Condensation is a common problem in tower blocks, and it can add to issues with mould or damp.
You’ll notice water on the inside of your windows, especially on colder days. If the problem is serious, there might be peeling paint or black mould on the walls and ceilings.
Condensation happens when warm air with a high moisture content (like the air inside your flat) hits cold surfaces (like the windows).
Living causes condensation Showers and baths, central heating, drying wet laundry indoors, large fish tanks, boiling kettles and cooking — even just people breathing — all add to the moisture content of air in your flat.
Buildings cause condensation The construction of your block can play a part. In blocks where windows are sealed or kept closed most of the time, there is nowhere for the air to get in and out, and the moisture collects as condensation.
Good building design will incorporate extractor fans to remove the moist air, and windows that can be opened a little whenever needed.
There is also some benefit from keeping a constant temperature in your flat, rather than having bursts of heat in the day and a colder period in the night.
The relevant law is the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, section 11. Your landlord is responsible for keeping the exterior and structure of your flat in good repair. So, if the condensation is caused by disrepair, they must fix it.
The way the law is written means that if the issue is caused by the design of your building, rather than by disrepair, this will not apply.
But your landlord must also ensure that your flat is ‘fit for habitation‘. So if the condensation is leading to mould or damp and that is likely to make, or is making you ill, they must do something about it.
The law is set out in the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
In addition, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, introduced under the Housing Act 2004, lists potential hazards that landlords must address, including mould and damp.
Also see the ‘further information’ section below.
It is worth thinking about your own activities or changes you have made to the flat. If they are causing the condensation, it may be your responsibility to fix it.
For example, if you have blocked a source of ventilation, or are regularly drying wet laundry in a closed room, your landlord is not responsible — and you may, in some cases, be breaking your tenancy agreement.
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