The main causes of mould:

• • Water leaks from windows, roof, downspouts, guttering, internal plumbing and flooding
• • Penetrating damp through walls
• • Rising damp – usually caused by non-existent or defective damp proof courses.
• • Wet or damp basements or crawl spaces
• • Condensation from high relative humidity in air
• • Too much water vapour or steam being generated through cooking, washing, bathing, showering and clothes drying which is allowed to travel throughout the house.
• • Inadequate ventilation
• • Inadequate heating
• • Inadequate cleaning and drying after major water leaks and bursts or floods.

Where does mould typically appear from water leaks, penetrating and rising damp?

In the house

• Walls under the bottom corners of windows

• Floors around toilets and under dishwashers

• Walls around un-insulated cold-water pipes

• Around the chimney in the attic

• Near damaged or blocked downspouts.

• Basement – Bottom of walls, corners and floors

• Bottoms of walls – bridged or earth covered damp proof courses.

Where does mould appear from condensation?

Bedrooms

• Windows, in the bottom corners, sides or on the glass

• Behind dressers and wardrobes on exterior walls

• Particularly on the top corners of the bedroom walls which are the furthest from any heating source.

In bathrooms

• On ceilings over the bath or shower

• Window glass, sills and frames

• Under or behind the toilet and tank

• Exterior walls and tiled surfaces

Who is Liable?

Causes of mould growth from straightforward building defects are without doubt the landlord’s responsibility in a residential property.  Where a landlord has had the property inspected for all the major structural and or plumbing defects and has had any necessary remedial works carried out, then further issues of condensation, is most likeley due to – too much water vapour or steam being generated through cooking, washing, bathing, showering and clothes drying which is allowed to travel throughout the house.

Condensation is by far the  most common cause of mould growth.

The true cause of condensation-based mould growth is often complex and a combination of things. It is sometimes caused by inadequacies in the building but very often the main cause of mould growth is the lifestyle of the occupants – the tenants.

We try to advise tenants of the need to heat and ventilate the properties adequately throughout the winter months, however in some cases the advice is not heeded and sometimes students complain of DAMP  & MOULD in the house when in fact it is CONDENSATION.

We have found a short video provided via the National Landlords Association, which we feel provides a balanced view of the causes and remedies of Black Mould and Condensation.

If you are a tenant in a property with black mould appearing on walls and ceilings then check this video – it may help you to spot whether the issues are due to structural defects (Landlord responsibilty) or lifestyle of the occupants (tenants responsibility)

Controlling Condensation and Mould

Key points when Letting to Students

You will need to ensure you meet the HMO Regulations (Housing Act 2004)

For more information check our HMO’s legal requirements post

Not all properties will require to be licensed, however properties with three or more unrelated tenants sharing will be considered as a HMO.  These shared houses (mostly private rented Student Accommodation) will fall under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006  For more information on this See www.legislation.gov.uk

Also check our post on Health Housing & Safety Rating Systems HHSRS

Safety Measures

Sunderland Council are carrying inspections of all HMO’s, this includes 3 storey licensed HMO’s as well as any single or two storey properties that are let to three or more unrelated tenants. They are following regulatory gudelines of LACORS (Local Authorities Coodinators of  Regulatory Services) which has produced a Lacors Fire Safety Guidance which is availble as a download PDF.
Lacors fire safety guidance

The main items that our Landlords have been advised to upgrade in (non licensed HMO’s)

Exit doors and bedroom doors – ideally locks should be openable from the inside without the use of a key

Automatic fire detection & alarm system – Grade D LD3 coverage  mains wired fire detection
Grade D: a system of one or more mains-powered
smoke (or heat) alarms each with integral battery
standby supply. These are designed to operate in
the event of mains failure and therefore could be
connected to the local lighting circuit rather than an
independent circuit at the dwelling’s main distribution
board. There is no control panel.

LD3 coverage: a system incorporating detectors in
circulation spaces that form part of the escape routes
from the dwelling only.

Fire fighting equipment – Fire blankets in kitchens, and small portable extinquishers located near to exit doors.
Fire blankets are recommended as good practice in
kitchens of all premises covered by the regulations, including
single household occupation and bedsit rooms.

You will need to think about supplying the following
•  Durable furnishings •  Heavy duty carpets in darker colours
•  Reliable appliances and white goods   •  Washable covers and curtains  •  2 bathrooms for 4+ sharing •  Combi Boiler hot water and central heating •  Outside space  to park bicycles! •  Preferably no garden,

Best locations and types of housing

HMO’s Houses in multiple occupation – It should be a large house (preferably three or four bedrooms) with close proximity  to a `learning’ centre. Rents from £675 for three beds to £980 PCM for four beds.

We also see a lot of enquiries for two bed flats and City apartments – very popular with students and can command slightly higher higher rentals than residential lettings. Rents from £525 to £650 PCM
For Sunderland University the following local areas are within walking distance of the main University Campus.

SR2 Ashbrooke, Thornhill, Eden Vale, around Chester Road SR4 Millfield off Chester Road and Hylton Road and close to Metro Stations SR6 Roker, Saint Peters

 If you need advice on any aspect of letting to Students please contact us by e-mail or give us a call..

4/5 bed house share

Close to University, Hospital and Metro Station.

Lobby leading through inner door to hall and staircase.
Living/dining room 4m x 4m. Fireplace, nice features.
Bedroom 1/second living space 3.5m x 3.4m.
Kitchen 2m x 3.55m, fully fitted with white units, beech worktops, stainless steel sink and brushed steel splashbacks, halogen lighting. Loads of storage, gas CH boiler, electric oven, gas hob, washing machine, microwave, plenty of cutlery, crockery, pots and pans.

Lobby with large fridge/freezer and back door to off-street parking and bike shed. Bathroom with toilet, bath, basin, extractor fan and shower.

Stairs up to half-landing – Single Bedroom 2 (2.15m x 2.75m)

Bedroom 3 (3.5m x 2.9m), Bedroom 4 (3.5m x 2.3m) Bedroom 5 (3.5m x 2.2m)
All walls are pale cream, all paintwork is white, all carpets are beige. Furniture will be new, good quality Ikea. The house is immaculate throughout. Partial double glazing. Gas CH with B Gas maintenance contract for CH, plumbing and drainage.

Payments:
July 5 weeks Sept 16 weeks  January 16 weeks April 12 weeks

Property Details

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5 bed house share

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6 Bed Flat Share

Six bed rooms in newly refurbished upper flat.

Communal lounge, large kitchen, two shower rooms.
All new furnishings.

Property Detail

3 Free weeks on a full year contract starting July

Large communal lounge with open plan kitchen
with two ovens/hobs two fridge freezers, Six good
sized bedrooms and Two shower rooms.
Free broad band included.

RENTS:
4 rooms @£56 pp pr wk
2 rooms @£60 pp pr wk
(Not including Utilities)

Payments:
July 5 weeks Sept 16 weeks
January 16 weeks April 12 weeks

 Property Details

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         5 bed house share

Rent per room £70 which includes Gas Electric, Water TV Licence and Broad Band.

Rental Terms – 52 weeks 10 weeks 1/2 rent and 42 weeks full rent.

Property Details

Property Location

Six larger sized rooms, large lounge, Fully fitted Kitchen with dining room, Utility room, two shower rooms, rear outside garden.

Room rate per person £55 per week.

6 Bed house share

Property Details

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