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?

I agree that mould in these older properties can very easily build up due to the lifestyle of the tenants.

It is obviously not your responsibility to pay for their heating. What does the contract say about the responsibilities of the tenants to maintain the property?

I am a landlord and in your shoes I would get an independent expert in to look at it and give an opinion and take it from there.

I had a tenant who complained constantly about the mould and damp, it turned out he was using an exercise bike in a studio flat in winter! We agreed he could leave early, none of my other tenants ever had a problem.

Our Victorian house had mould in the bay window- it was caused by condensation as the bay was built with just one course of bricks. I had planned to have an insulation layer added to the inside of the wall - but we moved instead. Is that something you could investigate?

I am in the same position OP. I have brought the tenants two humidifiers and still they don’t put them in or the heating. It’s a 1930s flat and I’ve 3 specialists out who all say it’s condensation and the only way to deal with it is through heating and humidifiers.

I had mould in a flat and the landlord blamed my lifestyle (according to him windows should have been left on the latch 24/7 whether I was home or not). Moved to a new place an no more mould. I think (based on a sample size of 2) that some properties are more prone to it than others, and if you’re a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure the property to rent out can be lived in by a normal person living a normal lifestyle. If it needs special care (eg heating on more than normal, windows open more than normal) the property isn’t suitable for rental.

My advice is to sell up and buy a property more suitable for renting out.

It doesn't sound like a suitable property for renting, tbh.

We have a Victorian house converted to 4 flats. Having similar problems currently as inspected recently and basement flat is freezing cold with condensation.
There is a clause in the tenancy agreements about keeping the heating on over winter months. This is particularly important in the basement flat as it can begin to smell musty and get the condensation type mould if not heated / aired in the bathroom and kitchen. We installed a window vent In the kitchen recently but our tenant disconnected it saying the noise disturbed him.
We have written reminding him that the flat should be heated but he has lost his job so I suspect he can’t afford it.
it’s a dilemma isn’t it. I’m thinking from some of the replies that a £20/ month discount to keep a low level of heating on might be the best option.

Fuck it, I'd sell up OP. I think you are going to have ongoing problems with these tenants.

Mould shouldn’t be due to a lack of heating at this time a year. It’s still 15 degrees, so too warm for mould. They might need a dehumidifier on a rainy day. We’ve paid £150 for ours and was absolutely needed when we lived in a Victorian house. It’s still great to get the washing dry.

The problem is you've taken a Victorian terrace which is designed to breathe, and put in modern measures to limit airflow (double glazing etc). The benefit is they have a less draughty house, the downside is they now get condensation.
As a land lord I would have it professionally cleaned, to remove the current mould issue. Repaint in anti mould paint.
Then they need to understand they can either heat the property thoroughly, or keep windows open to allow significant air flow. If they aren't willing to do either of those things consistently, then perhaps a dehumidifier in the worst affected rooms. You could install a tumble drier to prevent them drying wet cloths in the house, but obviously they'd have to pay to run it.

Tell them your going to sell the property they will shit the selves lol

i rent a Victorian home that has a 2 bed flat downstairs, it’s newly renovated. The tenants have complained, we have had the builder round to do an inspection they have reiterated that it’s condensation caused by the nature of the property and lifestyle. They are reluctant to heat and ventilate so the builder has explained the importance of this. They have purchased a dehumidifier which they have been using to dry their clothes as they’re not wanting to use the tumble dryer. I have explained the dehumidifier needs to be in the hall with doors open.
I have offered to make a contribution towards running the dehumidifier which needs to be on at least 12 hours a day at the moment.
I’m hoping they take the advice on board as they have a responsibility to the property too

It’s not that people don’t understand how to live in an older house. It’s more that some people aren’t understanding that if you cannot afford the crazy gas prices, you simply cannot afford them. it’s that simple. You cannot magic money from nowhere.

