By Alex Hill, Epigram Designer
Sending that ‘firmly-worded’ email may seem daunting, especially when you’re faced with a landlord who takes a laissez-faire attitude to resolving your maintenance issues. But at the end of the day, your landlord is just as aware of your renting rights as you are, or rather, as you should be. If your shower seals are more black than white or an ominous damp stain has appeared above your hob, don’t worry! Here are five easy things you can do to treat mould and prevent an awkward conversation with your landlord.
1. Identify ventilation issues
Mould is caused by two main factors: condensation and inadequate ventilation. When poorly ventilated moisture in the air meets a cooler surface and condenses into water, mould appears, usually in the form of those infamous black dots.
If your bathroom is more akin to a jungle or a swamp, then perhaps it’s time to look at how air is being circulated – if at all! Opening the windows whilst showering is usually the most effective way to improve air circulation, but if your bathroom relies on an extractor fan, request an immediate inspection from your landlord.
2. Dry your clothes outdoors
Yes, the dreaded contract clause we’ve all seen before: don’t dry your clothes in your room. Whilst drying your clothes outdoors or in a dryer is a good way to prevent condensation in your room, if you’re renting a property with no outside space or dryer, this piece of advice just proves how out-of-touch certain landlords can be.
Hang your clothes in the bathroom with windows open and doors closed where possible. If your bathroom is windowless, the same goes for any room in the property that can be adequately ventilated.
3. Get the heating on
Deciding to turn the heating on has been an age-old point of contention in any shared accommodation. However, damp and mould thrive in colder properties, especially during the winter months.
Turning the heating on for short periods of time not only prevents condensation from forming by increasing surface temperatures in the property but also means you can stop walking around shivering in your favourite blanket!
4. Request a dehumidifier
While a landlord is not legally obliged to provide a dehumidifier, they cannot be unreasonable by the same token. Beneficial for both you and the landlord, a dehumidifier creates dryer air, which not only results in less condensation, but also saves you money on heating and prevents long-term mould from returning.
Be sure to emphasise the mutual advantages of a dehumidifier when discussing this with your landlord.
5. Understanding unreasonable demands
Moving forward, it is crucial that as a tenant you understand what your landlord can and cannot ask you to do. Whilst they can, yes, ask you to dry your clothes outside, they cannot reasonably expect you to do so if it is simply not possible.
Painting over persistent mould, refusing to attend the property to check the severity of the mould issue, or asking you to stop daily activities such as showering or cooking are all examples of improper behaviour that shouldn’t be ignored. If your landlord is being unreasonable, Shelter offers comprehensive advice on how to navigate tricky situations and protect your rights as a tenant.
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With an exceptionally cold and wet winter behind us, let’s hope that we’ll all be leaving our mould issues behind us too. Whether you’re staying in your accommodation for the next academic year, have found somewhere else, or are thinking of moving into a private rental, keep in mind your renting rights, so hopefully that all-important email can finally make its way out of the drafts and into your landlord’s inbox.
Have you got any landlord-from-hell experiences?
Featured Image: Epigram / Alex Hill
