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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Renting is shit when everything is so expensive.

27 replies

Waxxy · 10/12/2022 18:05

Live in an end terrace. On universal credit. Landlord has suggested I keep house at 16 degrees in the day as anything less than that causes condensation to saturate the walls (this is true). There is no fan in the bathroom and a tiny window that steam doesn't escape from properly. I set heating to 16 degrees today and it has cost me £20. Epc rating D so not great. I can't afford this. It would cost me hundreds every month. Trying to find a second hand dehumidifier which I'm hoping will help. This is utterly hopeless. I want to cry and feel like all the joy has been sucked out of my life because I'm so uncomfortable. I work full time and have a 4yo. Never thought I would be in a position where I'd be considering using a community warm space. Feel the depression creeping in. What are people doing? How are people coping? I feel like everything has become completely hopeless.

OP posts:
sanityisamyth · 10/12/2022 18:09

I'm in rented too and refusing to use the heaters. Electric heaters are not efficient and tripled my electricity bills when I tried using them in my first winter. I do keep the windows open to air the flat but it's not my problem that the walls are damp (even in the summer). The bathroom ceiling is currently falling down and the kitchen ceiling has been patched and is now coming apart again due to a water leak from upstairs. If he can't be bothered to fix that, I don't see why I should waste my money on his walls!!

BMW6 · 10/12/2022 18:11

What heating system do you have?

Would the LL install an extraction fan in the bathroom? (In his interests to keep property free of damp)

Are windows double glazed or single?

Who is your energy provider and how do you get billed and pay?

ColdAndSuch · 10/12/2022 18:13

Your LL can fuck off and suck it up.

Original poster
Waxxy · 10/12/2022 18:13

BMW6 · 10/12/2022 18:11

What heating system do you have?

Would the LL install an extraction fan in the bathroom? (In his interests to keep property free of damp)

Are windows double glazed or single?

Who is your energy provider and how do you get billed and pay?

It's a combi boiler, that's all I know. Landlord refuses to fit extractor fan. Some double glazing some single glazing. Mostly double. Energy provider is Scottish Power. I pay based on my usage as couldn't afford the minimum amount they were asking for at the time which was way over my usage.

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 10/12/2022 18:14

There is no fan in the bathroom

The LL needs to install one. Ask him if he’d also buy you a dehumidifier…

Original poster
Waxxy · 10/12/2022 18:14

ColdAndSuch · 10/12/2022 18:13

Your LL can fuck off and suck it up.

Apart from when he keeps my deposit when I move out due to condensation damage...

OP posts:
Original poster
Waxxy · 10/12/2022 18:14

NoSquirrels · 10/12/2022 18:14

There is no fan in the bathroom

The LL needs to install one. Ask him if he’d also buy you a dehumidifier…

He's said no to both of these things and says it's my responsibility to keep the house free of condensation.

OP posts:
BeyondTheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 10/12/2022 18:19

In your position I'd be a) checking my tenancy to see whether it actually includes a minimum temperature, and b) weighing up whether eventually losing my security deposit still actually worked out cheaper than £20 a day heating.

BeyondTheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 10/12/2022 18:21

Re the bathroom, open window and shut the door. Scrape down the shower, get as much water down the plug hole as possible.

According to a thread t'other day, an extractor fan is less efficient than opening the window - assuming proper windows. (i don't have a fan either)

Original poster
Waxxy · 10/12/2022 18:23

The window opens like this. It's tiny!

Renting is shit when everything is so expensive.
OP posts:
LakieLady · 10/12/2022 18:23

He is being totally unreasonable. Your daily usage is costing almost as much as my entire energy bill for the week, and I have my thermostat set at 20 or 21 and have had the heating on for part of the day (WFH) most days this week.

The sooner the new rules re EPCs for rental properties come in the better (it will be minimum of C from 2025 for new tenancies, 2028 for existing tenancies). How hard would it be for you to find somewhere else?

It's bloody disgraceful that landlords are allowed to let properties that are so badly insulated.

Penaltyshootoutfan · 10/12/2022 18:24

Op,what made him suggest this, did he just randomly suggest it or was it in response to something.?

Shiremum40 · 10/12/2022 18:25

Show him that’s it’s cost £20 to keep the heating at 16. Say you’d love to not live in damp conditions that would effect your health. Tell
him that the small window is not sufficient for ventilation.

Ask again for a dehumidifier.

Have you seen your EICR?

keep all your emails as evidence in case he makes a claim against your deposit.

Original poster
Waxxy · 10/12/2022 18:27

LakieLady · 10/12/2022 18:23

He is being totally unreasonable. Your daily usage is costing almost as much as my entire energy bill for the week, and I have my thermostat set at 20 or 21 and have had the heating on for part of the day (WFH) most days this week.

The sooner the new rules re EPCs for rental properties come in the better (it will be minimum of C from 2025 for new tenancies, 2028 for existing tenancies). How hard would it be for you to find somewhere else?

It's bloody disgraceful that landlords are allowed to let properties that are so badly insulated.

