Ventilating a property

[shouldbworking]

So my letting agent comes around to inspect and its the same old story

Mould is trying to form in blah blah places.

Now, its a 1 bed bungalow, no extractor fan, recirc type cooker hood, large glass area and the windows can't be left open without compromising the security of the building (or making it bloody freezing in the winter).

I've repeatedly asked them to get an extractor fan installed or provide a dehumidifier but they seem to prefer to ignore it and just have me clean up the symptoms at inspection time.

Are there any magic tricks to stopping this recurring? right now moving seems like a pretty good option.

[Deva Link]

Landlords always try to blame the way temants use the property but something like that is a fact of the design.

If there's no way you can leave windows open (and that would waste energy anyway) and no extraction or ventilation system, then it's going to get damp.

[fido]

Leave the heating on.

[Deva Link]

Get hotter damp!

[mk1fan]

Sounds like all you can do is heat the place.

If you're that bothered about it then formally write to the Agent (copy the Landlord) stating that the damp is an inherant defect and that you heating the property is not sufficient to control it. To this end you are not being held responsible for the damp damage. Also add that you have asked for an extractor fan and cooker hood be fitted to control water vapour but to date no action has been taken.

[Mr GrimNasty]

You can wipe the potential problem areas with antifungal solution (or dilute bleach) every now and then, as well as trying to ventilate more.

[DrDeAtH]

call environmental health. they will come and take a look. then they will issue a list of demands for the landlord to rectify. That way he HAS to do it.

job done, not the best way, but it seems you have tried the amicable route already.

[Cogcog]

De-humidifier.

I pop mine on for a few hours a day; no running wondows, no damp or mould, no rotting windows. This was after a period of having damp and mould patches which was all down to ventilation.