsive, we brought the mould in the bedroom to his attention so he got someone to inspect the roof. The roof has been resealed apparently but this was 2-3 weeks ago and to be honest there is still a dampness feeling all across the flat.

No heat seems to stay either, despite closing all the doors when we have the heating on. Soon as the heating goes off the temperature quickly drops again.

I asked for a dehumidifier but he said he has had problems sourcing one so has just given us an electric heater for the moment. This obviously heats the room up while it's on but god knows what it is costing us in electricity and doesn't appear to be addressing the real issues.

Not sure what else we can do as tenants to resolve the problems? I have tried having the windows open all day during the summer to air the flat but this hasn't helped at all and we cannot do this during the winter. It's freezing even with everything closed up as it is!
 
Combat squirrel said:
Yes you can move out, and next time get references off people who lived there previously.
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We have already discussed moving. On a minimum 6 month contract at the moment, so we can move out start/end of January. Going to be a cold, cold, winter. Guess my username is appropriate :X
 
Well damp would be the landlords responsibility as it will either be from an exterior maintenance problem or something like a pipe inside. Without knowing the construction details etc it is impossible to comment on the cause. However, short or the landlord claiming that it is caused by something you are doing, it will be down to him to rectify. It is in his interests to fix the issue because long term it could have a negative effect on the property.
As for the cold, again I don't know the construction, but the landlord should be able to get loft insulation done for free, same with cavity walls (although the latter can be a problem of its own if certain products are used).
You could, potentially, try to use the damp as a failure to satisfy the terms of the tenancy agreement and get the tenancy ended early.

Edit: just noticed you live in Scotland, I know the law is different in some aspects there so I wouldn't accept anything I said as fact :(
 
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There's all sort that can happen it gets in your lungs, it gets on your skin - and your body can't fight it - especially if you're already fighting a cold or something.

I got something called Cholinergic Urticaria - it's basically a hives reaction to being warm. It's a life changer.
 
Firstly damp is a mine field, without having someone actually look at It, it can be difficult to diagnose where the problem is originating from. It’s best to look at for the obvious problem areas first;

Leaks – You say you have found a poor seal around the window. This definitely needs resolving as water can track from entry points around rooms and appear in areas remote from the entry point.

Blocked gutters – When it next rains go outside and inspect the gutters, are they spilling over the edge, are down pipes attached ok or are they leaking from junction points.

Chimney flashings and flashings in general at roof level – along with gutters, damaged / old lead work is probably the most common fault for damp penetration, can you get in the loft and see if you have damp walls down the chimney?

After that, if its still not apparent you are really into the world of condensation and cold bridging, inadequate ventilation, wall tie failure, tanking failure and or rising damp.

You do need to do something about it though because the mould spores really are not good for you and if its forming on shoes then the moisture levels in there are high. With regards a dehumidifier, it’s a temporary measure that whilst will help is not resolving the source of the problem. A good landlord will want to get to the bottom of it because the structural damage that can be caused from damp is significant.
 
If i were you I would be insisting that the landlord sorts out the damp problem immediately, and if he doesn't, then I would be moving out on the basis that it is unfit for habitation. I would also be claiming cost of replacement for anything damaged by the damp, i.e. shoes, clothes, etc.

Don't let him get away with giving you an electric heater (which you are paying to run!!) as a solution - it's in no way a solution so a damp problem!
 
billysielu said:
There's all sort that can happen it gets in your lungs, it gets on your skin - and your body can't fight it - especially if you're already fighting a cold or something.

I got something called Cholinergic Urticaria - it's basically a hives reaction to being warm. It's a life changer.
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Sent you an E-mail in trust.
 
dodgem said:
If i were you I would be insisting that the landlord sorts out the damp problem immediately, and if he doesn't, then I would be moving out on the basis that it is unfit for habitation. I would also be claiming cost of replacement for anything damaged by the damp, i.e. shoes, clothes, etc.

Don't let him get away with giving you an electric heater (which you are paying to run!!) as a solution - it's in no way a solution so a damp problem!
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This. Unfit for habitation - damp can be a serious health risk - don't put up with it get him to fix it to cancel any contract and move out.
 
You need to get tough with this. It's awful for your health as said. Is there anywhere you can move to/in with whilst this gets sorted out? Primary thing to do is get out whilst this gets sorted. Honestly it sounds radical, but it needs properly sorting and drying out which will require access to the property and maybe some of your stuff moved. It might be easier to just move or move out temporarily. You need to speak to your landlord or letting agent and explain that you will be terminating the contract immediately as it is not habitable. Unless he can fix it within say a few days, I would be looking at getting out. You won't die or anything obviously, but prolonged exposure to spores from damp mould is something to avoid where possible.
 
If the roof has been leaking for a while, and has only just been fixed then I wouldn't expect it to dry and be 'fine' in 2-3 weeks. It needs dehumidifiers, and might need further work to repair / dry other damaged building fabric.
 
billysielu said:
My health got screwed by mould - the worst thing you can do is stay there.
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Yup, not nice stuff. If you genuinely have no choice but to stay until January then just hire a dehumidifier (get an industrial one) and run it all day in the hall with the doors open.

We used to fill up nearly 5 litres of water in a day at our first house due to the damp, started to get asthma a bit again which I hadn't had for 20 years.

GeX said:
If the roof has been leaking for a while, and has only just been fixed then I wouldn't expect it to dry and be 'fine' in 2-3 weeks. It needs dehumidifiers, and might need further work to repair / dry other damaged building fabric.
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That's very true. Could well be the internal walls and plasterwork is knackered so your landlord probably doesn't want to open a can of worms.

There must be something on health grounds to force him to at least provide you with a dehumidifier?
 
Sorry to hijack thread. Just noticed in our bedroom that one part of one wall has mouldy areas developing (furry and black marks), its quite near to where my head is aswell as the bed is sort of in an alcove/bay.

Short of leaving the windows open all day and all day night which means the flat is absolutely baltic is there anything we can do to get the land lord to sort it?

As far as I'm aware, it shouldn't be us put out of pocket trying to get rid of damp by running dehumidifiers all day.

Its an external wall aswell. Shouldn't the onus be on the land lord to keep the property in top shape

It can't be moisture coming from the en-suite as we always shower with the door shut, and the roof window open so that the hot air/steam vents out through there.

Is there anything we can do as both myself and the girlfriend have become more and more unwell this past week, which we arent sure what its due to (might be completely unrelated to the damp), but I believe having damp can make you quite ill.
 
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defo clean the wall if u plan on sleeping there another day - get a mask, open all windows, and use some mould killer stuff.

would be good to then paint over it with landlords permission - the wall's ruined anyway
 
billysielu said:
defo clean the wall if u plan on sleeping there another day - get a mask, open all windows, and use some mould killer stuff.

would be good to then paint over it with landlords permission - the wall's ruined anyway
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Is there specific mould killer which should be used or can you use like soapy water? or bleach?

Don't want to wreck the paint or anything!

I phoned the letting agent anyway, she said shes going to speak to the land lord and get back to us anyway.
 
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