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Original poster

Mould in student house

43 replies

jesper1 · 04/01/2023 17:55

Hoping for some advice
My daughter is in a student rental which is not well maintained. Landlord tries to do himself but isn't skilled
As its got colder her room has mould
One other bedroom had it bit my daughters room seems to be the worst
She is opening windows they do have the heating on although her room doesn't get warm
The wall in there which is external is wet and her landlord has suggested drying with a hair dryer!!
He has given her a dehumidifier ( She says it's very old and so far not made much difference)
I have also brought her a small heater
Am worried about her health and the fact that he doesn't seem to be doing anything else

I think the wet wall shows an issue, but he won't investigate

Any ideas what we can do ?

OP posts:
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 04/01/2023 17:57

Asides from fixing the main issue I think she will need to buy mould cleaning products, a better dehumidifier and wipe the walls down each day.

People who can't afford or properly maintain a property they rent out shouldn't be allowed to be landlords. But they are and it's shit.

Daisymay2 · 04/01/2023 17:59

Suggest she contacts enviromental health

Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 18:01

Thanks
She cannot afford another dehumidifier
She has mould remover and has gone over it all today so it's gone currently

Environmental health is a good idea thank you

OP posts:
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 04/01/2023 18:05

Where is the mould? Is it around the windows or middle of the ceiling? What's above her room?

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 04/01/2023 18:06

Oh sorry, is it the external wall that has the mould?

Has she tried bleeding the radiator? That might be why the room isn't heating up?

LIZS · 04/01/2023 18:07

Is there a blocked/leaky gutter? In ds student house one room was rife with mould but the agent never told ll. The girl effectively moved out to bf house. Was heating left on over the break?

Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 18:07

It's a bungelow, so not much above but roof

OP posts:
Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 18:08

Sorry radior is getting hot so doesn't appear to jeed bleeding but I will check when I go up

OP posts:
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 04/01/2023 18:09

If it's roof directly above her room there could be a roof problem that's causing the damp. If the insulation in the roof/loft is mouldy then it'll spread

Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 18:20

OK thanks
I am going to go up as soon as I can to look I think and will investigate the room and gutters I think

I don't think the house was empty for more than 3 days over the break so not like weeks of build up

OP posts:
Geneticsbunny · 04/01/2023 18:22

Is she drying her washing in her room? I did when I was a student. Might also be worth removing plants if she has loads as they will make the air more damp.

Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 18:26

I will check about the washing but I don't think so as the airers tend to be in consevertoy

OP posts:
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 04/01/2023 18:27

You can also buy moisture trappers which you pop near the windows and they draw in moisture.

I have to use them in my downstairs toilet and they do work!

Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 18:29

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 04/01/2023 18:27

You can also buy moisture trappers which you pop near the windows and they draw in moisture.

I have to use them in my downstairs toilet and they do work!

Thank you I shall send her some of those too

OP posts:
Ohdearnotagain76 · 04/01/2023 18:31

Make sure she finds another rental for next year and take loads of pictures, keep receipts for any products she's uses and make sure theirs a paper trail telling landlord the issues. Does she use a estate agent? Are her bills included? If so maybe leave heating on for longer

Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 18:35

Ohdearnotagain76 · 04/01/2023 18:31

Make sure she finds another rental for next year and take loads of pictures, keep receipts for any products she's uses and make sure theirs a paper trail telling landlord the issues. Does she use a estate agent? Are her bills included? If so maybe leave heating on for longer

It's her final year thankfully!
No agent. Landlord does it all
Bills not included but seem quite cheap
I have sent her an additional heater as the rest of the house don't want the central heating in more. But they have internal walls and no issue!

OP posts:
rwalker · 04/01/2023 18:39

Our small bedroom has condensation as you described
2 outside walls very cold
Youngest was in there mould. In the walks and windows
he’s swapped rooms now it empty condensation all but gone we’ve done nothing
it literally was condensation not a building problem

Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 19:00

rwalker · 04/01/2023 18:39

Our small bedroom has condensation as you described
2 outside walls very cold
Youngest was in there mould. In the walks and windows
he’s swapped rooms now it empty condensation all but gone we’ve done nothing
it literally was condensation not a building problem

Thanks. She can't move out though and to be honest, the room is large. It would have been the lounge originally I think

I will get her to keep ensuring its aired alot and put the dehumidifier on

OP posts:
formulatingAresponse · 04/01/2023 19:22

The humidifier needs to be on day and night with the windows and doors shut to that room for the first couple of weeks.

She'll probably need to empty the water reserve twice a day - it should be collecting 2-4 litres of water a day from the sounds of the witness and damp

formulatingAresponse · 04/01/2023 19:24

*wetness

She could also also open the windows a few hours a day on a dry day to air the room but the humidifier will need to be off as it will be drawing in water from the outside which is pointless

NewNameFor2023 · 04/01/2023 19:44

If this is an accredited letting with the uni they will be able to help here. If it’s not, it may be worth her visiting the accommodation office for advice as they could help.

Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 20:20

NewNameFor2023 · 04/01/2023 19:44

If this is an accredited letting with the uni they will be able to help here. If it’s not, it may be worth her visiting the accommodation office for advice as they could help.

Thank you will mention that to her

OP posts:
Original poster
jesper1 · 04/01/2023 20:21

formulatingAresponse · 04/01/2023 19:22

The humidifier needs to be on day and night with the windows and doors shut to that room for the first couple of weeks.

She'll probably need to empty the water reserve twice a day - it should be collecting 2-4 litres of water a day from the sounds of the witness and damp

Had forgotten about emptying it so will remind her now

OP posts:
Gossipxox · 04/01/2023 20:26

I’m sure there is new laws about mould and damp after a 2 year old boy died and it was found to be the cause.. I would try to contact the local council with regards to it. The landlord seems to be masking the problem as appose to addressing it.

Burgerqueenbee · 04/01/2023 20:45

I live in a bungalow and the master bedroom (2 external walls) has had bad mould and condensation since we moved in.
Would highly recommend the cillit bang black mould spray which is only around £3 a bottle. The condensation has almost entirely disappeared since having the small top window locked cracked open (hope that makes sense) 24/7, it doesn't make the room too cold or let out all the heat.
When my Dad told me it would stop the problem I didn't believe him but it has made a huge difference, I was previously having to window vac each morning and dry water from the sills.