Call of the month - condensation

We recently helped a member learn more about what they can do to tackle the issue of condensation in their rental property.

They had been informed by their tenant that on some of the windows in the property there was a lot of condensation, especially in the morning.

The landlord hadn’t experienced this in previous tenancies and wondered how they should go about tackling the problem.

The advice from our team

Our adviser began by saying that it is important to take steps to tackle the issue.

Condensation is not in itself a hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and is unlikely to be a serious defect in the property that would give rise to a claim under the Fitness for Human Habitation legislation.

However condensation can lead to issues relating to damp and mould growth, both of which could be considered under the aforementioned pieces of legislation.

Our landlord was told the first thing to do would be to establish where the condensation was and how it had arisen, with a property inspection the best way to find out.

Condensation typically arises where the moisture in the air has nowhere to escape, often in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, so it is vital the property is well ventilated. Extractor fans could help, as well as trickle ventilators on windows.

A list of practical steps is included in the NRLA's condensation guide for landlords.