Condensation and mould in rented advice?

[creaturcomforts]

I realise I'm about to get blasted but I would like genuine advice as to my rights and to avoid a problem with my landlord!

I have posted before about the property in which me and my dd 14 live in, it's a privately rented Georgian house that me and dd have been living in for 3 years now, recent property inspections have turned up no problems with the property through the estate agents that fully manage the property and I always communicate any problems to them.

Its single glazed old sash large windows, that has I must say been a challenge.

Let's talk about no insulation and mould, with windows painted with normal paint that needs to be wiped constantly due to condensation.

Yes I'm aware of ventilation and keeping the property warm, however the property has economy 7 storage heaters that.. with a brick and flint building with single glazing, dont stop condensation as it has been freezing even with heating.

I've not been able to afford heating this last winter and the windowsills have been covered with black mould and damp seems to have penetrated the wall in the lounge which is wet to the touch on the inside as it has penetrated through the wallpaper . This is nowhere near a window but an outside wall.

Citizens advice had advised me that in this day and age it's not unreasonable for a property to have insulation, and because the property is a grade 2 listed they would need to have secondary glazing and this would cost the landlord more. Property is an f energy efficiency rating which i would expect from an old building, yes I was aware of this but it was before the recent law on bringing building up to at least an e efficiency rating was passed.

For instance am I liable for the mould and damp even though it's out of my control as a tenant?

My concerns are do I bother asking my landlord as they are obviously aware about the single glazing and that the windows will be damaged! What a shame, as in my last tenancy, they thought to remind me of damp and opening bathroom window which I did, all the windows are affected and I have put up stormguard conservatory insulation which is temporary.

If I have to move out will I be held accountable for the damage to paintwork on the windows and damp walls?!

where do you dry your washing?

how do you ventilate the bathroom?

Well for a start it is no longer legal to rent out a property that is not an e or above on epc blog.openrent.co.uk/epc-rules-2018-time-running-out-for-landlords/

Should the old sash windows have been painted with a special paint? I've had financial difficulties and couldnt afford heating this past year instead just placing am oil heater In my dd room and having an electric blanket on my bed.

I've noticed the mould has been bad this year on the windows and the damp as It has been a long and cold winter, I found out about the temporary insulation which is a film that is fixed to the windows and after cleaning the sills this had stopped further damage but the windows on the inside have still been damaged and yes I had cleaned and wiped them, they had a constant layer of damp and moisture on them throughout the winter.

Just feel the landlord should offer more advice on maintaining an older property as I'd have been willing to make changes!!

So the landlord needs to bring the property up to an E through improvements.

Pigletjohn, the house is a terraced with shared front garden where I hang my washing, yes I think it's not legal to rent a house without an e efficiency, but it's a grey area since the house is so old and its solid brick and flint it would be impossible to insulate. Its listed as well so not sure ...

Think legally it maybe should be secondary glazed since its listed but not sure what my rights actually are, citizens advice said I had a right to ask for secondary glazing but this is more expensive for the landlord so I dont hold much hopes there

It should be at least a E efficiency by law. If it's not, speak to the agents/ landlord about what they will do to bring it up to standard.

E effeciency is still pretty rubbish though, I can't imagine how cold you've been in there this winter with no heating on. I lived in a similar situation before where you could see your breath in the air and it was hell so really sympathise.

However, in a house like that not heating it internally will make the damp issues worse and it's reasonable for a landlord to expect a tenant won't have the heating off all winter. Perhaps it'd be better for everyone if you moved to somewhere with better insulation? The bills to heat an old and badly insulated house like this to a comfortable temperature would be huge compared to many more modern houses.

Dazedandconfused, yea I would like to chase that up as I've tried my best to maintain the home and me and dd are settled here, it is our home, the laws on this for listed buildings though are confusing and I'm not sure if I'm within my rights to ask for more to be done.

Admittedly I did some internet searching and as a novice it seems as though the house might be exempt from this as so old .. I'm just really not sure

Listed buildings don't require an epc. Is it definitely listed?

Also the fact it is expensive to put in secondary glazing is the landlords problem. They should not go into business if they can't afford the upkeep. You can speak to environmental health and they can force the landlord to bring the property into better repair.

Yes polkadotflamingo, I'm a full time now single working mum, but when I looked into it, I wont get anyone to rent to me as I'm just one person and I work and claim as well.

I just came to the conclusion that I have to work with the building and make the best of it, but yes yes yes! I would love a cheaper to run house despite how quirky and old the building is, its massively expensive compared to other 2 bed rentals I feel frustrated but i have never been behind on rent, however i would not meet the rental requirements for another property...

Me and husband split up after a year of living here and I faced questions about wether I could afford it as just one tenant, I have been able to but I dont quite meet the 2.5 times salary equals rent plus some of it is in universal credits which landlords wont accept.

