Condensation Problems, advice please.

[TrickyD]

Our agent has informed me that the tenant is experiencing severe condensation problems all over the small one bedroom flat. The photos they sent confirm this. Previous tenants never had problems. I have supplied the tenant with a de-humidifier.

The agent thinks it is caused by the tenant's lifestyle, windows not opened and washing drying on radiators etc.

However the agent tells me that we have no right to ask the tenant not to dry washing like this if we have not supplied a tumble drier.

Can this be true? There is no washing machine and no room for a drier.

I tend to agree with the agent - if there is no drier then putting their washing on the radiators is probably the only way they have to dry their clothes. It's not ideal but from the tenant's point of view what other option do they have at this time of year? Why is their no washing machine? Could you provide a combined washer/drier if space isn't an issue? I don't think it would be unreasonable of the agent to ask the tenants to air the property by opening windows regularly but the benefits of this may be cancelled out as soon as the washing goes on the radiators so you are essentially back to square one. The same applies to the dehumidifier - it won't help long term if the real problem of the wet washing isn't fixed.

Drying washing indoors is a problem, as is showering without a fan. Some of our tenants try to save money by not having heating on. Of course it is ok to give them advice about condensation. Give a generic printout. If they follow all the advice and open windows regularly. you might intall an extractor such as a Remcon or similar. They are cheap to run, and extract the moisture through the roof

Your agent has not given you good advice. If your property is unfurnished you should not provide white goods otherwise you are liable to maintain and repair them

Actually, a decent dehumidifier, used enough, can cope with the effects of drying washing indoors.
Best to set up an airing rack, with the dehumidifier close to it, in the smallest room available.
Something like this www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p_dd122fw-simple_ecoair-dd122fwsimple-dehumidifier/version.asp will remove the moisture from the air, and, to a small extent, heat the room, so the clothes will dry quite quickly.

mrsmama, there is simply no room for a washing machine. It is a very small flat, bedroom, bathroom, very small kitchen/living room also I am aware of confused's advice regarding white goods.

The agent has given then generic advice. Venting through the roof is impractical, ground floor flat of three storeys.

I will investigate evidence's suggestion.

Agent suggests asking reputable Damp company to pronounce and suggest remedies.

Thank you, everyone.