A recent report by Uswitch revealed that of the 62.5% of people that had been affected by damp induced mould, 64% of them were tenants, and for those who had experienced mould, 40% of them admitted to drying clothes indoors and 21% to putting furniture up against walls.

So, what can you do to help prevent mould growing in your property?

First treat the mould already in the home – wash and clean the affected areas to remove any mould already present.  Then you can deal with the cause of the mould, CONDENSATION, to stop it reappearing.

. Dry your windows and window sills every morning,

. Hang your washing outside to dry or hang it in the bathroom with the door closed and a window slightly open or extractor fan on.

. If you use a tumble drier, make sure it is vented to the outside or that it is a condensing type.

. Always cook with pan lids on and turn the heat down once the water has boiled.  Ventilate your kitchen when cooking or washing up. Use your cooker extractor hood or extractor fan or open a window.

. When filling your bath, run the cold water first then add the hot - it will reduce the steam by 90%.

. Help to reduce condensation that has built up overnight by opening a window downstairs and a window upstairs.

. Ventilate your bathroom for about 20 minutes after use by opening a small window.

. Keep a small gap between large pieces of furniture and the walls, and where possible place wardrobes and furniture against internal walls.

Landlords

If you are a Landlord we would suggest ensuring that kitchen and bathroom extractor fans are in full working order when a tenant moves in and test them at your inspections.

Regularly inspecting your properties throughout a tenancy will ensure any issues are addressed as soon as possible. Pass the above information to your tenants and ensure all communication is in writing, making it clear that their deposit could be at risk should the situation not improve.

You should also plan a revisit to see how things are looking and if the tenant needs any further assistance.

Good luck!

I hope you have found this helpful, however, if you are unsure about anything you have read today with reference to your tenancy then please give the office a call. As always, the team are here and ready to help – 01474 321957. You can also email me direct at gemmascott@mandmprop.co.uk