How can I effectively repair the mouldy, water-damaged areas in my bathroom and kitchen in my rental without investing a lot of money?
Hey there, sorry for the long message! I’ve got a couple of things going on that I could use some advice on. Just to give you a bit of background, I live in a pretty old wooden house in semi-rural Australia. It’s a rental, so I don’t want to spend a ton of money, but I definitely want to address these issues. My landlord is nice enough, but it seems like I’ll have to handle this on my own.
First up, the bathroom. There’s a lot of moldy silicone and caulk around the bath, and the seal between the bath and the wall is shot, causing water to leak down there. Not a good situation. The wood next to the bath is all swollen and not waterproof anymore, and the enamel on the steel tub has eroded. I’m thinking about painting the tub, but I’m not sure where to start. There is also a bunch of moldy silicone around the plug hole, which looks like there’s a second plug on top of the original. Any tips on how to tackle these repairs?
Moving on to the kitchen, the silicone is all moldy and sunken in. I suspect that water leakage has caused some rot in the cabinets. Under
Your landlord is being difficult and should take care of this moldy situation. Just be aware that if they do make repairs, they might use it as an excuse to raise your rent. If you decide to fix it yourself, make sure to get permission first since any changes you make are permanent. Make sure to get everything in writing before starting any work to avoid any issues. It’s frustrating that these repairs weren’t done before you moved in. The tub surround likely doesn’t fit because the landlord replaced the tub with a different size. The kitchen sink and counter should have been replaced a long time ago. It’s clear that the landlord is cutting corners on maintenance. Take photos and document these issues to ensure you get your damage deposit back when you move out. ‘t be surprised if the landlord tries to blame you for the damage. ood luck, but ultimately it’s the landlord’s responsibility to fix these issues.
I completely agree with you, James. There’s no official bond or lease, we don’t even have keys to the house. We just pay in cash every week, it’s all very unofficial.
The landlord is often out of the country and doesn’t fully grasp the roles and responsibilities of both the landlord and tenant. I believe fixing the silicone would make a big difference in improving the appearance.
Feel free to replace the old Silicone with new stuff. It’s really not a big deal and you don’t need anyone else’s permission or input. ood luck!