OP it sounds really frustrating for you and I do feel for you. I also feel for the tenants who probably are frustrated they can’t afford to just put the heating on more.
Rubbish all round 😩

12hrs per day for a dehumidifier and you think that’s okay?! As per fire safety advice I don’t leave electrical items on while out of the house or asleep. YABU to expect that!

I think that depends where you are it’s freezing overnight with us and single digits during the day.

I'd find different tenants or buy them a dehumidifier.

I also have a Victorian house and understanding how to live in it is all part of choosing to live in an old property. You should know when you move in that it WILL require proper heating, you will have to use a condenser dryer to dry clothes and a dehumidifier if rack-drying, and need to crack a window for a few minutes every day. I get damp in certain corners of rooms which becomes mould if I block the air flow. So I have inches between external walls and furniture to ensure airflow is not impeded. It’s just part and parcel of living in old houses.

It sounds like the tenants just don’t understand OP - I would offer them to break the lease, or you can get an expert in to assess and tell the tenants no really it’s your lifestyle which is causing it and you need to take responsibility for the house you chose to rent, or leave. I’d also get an electricity efficient dehumidifier if there isn’t one already to be left on in problem areas overnight.

We have been renting for 6 months while we look to buy. The rental contract had a ventilation/heating clause, but as the rent is so high (no there was no other choice and took 2 months to find this) we cannot afford to heat it as we would like. We do ventilate,dry laundry with a dehumidifier etc.If landlords want their properties well heated they need to lower the rent accordingly.

That's not true unfortunately.

Dehumidifiers aren't great as they're not really solving the issue, which is ventilation. If you have a condensation problem the humidity has reached a point where no dehumidifier will be able to overcome the balance.

I lived for years trying to solve condensation with dehumidifiers and heating. It was pointless.

When I rented the house out I was determined to sort it out and stumbled upon a PIV unit (positive input ventilation). It was relatively cheap and cured the problem instantly. It's basically a motor that pumps filtered air into the house. Obvious really when you realise the only way to equalise humidity is with fresh air. Dehumidifiers extract water but don't deal with the fact that the air is stale and saturated. Trickle vents help but tenants shut these generally.

Anyway, you can hardwire the PIV unit so tenants can't easily switch it off.

I used to use a squeegee on the windows every day in autumn/winter but they're bone dry nowadays. My tenants have never complained about mould.

Look into it as it's saved me a lot of potential hassle, keeps my tenants happy and has protected my investment.

People are being harsh IMO. Everyone is worried about heating costs and advice is to switch off radiators in spare rooms but to watch for mould and damp. Therefore keeping them on low is advisable to avoid issues.

If you never put the heating on, mould and damp is inevitable. The OP is doing nothing wrong by insisting on heating. However as per my post above, a PIV unit might be a good solution.

What is the EPC band of the house? Lots of people have mentioned the balance of heat and ventilation, but insulation is important too, generating heat is very expensive if the property can’t effectively retain it. Victorian properties are often poorly insulated.

You can really tell which posters are slum landlords on this thread, it's amazing how they always see themselves as victims no matter what the issue is

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.

Yabu. A few weeks after August it was still warm in the UK, and yet actual mould appeared in that short time space? 🤔

Presumably they have the heating on if your thread is only asking them to turn it up. Though they must be worried about the cost of switching heating up high. I take it you're aware if the story in the news as you specifically point out that they're three adults.

We have a detached Victorian house (name changed) and it's the devil to keep the damp under control. We have windows wide open as much as possible, wipe them daily, and have the heating on. Our bills are a fortune.

I had tenants who were lazy and wouldn't wipe off any condensation - why not? Because it's rented? You would have to do it if your own home unless a lazy arse. They complained about mould forming on a camera case and wanted it paid for. We had a consultant in and he said it was lifestyle condensation. We did put extra air bricks in but there's not a lot you can do when people put airers with wet clothes on the beds ( yup I saw photos of them) and won't put on the extractor fans in the en suite and bathroom because they were separate from the light switch. Many people don't care as they are just renting.