Top Tips for Tackling Condensation

One of the most common issues for landlords, particularly during the cold winter months, is condensation. Now, as we head into the peak of condensation season, it’s the perfect time to highlight the key causes and cures, especially with the universal rollout of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 due in March.

If we’re talking statistics, currently over 1/3 of UK households operate on a tenant-landlord relationship, with occupants reliant upon their landlords to fix issues within the property. The introduction of the Homes Act aims to ensure that rented properties are safe and healthy for habitation – in other words, free from things that could cause serious harm.

Here are three tips to help landlords ease the problems associated with condensation:

Quick responses

One of the main reasons that condensation is so prevalent in rented housing is its link to occupant behaviour. There are a range of activities that exacerbate these levels, especially in social housing conditions. Drying clothes indoors, for example, is something that is unavoidable for anyone who doesn’t have the luxury of outdoor space.

There’s also the worrying rise of fuel poverty, which prevents many from being able to afford heating bills. This leaves houses colder than they should be, worsening condensation with potentially damaging health implications.

This highlights why the fight against condensation is such a challenging one for landlords, and while they may have little to no control over what their tenants do, it places more emphasis on the need to be responsive and act quickly. 

Avoid misdiagnoses

Being reactive is one thing, but taking the right steps for treatment can be another challenge. Condensation is often left untreated or mistreated due to misdiagnosis as dampness or mould. Not only does this do nothing to address the problem, but it can prove costly in time and expense as damp-orientated solutions are incorrectly invested in.

To help avoid misdiagnosis, there are courses on combatting condensation which provide landlords and other property professionals with the skills and confidence to make informed evaluations on ventilation in homes.

Intelligent PIV units

In an ideal world, we could simply reduce condensation by producing less moisture within structures. However, this is not always the case, so instead we look towards effective ventilation for removing moisture.

Intelligent PIV units, such as Elta’s SANO Intelligent PIV, are capable of automatically adjusting air flow depending on the moisture content and temperature of incoming air. This ensures optimal thermal comfort for tenants, without incurring the high energy costs associated with using a heater. Integral controls allow the unit to be responsive to the individual requirements helping to reduce the likelihood of condensation.

Everyone has the responsibility to understand the symptoms, causes, and treatments for condensation, not just landlords.

While further details on residential training courses can be found here:  https://www.property-care.org/training-qualifications/training-courses/residential-veon-masterclass/