Ventilation in a rental property

[Leesider32]

Hi all,

A house that I rent out got inspected recently by the council and of course there are a number of things I have to do. Most of them are ok but there is the need to "arrange for supplementary wall window vents to be installed to ensure that a minimum sectional area of 6500 sq. mm is provided to each habitable room."

Now it is an old house with very thick walls so I am not going to be making holes in the walls so is my only option to have a vent 6.5cm x 6.5cm into each window? I presume they can fitted into the existing windows?

Another one was to do with a gas cooker - "Provide suitable facilities for the effective and safe removal of fumes to the external air by means of a cooker hood or extractor fan, within the timeframe indicated,"

Again my only option is to have something going out the window, is this even possible?

 

[Persia]

Had similar a few years ago, argued successfully that the house was built in accordance with spec of the 1990s and wasn't going to retrospectively superimpose today's regulatory specs on that house, which would be a nonsence.
The argument was accecpted.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

have a vent 6.5cm x 6.5cm

More like 8cm by 8 cm.

 

[Leo]

I had similar in an old D12 property a few years back, last thing it needed was new holes in the wall but that's what they insist on. What I did though was fit anti-draught vents. They don't meet the minimum free area requirement, but the inspector just noted vents had been fitted and moved on.

 

[MaryBe]

We had similar. We put the vent in as requested and the tenant filled it with socks because the room was too cold!!!

 

[Persia]

We had similar. We put the vent in as requested and the tenant filled it with socks because the room was too cold!!!

Had similar experience years ago, mould appeared in bedroom and sitting room, had told tenants at lease signing not to block vents.

On examining the vents found old pages from Nortside news...wasn't us said the tenants immediately.

The date on the classified ads said different, a week after they moved in.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

I have lived in my house and had tenants in it in the past.

At least 50% of mould issues are down to lack of basic effort by occupants such as opening windows after use of bath/shower and drying clothes indoors.

Ventilation such as the above helps but it’s not a panacea.

 

[Micks'r]

Had similar experience years ago, mould appeared in bedroom and sitting room, had told tenants at lease signing not to block vents.

On examining the vents found old pages from Nortside news...wasn't us said the tenants immediately.

The date on the classified ads said different, a week after they moved in.

It is for this reason I always advise landlords to assume the tenants won't ventilate efficiently and to take the control of ventilation out of the hands of the tenants. This can be quite readily achieved in most properties.

I have lived in my house and had tenants in it in the past.

At least 50% of mould issues are down to lack of basic effort by occupants such as opening windows after use of bath/shower and drying clothes indoors.

Ventilation such as the above helps but it’s not a panacea.

I wonder is it lack of basic effort or a lack of basic understanding (knowledge) in general on how to ventilate a dwelling efficiently.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

This can be quite readily achieved in most properties.

Mechanical extraction in a shower room can only achieve so much.

Wipedown of damp surfaces and 5-minute ventilation via a wide open window achieve a lot more. My experience is most tenants won’t do the latter two and you will never be able to compel them.

 

[Micks'r]

Mechanical extraction in a shower room can only achieve so much.

Wipedown of damp surfaces and 5-minute ventilation via a wide open window achieve a lot more. My experience is most tenants won’t do the latter two and you will never be able to compel them.

If you are referring to the typical single intermittent ceiling or wall fan, agreed.

However, there are far better continually running solutions readily available which buys you plenty of margin and pretty much eliminates the need to compel tenants to do anything.

 

[elcato]

However, there are far better continually running solutions readily available which buys you plenty of margin and pretty much eliminates the need to compel tenants to do anything.

Not without putting holes in walls though ? I'd be intrigued to know a solution which could be attached to trickles fans on windows.

 

[Micks'r]

Not without putting holes in walls though ? I'd be intrigued to know a solution which could be attached to trickles fans on windows.

I'm not referring to either 'hole in wall' or window trickle vents here which, in our relatively mild climate, have been proven to be ineffective (for a host of reasons, one being the perception that they are draughty and are blocked up by the occupants) so I'm not exactly sure what you are thinking of.
The optimal solution is invariably specific to the particular situation and one size fits all is not an approach I think is smart. Essentially you are talking about a 24/7 running centralised extract system of some sort. Dwelling age, type, size, use, layout, thermal envelope quality & heat loss characteristics, expected moisture loading, household makeup etc plus occupant knowledge / understanding or lack thereof all have an impact / effect and need to be considered.