I have rentals in different states, been a LL for decades. I have never seen "ghosting" on walls and ceilings until now. I contacted my insurance, Allstate, but they say damages are not covered because a damage has to be "sudden" and not over time. The tenant was there for 3 years, good tenant, but this happened due to a neighbor burning trash in his yard. The tenant said this happened two weeks prior to us seeing the rental.

The tenant used air sprays, such as Glade. I think this created a film on the walls and ceilings. There are dark gray lines where the studs and rafters are, and shadowing above the heat source which is radiant heating (non-forced air). There is no fireplace, tenant was a non-smoker single woman.

The prevous tenant of 1 year burned candles and had plug-in room fresheners. This may have contributed to somesort of sticky film near the outIets above the radiant heaters. However, I did not see "ghosting" when she moved out, and was able to do touch-up painting where there were marks on the walls and trim - the paint matched and no visible sign where I touched up the paint. I then included a clause in my addendum that tenants could not use "smoking candles nor incense" in addition to non-smoking.

Now, I am going to add to the addendum tenants are not allowed to use spray room fresheners. There is an on going investigation to the substance which caused the dark gray shadows throughout the entire house - including closets.

Wow, that is strange - throughout the whole house?!

Plug-in air freshener & candles can cause some staining in that specific area, but it won't travel to the whole house.

I've never had trouble with an occasional use of spray freshener.

Are you sure you really want to tell people they can't spray a little something in the air in the bathroom once in a while? I doubt that would go over well, especially when candles are prohibited.

I have no idea what may be causing that or what you should do, but I will be checking back because I'm curious to know what you learn.

I have a friend who is lousy at picking tenants, but has great insurance. He pays "extra" to have full coverage for damages done by tenants anytime during their tenancy. The insurance company has the right to sue the tenants for claims paid to the landlords.

The insurance hired a company to take samples. They only examined the substances which would be covered by the policy -ash, soot and smoke. They took these samples above the thermostat, light switch cover and window sill- nothing from the walls/ceiling. Their report says nothing about what caused it, only it was not covered. The adjuster said it was "organic dust". He determined it was environmental, and not based upon a sudden impact like a fire.

"organic dust" was defined as human skin cells, pet dander and dust. This is unbelievable. This house was painted entirely about 5 1/2 years ago, with the bedrooms repainted as recent as 4 to 3 years ago. The only room not showing "ghosting" was the master bedroom where the tenant slept - one person rented the house for 3 years. It was in great shape prior to her moving in. I think if the adjuster's theory is right, this room would have shown signifcant damage. It is hard to believe "organic dust" can present itself up to the cathedral ceiling and in spaces like a walk in pantry. There was "ghosting" even in the bathrooms. We have to pay out of pocket for re-painting the whole interior. To find out the actual cause, I will have to hire a commercial hygentist to take samples - it would be tested as they do in forensics. Very costly. I think it was the neighbor buring trash which caused the dark gray look to the rooms and the lines appearing where the studs- framing of the house (maybe due to transfer of coldness into the wood?). The hygentist I spoke with said he has seen this type of "ghosting" even in one month of buring candles which smoke.

We will increase our security deposit for the next tenant. We gave back the SD to the one who moved out. We don't believe it is her fault, but attribute this to the next door neighbor's lifestyle. I don't know what he was buring.

Wood is a relatively poor thermal insulator. In an insulated house, stud bays and ceiling joist bays are much better insulated than studs and joists. In winter, wall and ceiling areas adjacent to studs and joists are colder. A microscopic, invisible layer of condensation can form, allowing "organic dust" to stick or mold to grow. I would scrub it off with a bleach based cleaner.

I’m just a it late again! Scott beat me to it. Moisture levels, insulation, and it’s just time for a good, old-fashioned GI party. (Those who went through military know a GI party is a top to bottom cleaning. ) My parents used their annual house party to give our home a 100% cleaning. Wall, ceilings, behind the fridge, top of the stairwell, no spot untouched. My Dad was a smoker, and the house smelled so fresh after that once a year deep clean.

Having longer term tenants, which I much prefer, does mean those deep cleans ( or, cover it with paint, and call it a day,) aren’t occurring. I’ve been working lately in a rental with a tenant of eight years. There is an abundance of dust on the ceilings, held in place by cooking oil. Reachable only with a stepladder. As I like long-term tenants, I’m pondering ideas for getting the deep clean done. This house has three layers of siding, and good rim joist and attic insulation, so, probably why the studs aren’t apparent.

I rented once to one of my closest friends from high school. But, after 30-35 years of life, alcohol and drug use, he had morphed into a loser. He did not like his baseboard electric heating bills and brought in a kerosene heater. He spray painted the back of the house with an obscene message for the electric company. He started hunting the neighbor's dogs with a crossbow too, but that's another tale/tail.