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Autumn condensation in London homes
London flats are small, well sealed and often heated by people out all day, which makes them some of the most condensation prone homes in the country. When the heating comes on in October and the windows stay shut, mould follows. For tenants and landlords alike, the first question is not how to treat it but what is actually causing it, and who is responsible.
Signs to look for
- Mould around window reveals and in the corners of outside walls
- Wet windowsills every morning
- Mould on clothes, shoes or the backs of wardrobes
- Mould in a bathroom with no working extractor
- A mould patch that keeps returning in the same place after cleaning
What causes it
Condensation comes from moisture produced inside the home meeting a cold surface. Small rooms, drying laundry indoors, blocked or missing extract fans, and heating used in short bursts all push homes over the edge as the outside temperature drops.
Building defects play a part more often than people expect. Cold bridges at concrete lintels and balconies, missing insulation in a top floor ceiling, or a leak from a gutter or the flat above can all create a cold or wet spot where mould grows whatever the occupants do. That distinction matters in a disrepair dispute, and it can only be settled by measurement.
What we do
We are surveyors, not a treatment company, so we have nothing to sell you after the visit. We measure moisture in the walls, surface temperatures and the humidity in each room, look for building defects and ventilation failures, and set out in writing what is causing the mould and what would stop it.
Our reports are written to be read by tenants, landlords, agents, solicitors and councils. They separate what is down to the building from what is down to how the home is used, which is usually the question everybody is really asking.
What it usually costs
Our survey fees are fixed and published on our prices page, with no remedial quote attached, because we do not carry out remedial work. You get a written report within 24 hours of the visit.
Questions
Is condensation the tenant's fault?
Not necessarily. Lifestyle plays a part, but missing ventilation, cold bridging and leaks are the landlord's responsibility, and the Awaab's Law rules on damp and mould in social housing reflect that. A survey sets out which applies.
What should I record before a survey?
Photographs with dates, when the mould appears, how the home is heated and ventilated, and any repairs that have been reported. It helps the survey and any later dispute.
Can you survey for a disrepair claim?
Yes. We are independent of both sides, and our reports are written to be relied on by solicitors and courts.