New tenant asks for maintenance work that is financially not viable

[Amadeaa]

My tenants moved in this week. They’ve asked me to undertake maintenance work which they believe are in my responsibility as a landlord, but these works are financially not viable. The costs would exceed the yield of a whole year’s rent with no guarantee that the problem might not reoccur within 6 months. I also don’t have this kind of money available right now. What are my options? They are at the start of a 1-year contract. I don’t think I can terminate the contract without any fault at the tenants side.
Should I offer them money if they agree to terminate the contract early?

• If you used an agent then this is who can answer your question. It looks as though you rented out in good faith and the agent didn't know about the problem neither did the tenant. This is on the UK
• Citizen's Advice Bureau site. They might be able to help you 'Your home might be unfit for human habitation if for example: it has a serious problem with damp or mould' https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

I've found that most damp in houses are caused by people letting the house get too cold. Apparently this is a common problem in rented properties. If the temperature regularly drops below 15-16, you'll start seeing damp and mould. If the property has been empty for a while, it may have caused this problem. Use Astonish Mould and Mildew Remover on everything, paint if necessary and put the heating on full whack to dry it. I think your tenants are just looking for a way to get free rent or money.

My house was found to have proper, rising damp and had to have all the plaster removed and a damp course put in. I doubt you would've been able to buy your rental without being told you needed one. This was in my Buyers Report.

Poor girl? She’s an adult woman who is also a property owner and landlord. Though I suppose you could help her by paying the £15k.

@Ellyess
I’m unable to sleep tonight because of worries and thoughts racing through my head… Poor girl. I wish I could help her.

This is not a sane response.

Perhaps get another job, or sell your spare house instead of having someone else pay your mortgage

You should have insurance to cover critical issues like this.
If you are prepared to make money of people needing somewhere to live, you should be prepared to make sure it's safe.
Just as much as you would expect a restaurant not to serve mouldy food.

Condensation is not damp. Agree with PPs that it may just be about opening windows etc - have they shown you great patches of black mould? If not then I don't think you need to panic. And whatever can it be that has got so bad in such a short space of time?

Our house is very old, and someone installed metal windows (single glazed) back in the 50s or so, which are terrible for condensation and puddles. I don't suppose you have anything like that? If so it's just physics not damp, as such. And harmless, if annoying.

We also have no damp course, and a definite damp issue on the north wall where the plaster can bubble slightly and get damp stains. But nothing that I believe is a health hazard.

We also have a rental which is probably 1930s and does have double glazing, but also tends to get mildew inside the built in cupboards. We also get this at home on ceilings and behind furniture. All you need to do is bleach it away once in a while. I don't think a few spots of mildew are the same health hazard as the spores off black mould.

So yes - there are lots of different types of 'damp' and some are far worse than others. Make sure any advice is from properly qualified experts not salesmen. And don't panic. It may not be as serious or expensive as you think. But if it is - did you have a survey when you bought the house? Perhaps you have some redress there?

Ask your Real Estate agent to help you assess the problem and whether changes in heating and drying clothes etc would make a difference.
You need to accurately define the problem.
Thank your tenants for informing you.