Mould Surveys

Objectives

In 2019, we received a call from a concerned landlord who received calls from their tenants complaining of mould in their home. This was odd, as the landlord had been letting this property for years without issue. The property in question was a first-floor flat which housed a couple who were increasingly alarmed by persistent mould growth, particularly in the bedroom, around the windows, and where furniture came into contact with the walls. The landlord, who acted very quickly in getting in contact with us, was concerned for the health of the occupants and the integrity of the flat.

When we visited the flat, we first took moisture readings in different areas around the property. We found significant levels of moisture all throughout the home during this test, indicating that the source of the moisture might be inside. Speaking to the occupants, they told us that the flat would become very cold in a surprising amount of time, despite seemingly sufficient insulation and double-glazed windows. We asked the tenants about their lifestyle, and they let us know that they air-dry clothes inside and shower twice daily. They told us that they heat the flat in the early evening to a sufficient temperature, and upon turning the heating off, the flat would drop to uncomfortably cold temperatures. Upon further investigation, we discovered a section of guttering wasn't attached properly to the roof, leading water to run down the exterior walls, and the double-glazed windows had lost their gas filling.

Solutions

We theorised that the flat's inability to retain heat was likely caused by the excessive moisture inside, which was sapping the heat away. The old double-glazed windows only exacerbated this issue. Lifestyle factors like frequent showers and air-drying clothes resulted in increased moisture levels inside, and the faulty guttering outside may have been increasing the moisture inside as well.

The answer to the landlord's mould problem involved both physical and lifestyle changes. We advised the landlord on a number of actions, including: installing triple glazed windows, which are better insulators than the old double-glazed ones, with large trickle vents which allowed for constant air circulation; installing ductwork from the kitchen extractor fan to an outside exhaust; upgrading the bathroom extractor fan, set to permanently trickle, which boosted the air flow when the bathroom was in use, and adding an extra air path through the loft, to let damp air escape through the building.