Mould, damp and ventilation in a Tarneit rental
Mould is one of the most argued rental standards. How the mould and damp, ventilation and structural standards fit together in a Tarneit house.
Fully licensed & accredited
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Building & Plumbing Commission -
Australian Society of Building Consultants -
Strata Community Association -
Building Dispute Practitioners Society
In short: The mould and damp standard covers mould caused by or related to the building. In Tarneit that usually traces back to a wet area leak, an exhaust fan that does not reach outside, or water getting in through the roof or walls.
What the standard actually says
Every room must be free of mould and damp caused by or related to the building structure. Mould from drying washing indoors with the windows shut is a different conversation from mould above a leaking shower, and the report has to tell the two apart.
Where it starts in Tarneit
Shower recesses and bath edges where the sealant has failed, ceilings below roof flashings, and bathrooms whose exhaust fan was ducted into the roof space rather than outside. Garden beds built up against a slab on reactive clay can also push damp into the bottom of the walls.
Ventilation is its own standard
Bathrooms, toilets, laundries and every habitable room need ventilation to Building Code requirements: an openable window, a vent or an exhaust fan. A shower room with nothing at all fails ventilation even before any mould appears.
How we look for it
We photograph visible mould, run a moisture meter over stained walls and ceilings, and use the thermal camera where it helps show where the water is coming from. Where the cause is hidden, the report says so rather than guessing.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Tarneit. Licensed building practitioners.
