I continue to be amazed by the complexity of controlling damp and mould in houses. Ray White Beecroft had a property under management which suffered serious mould problems. We brought in several consultants, each making different recommendations.
Obvious potential sources of the problem included an unventilated shower used by a teenager downstairs, and the spin dryer in the laundry having no external vent. We also felt the tenant could do more to ventilate the property instead of leaving all the windows closed and heaters on full blast all the time.
We obtained quotes to put ventilation into the shower, duct the spin drier outlet through a hole in the wall to outside, put whirlygigs in the roof and forced ventilation in upstairs walls, and so on. Remarkably, the owner approved "whatever is necessary". But the tenant vacated before we had actually implemented any of these steps.
With the property empty and ventilated, we painted throughout with mould suppressing paint, and quickly found a new tenant. We explained our intent to do the proposed work, and the tenant agreed to allow access for this.
The new tenant has been in for nine months now. He ventilates the property sensibly, and admittedly doesn't have anyone using the downstairs shower. And there has been no mould at all since he moved in!
In fact this tenant has proved to be about the best we have in all our properties, maintaining the house immaculately, improving the gardens, and so on. So the question is, should we spend the owner's money modifying the house, or just ask future tenants to leave windows open sometimes? My intention is to wait until either this tenant leaves, or mould reappears, before doing anything!
Of course the problem might well change if we have a cold wet winter and the tenant goes into shutdown mode! But at least we are ready with solutions if needed.
Obvious potential sources of the problem included an unventilated shower used by a teenager downstairs, and the spin dryer in the laundry having no external vent. We also felt the tenant could do more to ventilate the property instead of leaving all the windows closed and heaters on full blast all the time.
We obtained quotes to put ventilation into the shower, duct the spin drier outlet through a hole in the wall to outside, put whirlygigs in the roof and forced ventilation in upstairs walls, and so on. Remarkably, the owner approved "whatever is necessary". But the tenant vacated before we had actually implemented any of these steps.
With the property empty and ventilated, we painted throughout with mould suppressing paint, and quickly found a new tenant. We explained our intent to do the proposed work, and the tenant agreed to allow access for this.
The new tenant has been in for nine months now. He ventilates the property sensibly, and admittedly doesn't have anyone using the downstairs shower. And there has been no mould at all since he moved in!
In fact this tenant has proved to be about the best we have in all our properties, maintaining the house immaculately, improving the gardens, and so on. So the question is, should we spend the owner's money modifying the house, or just ask future tenants to leave windows open sometimes? My intention is to wait until either this tenant leaves, or mould reappears, before doing anything!
Of course the problem might well change if we have a cold wet winter and the tenant goes into shutdown mode! But at least we are ready with solutions if needed.
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