If you rent out residential properties, you must be aware of the tragic case of Awaab Ishak, the Rotherham toddler who died in 2020 from exposure to mould in a rented home. In this case, the property was owned by a housing association, but if you let your property privately, you could be personally responsible for such an incident.
So, what do you need to know about mould and how to prevent it?
What Are the Dangers from Mould?
Mould is a type of fungus that thrives in damp conditions and is caused particularly by condensation within a building. In the right conditions, it will grow on whatever surfaces are available — walls, ceilings, floors and furniture.
Like all fungi, mould shoots spores off into the air. Besides spreading itself, this can pose serious health issues for anyone exposed to the spores for an extended time, especially if they have underlying respiratory problems or allergies.
Breathing in mould spores can make any of these existing issues more serious, as well as causing infections. This can lead to significant illness — and, in extreme cases, to death.
Why Does Mould Grow in Rented Homes?
Mould tends to grow when inadequate heating, ventilation or insulation cause condensation to form on surfaces. This creates damp, which is precisely the conditions in which mould thrives.
All these issues can occur in any type of house, whether rented or owner-occupied, but in general they’re more likely to be found in rented accommodation. While many landlords will react immediately to fix problems, there’s a significant number who’ll drag their heels and put off repairs — especially in the current financial situation. It’s possible this may be what happened in the case of Awaab Ishak.
The heating system itself doesn’t need to be inadequate, though — just used inadequately. Over the winter, many of us have been keeping our heating lower than we should, or even off, to reduce soaring energy bills. While this could affect all households, a greater proportion of renters are in the lower income levels and therefore have more need to cut down on expenditure.
What You Need to Do About Mould
As an owner of rented accommodation, you have a legal obligation to ensure that the property is safe for your tenants to live in. That would certainly include tackling any mould issue, since this can cause serious illness.
If the problem is slight, supplying a dehumidifier could be enough to solve the issue, but it’s more likely that you’ll need to address any issue with the heating or insulation. You’ll also need to ensure that any surface that’s been overgrown with mould, or where mould grows later, is thoroughly cleaned.
You may have problems raising sufficient funds for this work, especially in the current economic climate, but it’s important to prioritise it, otherwise you could be in serious trouble. If your financial difficulties are due to problems getting hold of money that rightly belongs to you, give me a call to see how I can help you be ready to meet your legal obligations around mould.
