Help with damp problem - long

[pigsinmud]

We have a flat which we now rent out, but prior to this we lived there for years. It is rather unique in position as it is between 2 blocks of flats. If you imagine 2 blocks at right angles, our flat is in that corner connecting the 2blocks. There is a walkway underneath it. Great position as we have no-one above or below us, steps on one side so only have one bedroom wall joining another flat.

However we've had problems over the years with damp. We had a de-humidifier which helped. We had the bathroom replaced a couple of years ago-a leak was found and we hoped this would sort out the damp problem, but it is still around. It is mainly in the one room which is totally exposed to the elements. We had a bigger radiator fitted, but stii there. Tenants have just moved out and have been told by them that there are a lot of marks on the carpet where they've stored suitcases under the beds and where the furniture has been standing - I'm assuming they mean mouldy marks.

Is there anything we can do? We are stumped how to finally get rid of the damp.

Plus is there a carpet company that will fit a carpet within 3 days of ordering? We have new tenants moving in on Wednesday and I think we will need to replace the carpets. Dh is going up tomorrow to have a clean etc..

As that room has cold air on all sides, it will have issues with condensation. To deal with it, you need to tell the tenants to be really vigilant with keeping the air moisture down - so airing the room, even for 10 minutes in the morning, always having the bathroom door shut during showering/bathing, and then shutting the door afterwards with the extractor fan on/window open, cooking with pan lids on and extractor on and kitchen door shut (and again, airing afterwards), and not drying clothes on radiators or airers. Using a good dehumidifier will really help, and if you get one with a laundry setting (we have a Mitsubishi which does), then they can dry laundry on an airer over it without adding to the problem, only helping it. Ours costs very little to run

Most carpet places should be able to fit very quickly

Thanks. I like the sound of that dehumidifier. We do ask them to keep bathroom door shut and when we had the bathroom refitted 2 years ago, we had extractor fans fitted in the bathroom and kitchen. De- humidifier is old though, so I'll have a search for one like yours.

I haven't seen the flat yet as tenants moved out yesterday, so it might not be as as bad as I'm imagining! We just hoped we'd cracked it with extractor fans being fitted and I think the last tenants were quite good at airing it.

Hi

You definitely have a damp problem with the evidence of mould under the suitcases. If you are on the first floor which it sounds from the description you are then you must be getting damp from lack of ventilation in the property. I would be worth getting a humidity reading on the property probably in the winter as this is the time where you are not introducing through ventilation in the property i.e windows closed and heating on. There are some very cost effective heat exchange units on the market which would remove the damp air and exchange it for warm clean air. Depending upon the units some can be controlled with thermostat device so you can be sure no matter what conditions are present you can achieve a constant level of humidity control. Have a look a ventaxia's website. You may also want to look for defective gutters or pointing of the brickwork which may be letting in damp and get these sorted isolated leaks usually manifest internally as a salt line.

Hope that helps not sure where you are so cannot recommend the carpet fitter.

Lucinda

www.newton-membranes.co.uk/damp-proofing