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?

yes probably because they put the heating on and ventilate they house……

Are you going to offer to pay their increased gas bills?

You can't force them to put the heating on. If they can't afford it, they can't afford it.

@LadyMaine
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-63635721

OP says they were complaining within a few weeks of renting it out in August.
Wasn't it still warm in September

You either need to lower the rent to accommodate for some additional heating bills, get some dehumidifiers (although I’m guessing they’d refuse to run those due to cost) or find some tenants who can afford to live there with a heating bill.

Those being bitchy about the mould, this sounds very much like their lifestyle is causing the mould. Just doesn’t sound like it’s a lifestyle through choice.

news.sky.com/story/awaab-ishak-death-boss-at-housing-body-that-ran-home-where-boy-2-was-killed-by-mould-sacked-12750975

This is the impact mould can have on someone's health.

@Asdf12345 It will be the same issue whichever tenants take it. People with plenty of money for heating do not rent houses with mould.

Sorry posted to soon this is what happens when you don't deal with the mold

Do the tenants work? If they're out all day why should they put the heating on? If OP wants the place heated in their absence, OP should pay something towards the heating.

I think many many houses in this country are at the age where they're starting to show signs of wear like slow leaks, roofs needing replacing, problems with bay windows. If you think about the amount of housing that was built pre and post second world war - all those houses are now getting on for 90 years old. That combined with the awful awful weather we have had for the past couple of months (so much rain!!!!) means that many houses including my own 30s semi is starting to have an issue with damp.

Yes, I was wondering this as it has been mainly mild in September and October

It’s surprising the proportion of born-and-bred Brits who don’t seem to understand that the design of these period properties and the cold, wet climate means that a combination of heating and ventilation is required to keep them healthy and mould-free. Modern double-glazing seals up properties much more than traditional windows, exacerbating the problem. You need to try to explain this to them, but I feel it is unlikely that they will understand and take it on board.

Also, people dry clothes indoors, without the common sense or education to understand that the moisture has to go somewhere. If you don’t let it out, it will cause problems indoors. I am sympathetic to your tenants. We too are avoiding putting the heating on thus far. However, our windows are open for much of the day and we don’t dry clothes indoors.

Check over the property, inside and out, carefully, to ensure there is no other source of moisture causing the problems and try to educate them. It may also be appropriate to remind them that the property will need to be returned in the condition in which it was received. I know I will get slaughtered for this but it is probably possible to ventilate and heat the home for a few hours a day and keep the home relatively mould-free without breaking the bank.

Hang on OP has stated its a period house. I'm in an old house and have smart valves so the radiator will only kick in when it falls below temperature. That room is set to 14 because its unused.... Anyways, was in there at weekend and discovered black mould around the window frame. The room has been insulated on walls, floor and new double glazed windows. There is no mould anywhere where else in the house because all other rooms are used.

So OP isn't at fault, they need to switch the heating on!

Tbh I would look to terminate if they can't afford to heat it to a standard that stops it rotting away around them. I would-be offer to buy dehumidifiers but would they run them?

Or of course you could pay for their heating. Which is entirely normal for most UK tennants. Not

I usually come down on the side of tenants on these kinds of threads but it sounds like you have done everything necessary to prevent damp. They can't expect the house to stay mould free if they aren't putting the heating on. Are they trying to dry washing in the house too? I would also be concerned for your boiler if they are planning on leaving it off for much longer.

Some tenancy agreements stipulate that the house must be heated/aired in order to prevent mould, my last one certainly did as it was an older property. Personally I'd give them their notice and make sure the next tenants are able to maintain the house properly.
I'd also make a claim against their deposit for mould treatment as they have caused it.

Everyone saying "they just need to put the heating on" - how are you going to make them? This site is full of people saying they can't afford to put the heating on this winter - the tenants can hardly magic money up out of nowhere!

If it's a period property do you have usable open fires? Bag of wood to start them off and at least 1 room would be warn and make a difference?

Have you good insulation in the property so if they do put the heating on it is actually effective?

From their point of view they can try a dehumidifier, I used one before when I had internal kitchen with no extract and it stopped the mold growth.

From your point of view do you haver a clause in the contract about properly ventilating the house? Not drying clothes indoors etc?

How are the extract fans in the kitchen and bathroom wired? If you are letting out its best to have them switched by the lighting circuit so they come on every time someone turns the lights on.

If it keeps getting worse I think from your point of view (it shit for them but at the end of the day you are going to foot the bill for repairs) you will have to serve them notice. Get new tenants and review the contract clauses before they sign. PP's comments about doing nothing as its up to them to heat the house are not helpful as this could end up costing you a fortune to fix, tenants are expected to look after a property they are living in and unfortunately houses are damaged by not being heated and ventilated properly.

Landlords with this attitude are the absolute worst version of landlords. We got this all the time whilst renting, particularly when students, and kept being told we should put the heating on AND open the windows and that would solve the mould. That’s not feasible for most people!!!! You need to sort this problem. That’s what’s being a landlord means.

Honestly?
The only thing you can do is install a remotely controlled heating system, and charge a higher rent which includes utilities.

I suspect huge numbers of landlords will start doing this to maintain their properties. There's a shortage of rental property so renters in all honesty will have no choice.

I rented out an apartment and the tenants had mould in bathrooms and hallways. They never opened a window. Ever. Had the house painted (not with any special paint) The next tenants have been there for a year, the doors and windows are open all the time as they like fresh air. There is no sign of mould. Maybe check they are opening the windows and letting the place air.

I’m a bit shocked that you rented a house with damp and (more than likely) mould in it! “Just a bit of damp” is more likely quite a bit of damp.
saying that, I do believe a tenet should treat a property properly. If they don’t want heating they need to ventilate it well.
What legal recourse do either of you have?
you need to deal with the mould asap. It’s part and parcel of being a landlord as you admitted there was damp before you let it out I think.

Ah, pressed post before I was finished. It's a ridiculous suggestion that you pay the bills. I would be tempted to terminate the contract if they continue to leave it off. It's common sense that you need heat and air to keep mould away.

You are so not being unreasonable.

So many people seem to think that they can seal themselves up in their little box and hope all the cold and damp goes away, then wonder why it gets worse.

We have our heating on for two hours a day (an hour each end) with the bedroom and bathroom windows open a crack for half an hour in the morning, and this is enough to maintain the house free of mould.

Drunkinthebackofthecar

She can't solve the fact that Britain is a cool, damp country, and our homes are designed to be heated and ventilated to manage moisture.

She could put in a dehumidifier system but if they can't afford their bills its likely they'll turn it off constantly.