How to prevent or tackle mould in your home
Not nice: Follow these top tips for getting rid of mould in your home - Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Mince pies and mulled wine are much more merry than mould - but as winter gets underway, homeowners, landlords and tenants will suffer problems that cold weather causes properties.
And mould should not be underestimated for its ability to cause misery, affecting thousands of landlords and tenants.
Capable of growing anywhere from carpet to clothing, inside walls, on pipes and above ceilings, it is reportedly a bigger trigger of landlord-tenant disputes than any other issue.
It is expensive and difficult to fix and can damage health of those living with it, through allergens, irritants and toxins it produces.
Managing director of property specialist Leaders, Allison Thompson, said: “Mould can seemingly appear out of nowhere and very quickly become a huge concern in many properties.
You may also want to watch:
“We often see landlords and tenants pointing the finger at each other when mould appears, with the former suspecting it is the result of the lifestyle of the latter. However, tenants often believe their landlord should have done more to prevent it.
“The good news is, most cases are the result of high humidity rather than any faults with a building and can be easily addressed. The most effective approach in avoiding or tackling mould is to reduce moisture within a home.”
Most Read
- 1 Why is there a 50mph speed limit on small section of A414?
- 2 Which Herts communities have seen the biggest rises and falls in COVID-19?
- 3 How many people in St Albans were fined for breaking COVID rules?
- 4 Police swoop on organised gangs as part of major operation
- 5 Hitchin and Harpenden MP responds to questions over new £2,500 a month part-time role
- 6 Number of COVID patients in Herts hospitals falls slightly
- 7 Oaklands College principal leaving after 10 years
- 8 Increase in electric car charging points thanks to new partnership
- 9 Charity for older people has busiest year ever during pandemic
- 10 Remembering one-of-a-kind local legend Lee Bozier
Leaders’ practical tips include:
* Identifying problem areas in a property and preventing mould with the right products or by making minor repairs
* Ensuring effective ventilation during cooking, showering, while doing laundry and closing doors to limit the spread of condensation
* Diverting water away from your property
* Monitoring humidity and drying wet areas – such as bath water on the floor, leaky pipes or after heavy rainfall
Allison added: “We know from more than 30 years’ experience of looking after rented property these simple tips will help landlords and tenants avoid becoming embroiled in a dispute and keep properties free of mould and the damage it causes.”
Stilton, anyone?
