What is that smell that some properties have? (Often rentals)

[Boxset00]

This sounds weird. But I’ve just come back from viewing a house and it had that particular either musty(?) mildew(?) damp(?) smell that rentals I’ve been to see lately often have.

I don’t mean to sound judgey! But what is that smell?! Does anyone know what I mean??? It is a bit off-putting.

I am a ridiculous clean freak, DH often teases me about it. So I know I’m probably being a bit daft to even ask. But I sort of want to know that I’m not imagining the smell and others can tell me what it is

I think probably mildew or mould if they all smell similar

Damp/mould I think

Probably the smell of not having heating on enough or the smell of a Henry hoover!!

It will be damp or stale air

Are they places which have been shut for a while, with no windows open?

Or it could be old/cheap carpets.

@Wintercoffee

Probably the smell of not having heating on enough or the smell of a Henry hoover!!

I thought I was the only one who can smell Henry!!! I got rid of ours as I couldn't stand it 😂

If they house has had windows shut for week or so they will get stale air smell. It’s also stale water in kitchen drains etc sort that will go when you are using kitchen and bathroom and airing the place. Unless there are other obvious damp or mildew it’s likely to disappear.

God what is that Henry smell?!! Why do they all have it? I would say that combined with lingering damp / mildew somewhere. I can smell it now.

Weed perhaps??

I’m glad I’m not alone in this!

This particular house had been empty for a week and the windows were shut (with bars, which was quite over the top I think!). It was nicely done and looked like it had been cleaned, but the smell was still strong. Now thinking lingering damp / mildew after your comments…

Ha! I know exactly what you mean about the Henry the hoover smell!!

It's the smell of paying half your salary every month to pay off the landlords mortgage.

And just the natural odour of tenants. We smell different you see.

Our Henry is so stinky too!

My DMs last house had 'that' smell even though she is very clean and house proud and her previous house was fine There was no obvious damp or anything but there must have been some issue under the floors or something, if I stayed there for a weekend all my clothes would smell of it even if I hadn't worn them. We have some old records here that we brought from there a few years ago and they still whiff a bit.

It's definitely a thing. I've done lots of viewings & managed a lot of property.

We recently visited a bungalow for our parents. It was fine on viewing but literally stank once the people had moved out. Thank bleep the parents didn't move down for a few weeks as they have standards. We got it better but parents are still moaning....

I'm intrigued, what does a Henry hoover smell of? I've never owned one.

@WitchBaby mine smells very stale and almost vomity. Even though he has a clean bag and he's never been used to hoover up anything wet or grim. And the little fucker falls over all the time. Maybe he's been boozing and that's why he smells

Charity shops have this smell too, it's a damp musty smell, not the same as the smell of cheapness that you get from cheap carpets and clothes, cheap shops that sell polyester clothes and plastic shoes have this smell of cheapness which is definitely different to the musty smell, old books give off this musty smell too.

[quote pootleforPM]@WitchBaby mine smells very stale and almost vomity. Even though he has a clean bag and he's never been used to hoover up anything wet or grim. And the little fucker falls over all the time. Maybe he's been boozing and that's why he smells[/quote]

Oh I see. Little bastard

I thought you were talking about the smell you get in uni halls, hotels and some flat corridors. It's not an unclean smell but it's a very particular one and I have always wondered what causes it.

Damp is probably damp somewhere in the building.

Yes it’s that charity shop smell, my friend moved onto a lovely new house and she is into 70’s furniture, she has filled her house with it and it just stinks of charity shop now.

Occasionally when we have come home from holiday our house has a similar smell but not quite the same and that is the sink which DH says is because it hasn't been used so anything left in the trap then smells a bit drain like and needs bleach to clear the smell so it could be that.