Kensington, mainly L7 with parts of L6, has many Victorian terraces that are now rented, including shared houses. More people means more showers, cooking and washing drying indoors, and that moisture settles on cold solid walls. We clean and treat the mould, improve extraction and ventilation, and give landlords and agents a written record of what we found and did.
More occupants, more moisture
A terraced house built for one family behaves differently when four or five adults share it. The bathroom may be in use for much of the morning, the kitchen several times an evening, and laundry often has nowhere to dry except bedrooms. None of this is unusual or anyone’s fault; it is simply more water vapour than the house was designed to cope with, and older homes rarely have the extraction to match.
The signs tend to be spread across the house: mould on the bathroom ceiling, in bedroom corners on outside walls, behind beds and wardrobes, and around window frames that stream every morning. Treating one room at a time rarely solves it. The answer is usually a whole-house view of ventilation.
Getting extraction right
Approved Document F (2021) sets minimum intermittent extract rates of 15 litres per second for a bathroom and, for a kitchen, 30 litres per second with a cooker hood or 60 litres per second for other fans. Many older fans fall short in practice, especially with long or kinked ducting. Our extractor fan installation service covers new and replacement fans, humidistat models and continuous low-rate units. Electrical work is carried out by qualified electricians and notified under Part P.
Fresh air also needs a way in. Door undercuts of about 10 mm and working trickle vents let replacement air reach the fans. Where window vents are missing or blocked, trickle vent fitting can restore background ventilation.
For landlords and letting agents
Damp and mould growth is one of the hazards councils assess under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. For rented houses in Kensington, a clear reporting route, a prompt visit, written findings with photos and a re-check after works make life easier for everyone. We work with agents who manage repairs on a landlord’s behalf; see our letting agent damp services. Proposals to extend Awaab’s Law to private rented homes are under consultation, so check the latest GOV.UK guidance for timings.
Regenerated streets
Some Kensington streets have been renovated or rebuilt. Refurbished homes are often better insulated, but they can be more airtight too, so weak extraction shows up quickly as mould on ceilings and window reveals. The same checks apply: fans, vents, humidity and any hidden leaks.
What to expect
We ask who lives in the property, which rooms are affected and who the landlord or agent is. At the visit we take humidity and moisture readings room by room, test the fans, check vents and look outside for leaks or blocked gutters. You get a plain-English explanation and a written quote.
Kensington sits along Edge Lane between the city centre and Old Swan, with Wavertree to the south and Everton to the north-west. For an overview of Liverpool damp and mould treatment and the full range of damp and mould work we do, visit our homepage.
Mould in a rented house in Kensington?
Call 07777 659786. Tell us how many people live there and who manages the property, and we will call back to arrange a visit.
Frequently asked questions
How powerful should a bathroom extractor fan be?
Approved Document F (2021) sets a minimum intermittent extract rate of 15 litres per second for a bathroom. In a shared house where the shower is in use for long spells, a fan that actually achieves its rating matters more than the label. Long flexible duct runs reduce performance, so we check the achieved flow after fitting.
Our shared house has mould in several bedrooms. Where do we start?
Start by telling whoever manages the house, in writing, with photos. Mould in several rooms often points to the whole house holding too much moisture, so the fix is usually about extraction, background ventilation and heating across the property rather than room by room. We can inspect and give written findings to the landlord or agent.
Can humidity sensors help in a rented house?
They can. Low-cost hygrometers or smart sensors show when and where humidity stays high, which helps landlords, agents and residents see patterns without blame. Indoor humidity that often sits above about 60 to 70 per cent tends to encourage condensation and mould.
Do you deal directly with letting agents?
Yes. Agents often handle repair reports for landlords, and we can inspect, quote and provide written notes with photos for the agent to pass on. We can also re-check after works, which the 2023 government guidance recommends.
Will a dehumidifier solve the mould?
A dehumidifier can help lower humidity in a room, but it does not fix weak extraction, blocked vents, cold walls or leaks. It is best seen as a support while the cause is dealt with, not a replacement for it.