Damp in the house

[owas]

Again as the winter rolls in, the damp and mould on the walls start to appear. I have been on to the landlord about this, and still getting nothing sorted, last year he said it was the guttering leaking and there was an attempt to fix it. Seeing as its all over the house, which is quite old, if I strip the walls back, is there some sort of covering I can use to treat it? at the landlords expense though! And I guess its not good for the kids to be around either?

 

It might be worth a call to the environmental health people as damp can lead to health problems.

 

[dingbat]

Is the damp on the lower part of the walls? Do you ventilate the rooms often enough?

You can get a mould wash to apply which helps kill the spores so less mould grows even when there is a lot of condensation. If it's particular to certain rooms, try and keep them sealed off when you do remove it.

You can also get a dehumidifier which will help a lot.

 

[owas]

Is the damp on the lower part of the walls? Do you ventilate the rooms often enough?

You can get a mould wash to apply which helps kill the spores so less mould grows even when there is a lot of condensation. If it's particular to certain rooms, try and keep them sealed off when you do remove it.

You can also get a dehumidifier which will help a lot.

Some of it is, but the worst room, the bathroom is directly underneath so I wonder if this could be why? We have did have a dehumidfier last winter but found this didn't make much of difference. I will speak to the landlord again today, and see what he thinks about if I strip the walls back, clean then with the wash, and redecorate, perhaps a cut in rent for a short while

 

[vvaannmmaann]

But just doing that may not solve the problem You really need to establish what is causing the problem,otherwise you will be doing it all again in a few years time.

 

[dingbat]

So the bathroom is on the ground floor? Does it have an extractor?

All bathrooms will suffer from this problem unless there is good extraction.

The damp could be coming in from various places. Bridging of the DPC by bodge paving, neighbouring wall problems, roof problems, leaking drains etc. Without knowing the property it's hard to tell.

The cheapo dehumidifiers don't do much. You really need to invest in one around £200 odd.

 

[simon field]

I seem to remember those trays of crystals you put on your windowsill catch quite a bit of moisture.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-of-2-...omeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item4aada3d768

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Aye but we still don't know where the moisture is coming from!

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Problem with Landlords is that they're more than happy to take your money, but don't usually want to spend it in keeping you safe, secure and healthy.

With all due respect, this problem that you have is technically not your problem, you need to tell the Landlord that you'll get it sorted by getting three quotes from reputable companies who deal in damp proof courses show him the quotes, tell him to choose one within 14 days or you will. If he doesn't choose one, all you do is choose one, pay for it and deduct it from your rent.

There isn't jack he can do about it, and hopefully you'll get the healthy life back!

 

[vvaannmmaann]

It might be a problem caused by the OP - drying washing on radiators for example - is that down to the landlord to sort out?

 

[owas]

I don't think its something we have done. We only use the line out side, and then tumble or just tumble, which is right by by the back door, and the pipe going out side, (back-door left open)
The guttering is leaking at the back, and its along this wall, where most the mould is appearing, and then also under here is the bathroom. The only vent in the bathroom, is the window, which we tend to open after a shower.
To add to it, there is a big wet patch on the ceiling in another room, looks like rain coming in, and in the lounge which is the other side of the house, there's little wet patches down the wall. And to keep the rant going, the less than a year old newly fitted bathroom, the sealing has come form around the bath, and there is damp on that roof, and there is lose plug socket in the kitchen. The more I look at it, the more I think at £550 a month we are being taken for mugs!!

 

[Team Leith Training]

I would suggest ventilating the room as much as possible. If you leave a window and the door open as much as possible when you are out this should assist with at least drying the damp.
However if you get no joy there and the landlord still does not assist, speak with the agent, if that fails CAB?

 

[dingbat]

If you leave a window and the door open as much as possible when you are out this should assist with at least drying the damp.

Might assist with other items leaving the premises too.

 

[Team Leith Training]

Might assist with other items leaving the premises too.

That should be internal door to encourage flow through, and small window. Clearly depending on the crime rate in the area

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Personally, I'd get a roofer in to give you a quote, could be an issue with tiles rather than being damp... Once the tiles have been checked the next step is damp proof courses.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

"The guttering is leaking at the back, and its along this wall, where most the mould is appearing"

A good place to start!

 

[lucyna]

damp is a huge problem, but i have solution to your problem. I just have to ask my firend, how he solved it.

 

[zcarter682]

Two main contributors are the kitchen and the bathroom. Both sould have extractor fans installed and if possible you should keep the window open when the oven is on or when having a bath or shower. Also I have been told that drying clothes on the radiator can cause damp too.

 

[owas]

We have had the landlord and roofer around, and there is a leak in the roof that is to be fixed, a vent is needed in the bathroom, and there is build up of water where the steam from where the gas heating comes from. He also said the window ledges are slate which what a lot of old building use, but now its not recommended. We also have an extractor fan/thingy and of as before back door open when the tumble on, pipe out the window, and we dont hang clothes around the house to dry. The worst wall is to be re-plastered also. At least its the landlords problem.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Good result.well done.