Hello, since you've been very helpful with my trash bag conundrum, I'll propose another problem. Me and my partner rented an apartment for 5 months that seemed too good to be true for the price, unfortunately we were too dazled by the size and didn't look for signs of mold that turned out to be everywhere. We've cleaned a ton and got very sick in process, but everyday we find a new place and now possible black mold on a random piece of wood in the bathroom. We signed a default contract and the landlord isn't unreasonable. How many rights do Belgian tenants have, what can we do? Since housing is very limited in our case, we'd rather seek compensation/immediate fixing of the problem rather than breaking contract
by BoiledMilkVibe
18 comments
Huurderebond!
What is the lowest temperature in the apartment? You need to heat the place to at least 16 degrees at all times.
Makelaars be like; “Je moet wat beter verwarmen en verluchten”.
We had the same problem and we bought dehumidifier/air ionizer and it helped tremendously. But we have a small one room apartment so I don’t know if that will help you
This does not look like structural mold.
Ventilation and heating. Especially if it is an older building. I would get a cheap dehumidifier in the mean time. It can take a while before it is resolved.
Your couch also looks like it is ‘blooming’ which could indicate that your heating is too low.
I’ve had the same problem in my flat since I moved in (4 years ago) from a leak in the corner that hadn’t been fixed. I spray vinegar on the wall to keep it at bay, but I hate living with it.
My (terrible) landlord raised my rent according to the index and I don’t think o should pay that increase, and said so – but now I am housing insecure and can’t afford a move. I don’t know my rights either and hate having a bad relationship with my landlord. Not sure what to do either.
So I understand where you are coming from, not an easy situation.
we have an old house and we installed a system D.
after a couple of years i can tell you, i can’t believe anybody would live without one.
it doesn’t have to be a perfect installation, if it just sucks from one bathroom and injects in one corridor or living room it would already make a huuuuge difference.
the quality of the air you breath, the energy saving, the smell …
PS: a perfect installation which is according to ‘the code’ involves all rooms and corridors and living and kitchen and bathroom and toilet … which is often impossible to retrofit in older plans. that’s what the contractors would tell you. it’s a simple DIY and people can buy it as a package.
Looks like a ventilation and moisture problem. There is too much moisture in the air. You either need to heat up your apartment more or ventilate it better. I don’t heat my garbage piece of an living space, but the window is also open 24/7. A very cold the last few days. But all i do is sleep in that place. So meh
Are you located in Brussels ? Vlanderen ? Wallonia ?
there is too much humidity that condensates on cold surfaces like above the window, behind the couch (where the heat might be not getting at). for condensation on wall, the wall needs to be insulated.
the thing you can do is to lower the humidity. get a dehumidifier or buy a lot of moss art to suck up the moisture in the air.
If you don’t heat a lot or have additional small sources of moist that are not a problem on itself per se. A decent dehumidifier (one with a compressor, and about 200-400W) is well worth the investment.
It recoups its own energy usage many times overs. You’ll have lower heating bills and healthier house.
Definitely wortg the 250€ investment.
Have you considered this one trick old people do and which was very popular in the 1900’s and centuries before that where applicable:
Opening a goddamn fucking window and airing out your house…
WHAAAAAAAT?!
yes
But…
No
Why though? Because you breathe out humid air, because you have cold bridges in your poorly insulated and constructed appartement, because air by itself is humid even if you’re not home. And frankly; if I was the landlord you’d have to explain to me why you let my apartment get completely mouldy when all it takes is some fresh air…
ffs….
Spray some bleach on it (not the couch tho). But open the window after, you don’t wanna inhale that 😂
Ok, was in the same situation here due to not so nice works next door.
My take on this.
Get yourself a couple of smart temp/hydro meters that you can place in different rooms.
A couple of euro on a well known chinese website (Allie) , well worth it and order some batteries for it as wel since they seem to eat those. Install the app (probably Tuya) and you have useful data. No guessing, daily graphs, even useful for insurance purposes in case.
Anything above 65% is really bad. Also keep temps above 16 to 17C.
To measure is to know!!!
Ventilate … is also a serious big one that is difficult to explain. I measure like 90% humidity outside at the moment but when I open my windows the humidity drops inside from 60% to 50% sometimes in 10 minutes time. You need to read up on this on why this happens.
Open all windows all at once for like 10 minutes every day so you get a good draft and fresh air. If possible during the morning and evening. Temps will drop very slightly but not worthwile, but humidity will drop for sure. Also dryer air will heat up faster and will feel more comfy.
Check where the moist comes from or the logic behind it. Bad insulation is an issue with older places but it can also be a leak which needs to be fixed..
Dehumidifier. This will be a serious good purchase in case if it is bad insulation but they have their limitations on the amount per space. I have a smart dehumidifier, like 180 euro, which I can set timers, thresholds etc. Set to like 55% and keep it on for a couple of hours a day. Mine consumes 150W but when set at those thresholds it will not be on all the time after a while. (ok it makes a bit of noise so at night .. bedroom).
I have no mechanical ventilation in the bathroom. Put it in there, take a bath or a shower and still a clear mirror and no damp on tiles.
Btw you can also use it to dry clothes which a lot of people don’t know or do.
Get yourself the cheapest vinegar (it is cheap already), latex gloves and a mask. I’ve probably bought tens of bottles in a couple of months time and paper towel. Dispose in cheap waste bags that you can place outside or really close. Vinegar will be hard on your breathing but it seems to work most of the time.
De huisbaas moet er voor opdraaien als het een gehuurd appartement is.
Thats the problem for the landlord if its a rented appartment.
older house with cold bridges where condensation settles and molds come due to insufficient ventilation with heating.
— Ventilate daily and heat , to keep your house healthy.
— when you cook , dry laundry.. ventilate extra
— Buy a moisture sensor to clearly see what the air quality is. And it shows when you need to ventilate.
— Remove molds with disinfection (a little bleach and water), because these molds live and expand.
— throw away the cleaning textiles or cook after use. .
good luck
That’s humidity.
Do you live in a basement?
Open your windows more often to ventilate.
Keep heating of a minimum of at least 15c even when you’re in vacations.
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