I'm looking for somewhere else now as he's also increased my rent by 100 a month from the point I've reached 6 months of living there, which is another story!

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 10/12/2022 18:29

Live in an end terrace. On universal credit. have you checked out any insulation grants with your local council, often available to people receiving benefits

Landlord has suggested I keep house at 16 degrees in the day as anything less than that causes condensation to saturate the walls (this is true). There is no fan in the bathroom and a tiny window that steam doesn't escape from properly. suggest to landlord that they get a fan fitted in the bathroom if they are worried about condensation, as the long term damage to the property will cost them more than a fan in the bathroom

I set heating to 16 degrees today and it has cost me £20. Epc rating D so not great. suggest to the landlord that he/she/they bring the house up to level C EPC as that will be the law in 2025 that all rental properties will need to be C or above and therefore he will have o do it at some stage anyhow or he will be breaking the law

I can't afford this. *no and why should you, your a tenant and on limited means the landlord needs to sort out the house so its not running with condensation

NoSquirrels · 10/12/2022 18:31

What does your contract say?

He sounds awful.

ivykaty44 · 10/12/2022 18:31

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/repairs-in-rented-housing/repairs-common-problems/repairs-damp/.

also with a high profile case recently damp and condensation need to be dealt with by the landlord, a reminder of this wouldn't hurt and you could do this through private rental department at your local council as then you'd have proof if they tried to evict you on a section 21

MilkyYay · 10/12/2022 18:32

If there is even a small window in the bathroom you really shouldn't need an extractor fan. Open the bathroom door and open the window in the opposire room to create a through draft. 15- 20mins should be long enough to clear the moisture enough.

MilkyYay · 10/12/2022 18:33

The landlord only has to deal with condensation from normal life if its occurring due to insufficient ventilation etc. Not likely if there's a window in the bathroom and it can be opened.

Original poster
Waxxy · 10/12/2022 18:34

MilkyYay · 10/12/2022 18:32

If there is even a small window in the bathroom you really shouldn't need an extractor fan. Open the bathroom door and open the window in the opposire room to create a through draft. 15- 20mins should be long enough to clear the moisture enough.

The condensation issue is in my bedroom which is next to my bathroom door. The bathroom door doesn't close properly so the steam gets into my bedroom where the condensation then drips down the walls because the wall is so cold as it's an end terrace. I'm constantly wiping water off the windows. It's actually worse when I open the bathroom door.

OP posts:
Original poster
Waxxy · 10/12/2022 18:36

MilkyYay · 10/12/2022 18:33

The landlord only has to deal with condensation from normal life if its occurring due to insufficient ventilation etc. Not likely if there's a window in the bathroom and it can be opened.

It's just so frustrating as I open the windows every single time I have a shower and there's still condensation. I don't know what else I can do. I'll see what the letting agency say as they're coming to visit next week to discuss.

OP posts:
Idontdoyoga · 10/12/2022 18:39

It is in your LL’s interest to look after the fabric of the building but you have responsibilities too.

Condensation is a big issue throughout the UK but there are sites on the internet to help you deal with it. For example, do not dry your washing on radiators, cover pans when boiling food, shut bathroom door when showering & afterwards, always use trickle vents if fitted, in window frames.

Out tenant (we’ve sold the flat now) had ringing wet walls & condensation on all windows. This was because she was not trying to minimise the issue by using the extractor fan in bathroom and carried on drying washing on radiators etc as above.

We felt it was our responsibility to provide a dehumidifier which helped enormously. We were prepared to do anything to preserve the internal walls etc. from mould and help her to help herself. We engaged a consultant to review matters and it was he who gave her lots of tips to avoid issues but the condensation was down to “life style” which is very common.

As it was she had too much furniture & “stuff” piled up against the walls so air didn’t circulate and caused black mould. Keep furnishings at least 2 inches off your walls especially wardrobes, dressers and sofas.
In the end our tenant moved in with her new boyfriend and we were able to sell up.
Before she moved in the flat was bone dry. We remain in touch to this day,

Try getting in touch with Shelter for advice about the legal ramifications of your LL bring unhelpful.

Notcontent · 10/12/2022 18:45

The problem is that often with period properties there is only so much you can do to increase the energy efficiency rating. So it’s not completely the landlord’s fault. I live in a Victorian terrace and have spent a lot to upgrade it but it’s still expensive to heat and I need to ventilate to keep on top of moisture levels. Around where I live all the houses are like that.

Dacadactyl · 10/12/2022 18:48

God, your landlord sounds a right tight fisted git.

I have no advice, but I feel sorry for you OP. I hope things improve soon

statetrooperstacey · 10/12/2022 19:13

We have a small bathroom and no extractor , we keep the door closed and the window open pretty much all the time.
Dehumidifiers are an absolute godsend and would sort your problems . We use one in the kitchen where the washing drying airers are , they really do work well in drying the washing quicker and controlling the condensation , just sucks it away!

also karcher window vacs are brilliant . Hope you get on top of it Op.