Do we need new windows?

[Margaritawithlime]

Recently moved three doors down from our rental into an actual carbon copy of the house we have lived in for two years. Thrilled to get it as it’s a dog eat dog world here and it was the home of a lovely old lady (LOL) who’d lived there forever. Needs a bit of cosmetic updating and survey was all good. - so far so normal.
Since moving in we have installed a new boiler got the heating up and running and there is condensation literally pouring off the windows in the morning. LOL had blocked up air vents with paper so we took that off. She’d obviously had issues with condensation despite the heating not working v well as there’s remnants of mould on the walls which she’s tried to clean off. This morning I found furry mould growing on the seals of our windows downstairs.
Do we need new windows? This NEVER happened in the other house - built same time same place. Absolutely no condensation issues at all except sometimes in the loft but it was negligible. This place is just another level.
Id assume if we get a window company round they’ll say we need new windows but wondered what you all thought as this is new territory for us!

I wouldn't purchase windows yet but observe, you may want to run a dehumidifier and get it all dried out and then assess going forwards. You might need a mould specialist to advise if any areaas need remedial work.

We have ordered a dehumidifier so hopefully that helps. Didn’t even know a mould specialist was a thing!!

Buy a window vac.

Do you know it there is insulation in the walls of this house and potentially not in your rental?

No clue! I’d assume they have the exact same thing as they were both built at the same time. I’d venture whatever is in one is in the other. I’m sure our survey would have said but I don’t remember.

"it was the home of a lovely old lady (LOL) who’d lived there forever."
It's almost a certainty that nothing major has been done to the house since she moved in then! (Live next door to just such a house with LOL owner.) Whereas your carbon copy house could have been rewired, replumbed, insulated etc. by any or all of it's previous owners.

I'd be looking to have the damp-proof course checked over first. Could it have been breached? If she'd stuff paper into air vents, it's possible she's tried other things, not necessarily sensible things. How old is the house? Pre-1920s it won't have cavity walls and insulating is a bit of a faff. Post 1920s, she might not have installed insulation (whereas your carbon-copy had).

I presume the windows are single-glazed? We use a Karcher window vacuum on ours. It's good that you've ordered a dehumidifier, I love mine!

I'd stick with the dehumidifier and window vac for a bit before I'd look to be replacing windows, although if they are single-glazed I'd be looking to do them in the future.

They’re double glazed! That’s why I’m wondering if they’re a bit knackered. Both houses built in 1950s. Rental defo more ‘modern’ in terms of deco and new bathroom (LOL had hers carpeted…) it also had a dormer which ours doesn’t - yet.
Survey said no sign of damp ‘bone dry’ were the words used though I’m aware that the roof needs ventilation adding. We want to do a dormer so thinking we may as well crack on with that and can sort out adequate ventilation up there then.
Also wondering about a PIV pump… not sure if that would be a sunk cost fallacy depending on how expensive they are to run

Insulation is often added retrospectively.

You don't know enough about the house - get a more in-depth survey now you are in. No point wasting money on something until you understand the house.

I posted this link on the dehumidifier thread,www.nuaire.co.uk/product-list-page/drimaster-eco-range
This is what we put in, our Windows were wet through every morning. There is nothing now it's made a massive difference

Yes this is what I was wondering about. Do you mind me asking how much it was? And how expensive it is to run?

We had a full survey done. Just honestly can’t remember what it said. It’s at home somewhere in the plethora of boxes but whatever it suggested didn’t raise a red flag.
Or is there another sort of survey we should look for?

If it was me I would get a survey focused on the question 'why is the house full of condensation?'.

They can now do invasive checks.

We got additional surveys after moving in (different questions, we knew we would get them before buying). Speak to a surveying firm and ask what they suggest.

Got you. Ok that sounds like a wise idea. Thanks.

How are the walls?

Fine. However I can see that LOL had some mould issues on the paintwork previously.
The Walls aren’t damp or affected by the condensation.

Hmm, perhaps it just need some ventilation and use of a dehumidifier when not ventilating and it will dry out? Much older people often don't like opening windows etc. from what I've seen.

*needs

Definitely. The poor thing must have been quite cold because she had a knackered old boiler and rads which needed replacing. I also know her fingers found it tricky to switch on the gas fire. She had a huge curtain in front of the door and tin foil down the back of radiators. I suspect the house was rarely opened up to fresh air at all!
Shes now living in assisted living for clerical widows and is much warmer and happier

I can't recall what we paid for it, but I'm sure my other half will, I'm away until tomorrow so I will ask him when I get back. I don't believe the running cost were high but will also check that to