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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Can our landlady demand this?

50 replies

cherryburton · 15/09/2011 12:32

We have no tumble dryer and dry stuff either by hanging it out or over the banisters. Our landlady has said that in the winter we can't do that and we'll have to get a tumble dryer to stop condensation/mould in the house.

We're skint and paying for a tumble dryer is not on our list of things to do. Can she really demand that we do this? She's said that if we don't and the house gets damp we'll have to sort it out. We got through winter last year without a dryer and the house didn't rot...

OP posts:

whackamole · 15/09/2011 12:34

A tumble dryer (unless you get a condenser one) would make mould worse!

And no, I don't think she can force you to. If your house is let furnished and you had one but it broke, she would have to replace it. If it was let unfurnished - then surely it is up to you what you furnish it with? I mean, she can't force you to even have a freezer if you don't want one!

itisnearlysummer · 15/09/2011 12:34

I would suggest that if she wants her tenants to use a tumble dryer then she ought to be providing one.

We dry clothes over the radiators and put airers up (I won't use a dryer on principle!) and I've never had an issue with damp. It's nonsense. Just keep the windows open a little to allow airflow.

squeakytoy · 15/09/2011 12:36

A tumble drier can create more damp in the house than washing drying.

My mother managed to live for 78 years without a tumble drier, through plenty of harsh northern winters.

You can still dry things outdoors in the winter, and then bring it in to finish drying off on a washing maiden.. which will dry them quicker than hanging them over bannisters etc.

StrandedBear · 15/09/2011 12:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

squeakytoy · 15/09/2011 12:39

She is asking if her landlady is BU stranded, to be fair. :)

Original poster

cherryburton · 15/09/2011 12:40

Good good. When she was saying it I was thinking "are you planning on paying for this?" We rented it totally unfurnished so everything here is ours. They're really lovely on the whole, apart from when they gave us a washing machine (ours had broken and they had one sitting spare in the garage) which was very nice. We got rid of ours and ended the warranty on it. 4 weeks later they changed their minds and wanted it back.

OP posts:

DartsRus · 15/09/2011 12:52

I have a tumble dryer that I last used about 18 months ago. I dry stuff on the line or use a clothes horse inside. I do not have any damp in the house, and agree that a tumble dryer will create more damp than drying clothes naturally. Even in winter there were many dry days where I used the outside line, finishing off inside. Tumble dryers are greedy users of electricty.

lurkerspeaks · 15/09/2011 12:56

In 15 years of living independently I have never used a tumble drier but have always dried my clothes on an airer.

I have never had problems with damp until my current (rented) property which is damp so the clothes won't dry.

She has no right to dictate how you choose to live in the house - you are entitled to quiet enjoyment or some such similar phrase.

DogsBestFriend · 15/09/2011 12:58

Ask them to put it in writing BUT before they do, ask them to pay for the services of a neutral surveyor to confirm that there isn't already any damp in the property! At least that way any existing damp is not going to be blamed on you. If they won't do this, and of course they won't, you need their refusal in writing, then any damp identified at a later date is unlikely to be able to be blamed on you (unless of course you cause it by having a tumble drier in an unventilated area... !).

THEN and only then tell them that a drier will cause rather than prevent condensation and that besides, you are under no obligation to purchase or use one. It's not part of your contract, they can't insist and they can't suddenly change the terms of your contract. If LLs could do that, they'd be upping our rents left right and centre as soon as we took up residence.

Sewmuchtodo · 15/09/2011 13:02

I only got a tumbel drier last week as we now have a new baby so lots of extra white loads! However as a family of 4 we didn't have a tumble drier for several years as we simply never used the last one we had.

We used a fold down clothes drier or the radiators and managed just fine. Damp washing will not make a perfectly fine home damp.......however, a damp home will prevent perfectly fine washing from drying!

Unless it is in your contract then she can't insist you do it. Also how on earth does she know.....you could use a laundry service or (like my friend) take it all to your mum's

Original poster

cherryburton · 15/09/2011 13:02

DBF, thanks, that's interesting. I've never owned a tumble dryer in all my life, I've always been a bit anti due to cost of running/not being very environmentally friendly and I don't really intend to start running one now. The more I think about it the more I think she's being very cheeky.

OP posts:

Rubyx · 15/09/2011 13:02

She can ask for this to be put into the next tenancy agreement. Anything she has concerns about or wants done can be part of the tenancy agreement. No smoking, no dogs, no children etc etc

Original poster

cherryburton · 15/09/2011 13:05

Sewmuch - she came in today as we have some mould on the bathroom ceiling. Which is nothing to do with damp as we leave the bathroom window open most of the time. Whilst she was here she saw we had some sheets and towels over the banister and started saying that we can't do that in the winter...

OP posts:

DreamsOfSteam · 15/09/2011 13:06

I have a tumble dryer but hang stuff that I dont want to tumble on an airer in the bathroom. As our place has been known to have a problem with damp, we brought a dehumidifier which I use in the bathroom when drying clothes which takes the moisture back out of the air, and the clothes dry much quicker. I think it uses less power than the tumble dryer and is cheeper to buy in the first place.

BarmyBiscuit · 15/09/2011 13:07

My sisters landlord has said that she isn't allowed to dry her washing on radiators and stuff but she has provided a tumble dryer.

mousymouse · 15/09/2011 13:08

as long as you open the windows every day and heat during winter dampness shouldn't be a problem.
in other countries (I know of germany and austria) the landlords can forbid you to dry washing inside the flat, but there large laundry rooms in the communal basement are common.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 15/09/2011 13:08

You're on dodgy ground hanging them over bannisters. She could claim you've damaged the wood, by using it for something that isn't it's proper purpose. But she can't make you get a tumble drier - why not get a clothes rack?

StuckUpTheFarawayTree · 15/09/2011 13:10

We have a clause in our rental agreement which says no drying clothes on radiators etc. We still do though

scaryteacher · 15/09/2011 13:11

I can't even force my tenants to heat my house properly and they are creating the damp problem. I can't see how she can force you to have a drier.

I have noticed Lakeland sell an electric airer......I am lusting after one, as it gets wet and damp where we live, and a drier is a necessity.

DogsBestFriend · 15/09/2011 13:16

What did she say about the mould in the bathroom - what did she attribute it to and who is going to do what about it?

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 15/09/2011 13:19

She cant force you to get a tumble dryer thats for sure. I am a LL and I have had problems with previous tenants not airing the property properly and getting mould all over the bathroom ceiling.

All she can ask you to do is make sure the place is aired properly and mould wont occur. You know, open window once you have had bath, shower etc....my current tenants do this and mould is not a problem anymore.

If she wants you to have a tumble dryer that badly then suggest she buys you one and pays towards your electricity bill

YANBU - just tell her you will vent the place more efficiently.

Bloodymary · 15/09/2011 13:20

Ooh yes, I have always fancied one of those electric airers.
Anyone know what the running costs are?

RogerMelly · 15/09/2011 13:24

say you can't afford a tumble dryer or its running costs but have decided to purchase a large clothes horse to hang the washing on instead of the banisters. I believe it is what is called a compromise

RogerMelly · 15/09/2011 13:25

gosh some of you have picky landlords!

In our restrictions it says there are no restrictions. I wonder if we rent off mr laid back!

hellhasnofury · 15/09/2011 13:25

Our tenancy agreement asks us to avoid drying clothes indoors if possible as it may cause problems with condensation. If we do dry clothes inside it asks that we have the windows open.

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