How to Prevent Mould in an Edinburgh Flat

How to prevent mould - a guide

In the winter months it is very easy to allow damp to start building in your Edinburgh flat if you don’t take the necessary precautions and follow positive habits to ensure that your flat is adequately ventilated. It is of top importance to maintain your flat which you are renting to ensure you can claim your deposit back at the end of the tenancy and to reduce any potential damage to the property and your health!

So if you're sitting here reading about how to prevent mould in an Edinburgh flat, then hopefully it's not too late! let's begin:

First of all, it’s helpful to explain what damp actually is. Essentially damp is the presence of unwanted moisture inside a building which can, if left to its own devices, cause mould. In this article, we explore the different types of damp and the preventative measures to keep your health and rental property in great condition. Typically, damp problems arise more in winter, but if left unresolved can be an issue all year round.

It can take two forms:

Rising damp

Rising damp is specifically hard to prevent. It is usually found in older properties as opposed to new as many newer properties are built with damp resistant materials. This type of damp is most commonly found on ground floor level which is due to moisture being drawn up from the soil in the ground and into the walls. This type of damp is not to be confused with condensation.
So how do you spot rising damp? Signs may include; crumbling plaster, damp marks on walls and rotting skirting boards. Oftentimes external damage may be caused and is often visible due to white stains and crumbling mortar.
And how do you prevent rising damp? The main way to do this is to dig away soil that is resting directly against a property and to leave adequate space between the soil and the house. At Cullen Property, we identify dampness with electronic moisture readers – which you can get from most tool shops – which are handy for independent landlords, owners and tenants alike!

Condensation damp

Condensation damp is the most common form of damp in rental flats in Edinburgh. This type of condensation occurs when warm air – often from showers or drying clothes on a rack – collides with a cold surface and cools down quickly, creating water droplets on nearby surfaces. Condensation is caused by a build-up of excess moisture that has nowhere to escape so forms on walls and ceilings.
If you fail to ventilate your rooms by opening windows when showering or drying clothes, then the lack of ventilation will eventually cause damp. Prolonged damp will eventually cause the appearance of black mould on doors, walls and around windows. If the problem is extremely bad, the mould can appear all around the home, so please remember to ventilate your rental property on a regular basis, as once it appears it is hard to get rid of.

So, what are our tips for how to prevent mould?

1) Do not turn off or remove any extractor fans fitted in your property.
2) Make sure the fans that are fitted, are maintained correctly and are always offering the correct amount of airflow.
3) Always maintain a gap between your furniture and property walls if possible.
4) Try your best to dry clothes outdoors if possible.
5) Do not dry your clothes over radiators.
6) If you choose to use a tumble drier, then make sure it is properly ventilated and regularly empty the condensation.
7) Maintain a reasonable inside temperature.

So there you go! We have outlined our 7 top tips on how to prevent mould in an Edinburgh flat. If you are currently a Cullen Property tenant facing issues, then please click here to report the issue and our team we will get back to you asap.