9 Crown Row, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 0TH
Anastasia Davis
Senior Sales Consultant
Anastasia is brilliant with people and loves creating new relationships. Perfect skills for her role at DY! Away from work she’s a keen gym bunny and enjoys taking her dog out on long walks, plus she’s a natural both in front of and behind the camera!
When I was younger I wanted to be…
A fashion stylist. Even now I still go around telling my family and friends what to wear and if they ever need advice they know who to come to.
Top of my bucket list is…
A skydive in Dubai.
You might be surprised to know…
I am a Grade 8 singer. When I was 10 years old I performed at the Royal Albert Hall and went on a music tour through Barcelona in 2017.
On Sunday mornings you can usually find me…
Giving my dog a lovely long walk around Virginia Water.
1 Feb 2021
Let’s unpack what landlords can learn from the findings of the memorably titled Mouldy Nation Report. Yes, before you ask, there really is a document called the Mouldy Nation Report (we’re not making it up).
Uswitch, an energy and finance comparison website, produced the report after surveying 2,000 people from across the UK about mould in their homes. It found that:
- 62% of people have an issue with mould in their home.
- Of those with a mould problem, 64% were renting (private, student, or social).
- 40% of people wouldn’t clean mould themselves if they were in a rented home.
- 64% of people believe it is the landlord’s sole responsibility to rectify a mould problem.
Interestingly (or infuriatingly), those who reported mould in their home, also fessed up to contributing to the problem by:
- Drying clothes indoors (40%).
- Leaving the kitchen or bathroom door open when cooking or showering (22%).
- Putting furniture directly against walls (21%).
- Keeping the shower curtain folded when wet (11%).
- Leaving spillages instead of cleaning them up (6%).
For the record, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to repair a problem that is causing mould (leaks, broken damp proof courses, inadequate insulation). The landlord must also remove mould that is affecting a tenant’s health and safety.
But it takes two to tango, and it is the tenant’s responsibility to adequately ventilate the property within reasonable means and keep the property clean.
Two broader issues jump out at us here. They are:
1. As a landlord, you must keep your property in good condition. If there is a structural issue causing the mould, deal with it. Also, make sure extractor fans and the heating are working, so your tenant has no excuse to claim it’s your fault.
2. Landlords are not nannies or babysitters; they shouldn’t have to explain basic hygiene to a tenant who thinks it’s okay to ignore spillages and leave wet shower curtains curled up. You must invest the time at the beginning of a tenancy to find the right tenant, someone who will keep up their end of the bargain by keeping your property clean and tidy.
The team at Duncan Yeardley are experienced at tenant selection. Life’s too short to be giving cleanliness lectures or straightening other people’s shower curtains, so if you’d to learn more about our services, please get in touch.
Copyright Duncan Yeardley 2021
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