Tenant Complaints Vs Landlords Response

As the temperature drops, many Registered Social Landlords will start preparing for the onslaught of tenant complaints about damp walls, condensation on windows and the appearance of black mould on fabric, clothing and wallpaper.

Condensation dampness affects both new and older properties and is much more common than you might imagine. Excess moisture is produced simply by breathing and by everyday activities like bathing, cooking, washing and drying our clothes.

An average family can produce up to four pints of water per day and this moisture is absorbed into the air where it migrates through the home and condenses on cool surfaces such as windows, mirrors, wall tiles and furniture. This humid environment is the ideal condition for mould spores to germinate and grow, and for dust mites to breed. These allergens can aggravate asthma and trigger allergic symptoms such as rhinitis and eczema, so while your property may be subjected to cosmetic damage caused by excess humidity, the health and wellbeing of your tenants will also be at risk. In short, condensation dampness is bad news for all concerned.

For many RSLs, this problem mainly comes around every year between autumn and spring, bringing with it the headache of tenant complaints, visits from surveyors and damp assessors, and costly repairs to the building fabric and decoration. Many will try to encourage their tenants to adopt simple lifestyle changes to lower the level of humidity in the property: opening windows and closing doors in moisture-producing rooms, keeping the property warm to reduce cold spots, and not drying clothes inside. In reality, as a result of fuel poverty and more extreme weather, it is often difficult to enforce these changes and when outside temperatures plummet any activities that result in a loss of heat and increased fuel bills are quickly abandoned.

So what’s the solution?

Trawling the internet for advice on tackling condensation will uncover a plethora of so-called cures, but be wary: many of these are simply short-term solutions that will mask or target only the cosmetic appearance of the mould without actually dealing with the root of the problem.

Anti-mould paint, dehumidifiers, cavity wall and loft insulation can make the problem worse. Draught-proofing and installing double glazing are just some of the steps suggested by retailers and suppliers - however, these can also worsen the problem. Some are extremely costly, others are effective for tackling penetrating damp, but none of them will solve the condensation issue. It’s a matter of adequate ventilation.

For properties badly affected by condensation dampness, the most effective solution is a whole-home ventilation strategy called Positive Input Ventilation, sometimes referred to as Positive Pressurisation or PIV. Nuaire invented the technology over 40 years ago in conjunction with the North Eastern Gas Board which sought a low-cost solution to clear condensation and humidity caused by sealed up chimneys and modern central heating systems. Today, PIV is the most popular method of whole home ventilation in the UK, having been installed in over 1 million homes. The PIV process involves drawing fresh air from outside into a fan located in the loft area. The air is filtered, tempered using the heat that naturally accumulates at the top of the house, and then gently pushed into the home causing positive pressurisation. By continuously supplying fresh, filtered air through the home, the moisture-laden stale air is forced out through the natural leakage points.

As a result, the humidity is drastically reduced and the allergens are removed from the air creating a fresh and healthy indoor environment for your tenants.Quiet and energy-efficient in their operation, PIV systems can reduce the overall maintenance costs of a property by protecting the fabric and materials in the home and preventing the build-up of tell-tale signs that often trigger tenant complaints. This strategy is extremely cost-effective and quick to install compared with other ventilation strategies such as installing individual extract fans in all wet rooms.

This makes PIV ideally suited to repairs and maintenance projects, yet it is gaining popularity in new build homes.

Dovedale Dampcure Services Ltd are one of Nuaire’s preferred installers of these incredible devices. So why not give us a call today to discover how much PIV can make a change for the good in your home.