A Leaky Shower - What’s the worst that can happen?

At moo-let, we always encourage landlords to carry out regular inspections on all your rental properties.

We also make it clear that you cannot expect all tenants to tell you when there are maintenance issues.

For example, this property in Dunfermline had just a small leak in the shower, and as it wasn’t a substantial one, the tenants didn’t feel it was worth alerting the landlord to the problem.

However, after nearly a year of constant dripping, the water had worked its way behind the tiles, into the floor boards and onto the joists.

Water was being drawn up the walls and the result was dry rot, a wood-destroying fungus that is found in most parts of the world.

Dry rot is one of the most damaging conditions you can get in a property. To grow or flourish, dry rot needs moisture.

This could come from many sources such as a drip from a leaky pipe, rain water from the roof, damaged gutters or down pipes. In this case, it was obviously caused by the leaking shower.

Whatever the source of the dampness, if it is rectified and the timber is allowed to properly dry out, the dry rot will eventually be controlled.

However, if it is not treated properly, dry rot can cause widespread structural damage.

The picture to the right, for example, was the inside of the cupboard in the bedroom to the left of the bathroom.

Typical indications of dry rot include:

• Wood shrinks, darkens and cracks in a 'cuboidal' manner
• A silky grey to mushroom coloured skin frequently tinged with patches of lilac and yellow often develops under less humid conditions. This 'skin' can be peeled like a mushroom.
• White, fluffy 'cottonwool' mycelium develops under humid conditions.
• Strands develop in the mycelium; these are brittle and when dry and crack when bent.
• Active decay produces a musty, damp odour.

As you can see from the picture on the left, dry rot had already started in this property in Dunfermline.

Although it wasn’t a property we managed, the landlord sent out an SOS to get the property back to a rentable condition; so we had the moo-let maintenance team jump into action.

Everything had to be stripped back to the bare bones but, luckily, the dry rot had just started.

The dry rot was treated with an anti-fungal treatment before replacing and re-building; leaving a nice new, clean, mould free bathroom.

So, if you want some moo advice on dry rot...

• Firstly, don’t be shy and ask us directly for advice or help! Advice is always FREE and FREE is always good. 
• Do your regular inspections on all your rental properties, don’t expect all tenants to tell you when there are maintenance issues. 
• If there is a leak, stop it as soon as you can as it’s a major step in the right direction to stopping dry rot. 
• Get the contacts of good, reliable tradesman. They are worth their weight in gold.

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