University is an exciting experience for most young people, enabling you to move away from the family home and have a chance to throw yourself into the realms of student life. Sometimes, however, home comforts can seem like a million miles away and having to deal with some of the more unpleasant aspects of student living can be stressful.
With expensive heating bills, along with a busy and absent landlord, it can be difficult to control the levels of damp within student accommodation. Here at Timberwise, we’ve specified some great advice on how to deal with damp, what to do if you discover damp, and working out who is responsible for the treatment of the problem. It’s important to address the issue, as damp can cause black mould, which could increase your risk of respiratory illness and other health problems.
What are the main causes of damp?
Damp can occur in any type of building. Some of the more common causes are through structural defects, damage to the exterior of the property, and, of course, humans. Your living conditions can affect whether or not damp occurs within your student accommodation. Below are just a few reasons why you may have discovered damp:
• Wet clothes on radiators or banisters (whether the heating is on or not)
• An unevenly heated house
• Not using extractor fans (if they are available)
The reasons above could be an indication that you are responsible for the presence of damp and black mould within your home. However, if there is not enough ventilation, insulation, or effective heating, then your are more than in your right to approach your landlord and ask them to help sort the problem out.
How do you know if you have damp?
There are a few ‘symptoms’ (both around your house and yourself) that you should look out for if you’re concerned that you may have damp:
• Excessive condensation on windows or walls
• Black mould patches or spotting
• Water marks and moisture
• Leaks
• Peeling paint / wallpaper
• Unpleasant odour
• Steamed-up windows
• Feeling under the weather (blocked nose when you wake up etc.)
You may have one or two of these issues (or, unfortunately, all of them!) and it’s important to note all of the signs down, as this will enable you and the landlord to discover how the problem occurred in the first place.
If you aren’t sure of the initial reason for the damp, then it’s best to address the issue with your landlord anyway, as they may be understanding and help you remove any black mould and add more ventilation. However, if you think your landlord is being unreasonable, then you can contact your local Environmental Health Department who should be able to resolve the issue.
Health issues
Damp can cause certain health issues, especially if black mould is present. The allergens and irritants within the mould can cause allergic reactions and symptoms such as red eyes, sneezing, runny nose etc. It’s often easy as a student to pass these kinds of symptoms off as ‘Freshers’ Flu’ or even a hangover (not that we condone irresponsible drinking) when there could be something more serious in the mix.
If you suspect that you may have a damp issue feel free to get in touch with our damp proofing specialists. Call your local office on 0800 288 8660 or request a damp survey using our on-line survey request form.