Bathroom Extractor Fan opinion...

[Newbie93]

Hi all,

The flat I rent out has recently been having condensation issues throughout the property but especially in the bathroom. The ceiling has now gone black with mould.

The council who manage the building have inspected the property and said I need to install an extractor fan in the bathroom. The window does open and there has never been an issue in the 20+ years since being owned by my family. However, I decided I will install one anyway to keep the council happy.

The council have told me I am not allowed to install the fan in the ceiling as it's a communal loft, and the only way I'm allowed do it, is to drill through the brickwork and wall mount it.

Obviously heat rises and the best location I can install the fan would require the steam to be extracted downwards and to the other side of the bathroom bypassing the shower curtain. I cannot install it above the window as the soffit board on the exterior finishes just above the window frame and contains asbestos. I have attached a picture of the bathroom, the basketball is place I intended to install.

I honestly do not believe this will prevent the ceiling from going black again and will not work efficiently as the steam will still sit on the ceiling above the shower.

In my opinion in needs to go directly above the shower.

The council are due to inspect the roof this month as there is condensation issues in all rooms, so I feel there is something bigger going on. Especially as it's not been an issue before and the tenants open the window after each shower for an hour or two.

I'm just after more thoughts from experienced tradesmen as to whether the location of that fan would be beneficial especially the amount of effort it will take to install. I don't it would make much difference.

Any suggestions and opinions appreciated.

Many Thanks

 

[NDG Elecs]

I must say the floor at the side of the toilet looks stained , maybe another habit

Looks just like my bathroom floor

I think that's a shadow in the pic though mate.

 

[electric al]

Yeah could be

 

[NDG Elecs]

If there is condensation throughout,in addition to or as a alternative, consider a positive ventilation fan to address the problem in the whole of the flat

Do you mean MVHR Des? If so it does work a treat, but no loft access available for the landlord in this case. If you mean something else what is it please as am curious..

 

[Newbie93]

The more I think about it and read the comments, I think your right about the tenants habits.

No kids in property. Trickle vents are fitted to the windows and it is the shadow on floor haha. I took this photo before they moved on and flooring was new.

I thought about the Positive Ventilation unit as my fiends rented property has one but I'm not allowed to install in the loft.

I think I will go back to the tenants with a list of helpful solutions and see how they get on.

Thanks again for all the advice, been a great help.

 

[electric al]

I wish you luck with that - it's a delicate situation because you can only accept what they say really but clearly somethings not right is it

 

[Des 56]

Do you mean MVHR Des? If so it does work a treat, but no loft access available for the landlord in this case. If you mean something else what is it please as am curious..

I presumed there was a attic after reading his comment below,I did have a dry air unit in mind which would be mounted in the attic
I have fitted many of these units over the years and have had good feedback in all cases

quote(Not aware of trades accessing the loft space but the council's contractors are inspected the roof at the end of the month).

If he has no attic there is a unit designed by the company I use for the fans specific for flats but I have never installed one myself

Nuaire | Flatmaster - http://www.nuaire.co.uk/our-products/catalogue/residential/positive-input-ventilation-piv/flatmaster/

 

[pirate]

In my experience (as a landlord) this seems likely to be a tenant-specific problem, drying clothes with insufficient ventilation etc. If you do fit a good quality extractor fan, that comes on automatically, the isolator needs to be locked as they will switch it off. I had one tenant who decided that he was not going to allow the fan to run on for 10 minutes, and as the isolator was locked, he simply unscrewed the fan housing and reset the timer to zero run-on...
The place was full of mould in 2 months.
My opinion is just wait til council inspection is over, then install in loft space...if it's truly communal. so what? The intrusion of a flange and some ducting is minimal, and probably will go un-noticed anyway. If the tenant is unhappy due to cost of electricity...get Big Pete in, to "explain" things clearly...

 

[Octopus]

^^ my guess is that the OP will need access to the roof space to run the cables .............