AIBU to expect the tenants to turn the heating up?

[LadyMaine]

I've owned my 3 bed Victorian house for 7 years. There was a little bit of damp in the downstairs bay window but nothing serious.

I moved for work at end of August this year and rented it out. Within a few weeks the tenants (3 adults & dog) started complaining of damp and mould. When I went to inspect the house was very cold.
They said they are worried about high heating bills. I do understand this but have told them they really need to turn the heating up.

The boiler is in full working order as are the extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom.
I installed new double glazed windows throughout when I bought the house. It also has a damp course installed.

Now they are complaining that there is black mould and that one of the tenants' asthma is getting worse.
What can I do to get them to turn the heating up?

The house is not let with heating paid for. So you can do nothing. They have to pay extra for the heating so they decide how much they use.

You could buy them a dehumidifier? They are cheap to run.

damp and mould get out of control quickly if no heating is on. Could you provide de-humidifiers ? They would cost less than heating

You could lower the rent.

If they can't afford it, they can't afford it. Not much you CAN do

Nothing unless you want to cover it yourself.

I was once told similar in a single glazed, old moldy lead lined windows house with no throughout heating. Open the windows they said!

It minus fucking 5 in the kitchen love. I said.

Nothing. You do however have to deal with the mold.
I honestly can't believe that you rented out a house with mold even if it's only a "little bit" there should have been none.
You do realise that black mold kills

Offer to contribute towards the bill .

Sell up because you can’t afford to be a landlord.

the Tenants should be expected to put the heating on to a normal level to make sure the house is not getting damp. If they can’t afford it that’s not your problem and maybe they need to think of it’s the right house for them
they can’t expect to not heat and ventilate a period house and it not to get damp.

I have my hearing on all of the time and have these issues. Only lived here two months and as soon as I moved into the property within weeks it was showing. It’s awful, I think mould may even be under the carpets. I can smell it as soon as I walk in the house. I pay around 100 a week topping up the meter and it’s all around the windows. I’m honestly looking at the council housing list because of this. My landlord is more bothered about the moss outside the house.

You can't really make them turn the heating on, but it is a predicament for you, as if they let the mould go out of control you'll have to pay to have it treated. It sounds like they're going to complain and hope for a solution not involving heating, when really they need to heat the house more.

The other responses are ridiculous- of course the landlord should not be expected to pay to heat a house. It sounds like the house is in a good standard of repair and the tenants need educating about living in a older property.

Eh? How did you come to that conclusion?

You should not rent a house that already has mould.
Why was it there in the first place?

Or get tenants in who can afford the heating . OP's house will be increasingly damaged by damp and mould worsening and it won't be the tenants footing the bill .

It doesn't sound like being a landlord is for you

This is not really the same thing though is it? This house double-glazed with central heating.
OP - I do understand your frustration, and they need to make a choice - either stay there and put up with the mould or heat it properly and not have mould. Frustrating for you though.

Give notice asap to them as the damp and mold will cause damage if they can’t afford to look after the place.

Sadly it sounds like they can’t afford all the costs for the house.

This is the problem with landlords - would YOU want to live in a house with mould? Really?? I'm pretty sure the answer is no, and you would do something about it if you were living there.

Why do you expect your tenants to put up with it? Tenants are not worthless. They're paying your mortgage for you and deserve respect.

I’ve got a modern one off build and we had a discussion in our house last week about heating as the heating is potentially very expensive to run and the house was starting to smell fusty. As I own the house the decision was taken to run the heating as the cost of the heating is less than the cost of putting right the damage caused by lack of heating. Your tennants don’t have to pay to repair the damage so it’s in their interest to save money. The only thing is if there’s a ventilation clause in the tenancy agreement.

Other things is to see where the mould is, is it in the original area or has it spread. If it’s in the original bay window area have it looked at.

You clearly have never lived in an older property
there is a huge difference between mould due to property defects and mould caused by lack of heating and ventilation

Is this a joke..

How long is their tenancy? Any clauses where you could terminate early due to them not looking after it (ie put the heating on)

mould, heating and opening windows is a contentious issue regardless if you own or rent.

Houses need to breath in my opinion and therefore windows need to be open slightly. The fireplaces and air bricks should be open too.

Unfortunately, rightly or wrongly, people have different views to me.

its not an easy one, but perhaps tell them about opening windows, a de humidifier is about £80,

good luck

No I don't live in an older property but I have at least 3 relatives who do and they don't have mould.