They decided to let me and dd stay after discussing with landlord so I was quite frankly relieved at that point but have no opportunity to move (sigh)

Thanks dazedandconfused they didn't advertise the property as listed, they did give an energy efficiency rating when I moved in 3 years ago, I since did a background search and found that the 3 terraced houses are listed... it seems to be a grey area about insulation, c.a.b. coukdnt tell me if it should definitely be brought up to an e efficiency, just that in her opinion that properties should have double or at least secondary glazing in her opinion.

Seems I need to write a letter asking for the possibility of secondary glazing, just confused me that the landlord would be happy to let the property with the possibility that in a few years time his lovely house would have damage to the windows!!

@creaturcomforts

Yes polkadotflamingo, I'm a full time now single working mum, but when I looked into it, I wont get anyone to rent to me as I'm just one person and I work and claim as well.

I just came to the conclusion that I have to work with the building and make the best of it, but yes yes yes! I would love a cheaper to run house despite how quirky and old the building is, its massively expensive compared to other 2 bed rentals I feel frustrated but i have never been behind on rent, however i would not meet the rental requirements for another property...

Me and husband split up after a year of living here and I faced questions about wether I could afford it as just one tenant, I have been able to but I dont quite meet the 2.5 times salary equals rent plus some of it is in universal credits which landlords wont accept.

They decided to let me and dd stay after discussing with landlord so I was quite frankly relieved at that point but have no opportunity to move (sigh)

Ahhh that's so shitty. I am sorry. I am a single mother too so I understand how hard it is. The situation sound very unfair and I'm not expert on housing so I'll leave it to others to advise but I hope there's some way to get the landlord to bring the property up to a reasonable living standard for you both. Nobody should have to live with damp or being cold.

House was built in 1826 and other owners havent changed the features.

I think landlords do have some get outs with listed buildings. But central heating would be allowed with the listing, and would definitely improve the efficiency.

One problem with old buildings like this is the moisture actually comes in through the walls from outside during winter. Old, traditional buildings very often have porous construction and water literally soaks in. The only way to stop damp inside is a combination of heating and ventilation to dry the moisture and remove it, and it doesn't sound like you can afford to keep the house warm enough to do that with the current heating system.

Is your area on gas? If so, gas central heating would be the obvious way to make your heating cheaper to run. It would repay the landlord I would have thought, in terms of not having redecorate.

But if that can't be done, I actually think you need to move as you can't really afford to live there.

Not heating the house through the winter is bad for the house and bad for you.

Thanks polkadotflamingos, I'm good at mending and making do! Thank you, yeah it's the way things are x

Im afraid I don't know about how the cost of redecorating would be apportioned butbit would be woth contacting citizens advice or shelter for advice. I think the failure to provide affordable heating means the landlord may possibly be in trouble and so not ina position to charge you - worth looking into anyway.

@creaturcomforts

Thanks polkadotflamingos, I'm good at mending and making do! Thank you, yeah it's the way things are x

@candycane222

Im afraid I don't know about how the cost of redecorating would be apportioned butbit would be woth contacting citizens advice or shelter for advice. I think the failure to provide affordable heating means the landlord may possibly be in trouble and so not ina position to charge you - worth looking into anyway.

This is good advice. Citizen's advice should know all about the legalities.

Thanks candycane! Its electric only despite the other two adjoining properties having gas and electricity. I believe it hasn't been updated much when the other two houses were, and yes it would have made the house more economically and easier to let !! I would believe, from the property inspections I've had ive been informed that the house has been entirely gutted and redecorated on each new tenancy! Yikes! Guess they dont expect tenants to stay very long, it's very interesting as surely to have to strip back and plaster and repaint the house on each new tenancy would be less than fitting a decent heating system and not electric only?

Ugh the electrics system has constantly tripped out and failed since I've been here too.

The house recently had to have a full electrics check due to a change in law, the poor electrician was here all day and even then he said that he thought he had sorted out the problems I had.

He then referred the national grid who also had to come around...

Wow @creaturcomforts these types of places are known as money pits to buy as homes but you shouldn't have to he footing the bill for this as a tenant if the landlord will not bring it up to modern living standards and maintain it properly.

Hard as it is, I would be looking for a new home for you and your DD tbh, in your situation. It's unfair but it seems unlikely this will get better, from what you have said. ☹️

Speak to environmental health at local council
If they do report will help your case to see if housing office have list of private landlords who take UC

There is a possible exemption to the minimum energy efficiency standard for a listed building. The law came in April 2018 for new tenancies so it looks like they saw you coming.

However there is no exemption for electrical safety unless it is a housing association property ( in which case water can pour through light fittings with no comeback, ref Croydon council). You must be given a copy of the e I c r, what does it say?