Happy Fathers Day !

SFH ranch 4 bed 1 1/2 baths tenants have 5 kids. Sent the tenant the new lease where I raised the rent $25 (from $2500 to $2525). He does not want to sign it because he said he needs to run a humidifier and clean the ceiling in the bathroom to keep the house free of mold and this cost him time and money. Before they moved in I updated the full bath complete with new light/vent unit. It is vented to the outside and works perfectly.

Any suggestions how to reduce the humidity in the house?

Should I let this tenant tell me what to do with the rent?

No, that is a very reasonable amount of rent increase. Houses in humid areas, like Wisconsin or Massachusetts need to have a Dehumidifier in the basement to reduce musty smells.

The mold in the bathroom comes from two things: high number of showers taken, and decorative shower curtain habits. Those shower curtains that have a vinyl liner really keep moisture in the bathtub area. And then, if the family consistently pulls that shower curtain closed as soon as they exit the shower, they’ve really trapped that moisture in there.

I use a single fabric shower curtain, no vinyl/ plastic liner required, and we leave the curtain open most of the time. Our curtain is usually only closed when someone is in the shower. Another benefit of that simple fabric curtain is, with plastic rings, and a tension rod to hang it, it is super easy to wash. Simply pull the tension rod down, slide the rings off the rod, toss the curtain With the rings still ON in the washer. Take it out of the washer and hang it back up. Cleaning simplified!

Problem with the fabric curtains that don’t need a liner, they only come in a few simple colors. No patterns, no statement designs.

Problem is getting your tenant to understand this. They generally won’t, because somebody likes to spend hours shopping for stupid decorative towels, that nobody is allowed to use, and fancy shower curtains, that then must be immediately closed to pay homage to the decorative gods. Blech! Bah humbug! ( ok, so now we know how Busy feels about shopping, and fussy decorative stuff *grins*) So, stick to your guns, tell the tenant to sign the new lease or leave. 25 bucks is not an unreasonable rent increase on a four bedroom $2500/ month rent, assuming your rent is somewhere within the range for rents in your area.

At the same time that you offered him a new lease, did you also send him notice that you are terminating the existing rental agreement?

How come you're only raising the rent 1%?

How long have they lived there?

Did they ever say anything about the "mold" problem before the rent increase?

Am I correct in presuming they only have a "mold" issue in the full bath?

Have you actually verified that the fan is still working correctly?

How many CFM is the fan?

Is the fan tied into the light, a separate switch or controlled by a humidistat?

What type of heat is there, FHA, FHW or all electric?

Is there a full basement? If yes are there any water issues with it?

Is the attic properly ventilated?

Does the stove have vent to the exterior?

Is the clothes dryer vented to the exterior?

I would not accept any excuse on the rent increase.

But I would fix the humidity problem especially on a place I was getting that much rent on.

First install a Leviton LTB60-1LZ timer.

Explain the average time you are suppose to run a bath fan is for 20 minutes after a shower. And how long these tenants have to run the fan will depend on how hot and long it is for their showers.

Follow up in a month and see if this solved the problem.

If not check the attic for any roof leaks or other problems.

Next step is look and see if you have one of the lower cfm bath fans. If so replace.

I myself would add a inline Panasonic exhaust fan to the duct work.

And just unplug the existing fan motor only.

Then see how that works. If still a problem you have the easy option of just plugging back in the old fan motor and you will really have air flow.

I would only consider this for a place I was getting that much rent from. And was otherwise a good tenant.

They moved in last August. After 1 month they said they had condensation on some of their windows, mold on bath ceiling and the basement seemed damp. I hired a mold professional who said "get a dehumidifier - thats a lot of bodies taking showers" not unusual. New $450 humidifier dropped off by me a few days later.

FHW heat, no water problem in basement, will check the vent fan today to confirm it is working, will install vent timer today, will check attic. I will NOT change the rent increase.

In my rentals, have Panasonic vent fans, very quiet ones, wired to the light switches. I thought a good long tome about how to have them wired, then remembered how long it took to train my son to use them. I have lower educated tenants, so I figured ! In my case, go with simplest. In our own home, the fan is wired to a timer with push buttons for the times: 1 min, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, and a large button for on/off. We set it to 30 when taking our showers, so it clears humidity after we’re out of the room. Guests have no problem figuring it out.

Sounds like your tenant has nothing to complain about. You took proper steps to reduce moisture already, including providing a great dehumidifier! Tenants might just want need to be teaching their kids better skills about helping out. My daughter stopped by with her kids for a Father’s Day visit. As they were leaving, she was discussing the housecleaning they had to do: each kid had to do their room, plus one other room in the house. The kids are five and six. And she means it! Ah, if only our tenants could manage their households like that!

Tenant cannot be allowed to run the show. The increase is non-negotiable.

"Sorry the increase doesn't work for you, when are you moving?"

Tenant cannot be allowed to run the show. The increase is non-negotiable.

"Sorry the increase doesn't work for you, when are you moving?"

I have an 8 unit apartment building with an inside bathroom that the window opens into a square window well, 4 units per well. When the window is open you can hear and see into the other unit unless you leave the plastic mini-blinds down.

The air circulation is zero if they tenant keeps the window closed. And they do. There was mold growing all of the time.

So step 1 I installed standard ceiling electric vents attached to the light switch. The tenant didn't like the cold breeze or they loved the mold so they would open the fan grill and unplug the fan motor. So this wasn't working.

Several years later I got sick of cleaning up after my tenants so I decided I would solve the problem once and for all.

I installed new ceiling fans, the ones that make almost no noise, the silent models. And I re-wired them for a direct connection, no unplugging the motor. Second I cut out a 4" x 10" rectangular hole in the bathroom door and put grills on both sides so no none could look inside the bathroom from their private hallway.

Now there was a good flow of air from their hallway. And when the light was on, the only way one can see into the bathroom, the fan goes on and you don't hear it..... Problem solved.

I would keep the rent increase in place. It sounds like you have already checked out the problem so I hope you get it resolved. Maybe time for new tenants.

Busy, I was just wondering the other day about if there was a cloth shower curtain that could be used that was water repellent and could be washed in the washing machine.

Is there a certain style of plastic rings that have to be used so they don't brake in wash?

Were is the best place to find these curtains?

6X 6, I find mine at Menards. I’m thinking I may have seen them at Home Depot as well, not sure though. The plastic shower rings aren’t very decorative, just a simple circle, with a simple clasp, much like a thick woman’s hoop earring. Then again, moldy showers aren’t very decorative either, lol! Mine is in the washer right now, company’s coming. Easy-Peasy to clean.

Oh, but you cannot put these fabric curtains under another decorative curtain- the water will wick through.

For me, rent increases aren't negotiable; I send them in the mail. If they don't pay the increase, they're out. $25 increase is pretty small.

I have also installed the panasonic fans and get them cheap on ebay.

For me, rent increases aren't negotiable; I send them in the mail. If they don't pay the increase, they're out. $25 increase is pretty small.

I have also installed the panasonic fans and get them cheap on ebay.

For me, rent increases aren't negotiable; I send them in the mail. If they don't pay the increase, they're out. $25 increase is pretty small.

I have also installed the panasonic fans and get them cheap on ebay.