Winter Maintenance Checklist for Student Tenants: Avoid Damp, Mould and Broken Boilers

As soon as the temperature drops, student homes start behaving differently. Windows stay shut, laundry takes longer to dry, showers get hotter, and heating gets used in bursts rather than steadily. 

That combo creates the perfect conditions for the two most common winter headaches: student house damp mould and the dreaded boiler breaking student accommodation moment (usually at 10pm, right before a deadline). 

The good news? You don’t need to be a DIY expert to prevent most of it – you just need a simple routine, and the confidence to report issues early.

Ventilation: the cheapest fix that actually works

If you remember one thing this winter, make it this: moisture has to leave the house. 

Breathing, cooking, showering and drying clothes all pump water vapour into the air. When that warm, damp air hits cold walls or windows, it turns into condensation – and that’s where mould gets its “starter kit”.

Start with the everyday habits. Open a window for a short burst each day (even 10 minutes helps), especially in bedrooms where the air gets stale overnight. Use extractor fans whenever you cook or shower and leave them running for a little while afterwards. 

If your windows have trickle vents (those small slats at the top), keep them open – they’re designed for winter airflow without turning your room into the Arctic. And try not to push wardrobes and beds flush against outside walls; a small gap lets air circulate and stops cold corners becoming mould magnets.

Heat smart, not sporadic

A lot of students heat the house like a microwave: full power for an hour, then off for the rest of the day. That pattern can make condensation worse because the air warms quickly, holds more moisture, then cools and dumps that moisture onto cold surfaces.

A steadier approach usually works better. Keep the home consistently “not freezing” rather than roasting it occasionally. If your heating is controlled by a timer, use it. If it’s room-by-room electric heaters, be especially careful with drying clothes in the same space – that’s basically a moisture factory. 

You’re not aiming for tropical; you’re aiming for stable. Stable temperature plus ventilation is what reduces damp, mould, and that clammy feeling that never goes away.

Spot the early warning signs before they become a saga

Mould rarely appears overnight. It usually starts as persistent condensation on windows, a musty smell in one room, peeling wallpaper near an outside wall, or dark specks forming around window frames and ceiling corners. Treat these as early alerts, not “a spring problem”.

Do quick weekly checks. Wipe down wet window sills when you see them; it takes seconds and stops moisture soaking into wood or plaster. Keep an eye on cold “dead zones” like behind curtains, in corners, and around wardrobes. 

If you see mould starting, clean small patches promptly using a suitable anti-fungal cleaner and ventilate the room afterwards – but if it keeps coming back, spreads quickly, or the wall feels damp to the touch, that’s no longer a “student cleaning” issue. That’s a property issue that needs reporting.

When something’s wrong, report it fast (and report it properly)

One of the biggest mistakes students make is waiting too long because they don’t want to be “that tenant”. In winter, delays are expensive – damp spreads, plaster deteriorates, and boilers don’t magically heal themselves.

When you report an issue, make it easy for the landlord or agent to act. Send a clear message with the problem, when it started, and what you’ve noticed (for example: “black mould appearing on the outside wall behind the bed; condensation daily; musty smell; extractor fan not working”). 

Add photos and a short video if relevant (a rattling boiler, a dripping overflow pipe, water staining). Keep your tone calm and factual. Most importantly, keep everything in writing – email or the maintenance portal is your friend. If you call, follow up with a message summarising what was said.

“Boiler broke” – what to do in the first hour

If the heating or hot water suddenly stops, don’t panic – but don’t start experimenting either. 

First, check the basics you’re allowed to check: is the thermostat on, are the timer settings correct, has the power tripped, and is the gas/electric supply working? 

If your boiler has an obvious error code, note it. Some boilers also lose pressure; if you’re confident and your landlord has previously shown you how to top it up safely, follow the official instructions – otherwise, don’t guess. Never try to fix anything involving gas appliances yourself.

Then report it immediately, especially in cold weather. A broken boiler in student accommodation can become urgent fast, particularly if temperatures are low or there are vulnerable occupants in the house. 

Ask what the response time will be, whether a contractor is being sent, and what interim                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                options exist (for example, temporary heaters). Document the timeline: when it failed, when you reported it, and any replies.

What you can do vs what the landlord is responsible for

This is where most confusion (and tension) comes from. As a student tenant, your job is usually to live in the property in a “tenant-like” way: ventilate, use heating sensibly, avoid creating unnecessary moisture, keep the place reasonably clean, and report problems quickly. 

That includes things like using extractor fans, not blocking air vents, wiping condensation when it builds up, and not drying endless loads of washing in an unventilated bedroom.

The landlord’s responsibilities are generally the parts you can’t control: the building’s structure and weatherproofing, persistent damp caused by leaks or defects, functioning heating and hot water systems, safe gas appliances, working ventilation systems (like extractor fans), and repairs that keep the home habitable. 

If mould is caused by a leaking pipe, failed extractor, poor insulation, or a structural cold bridge, that’s not something you can “open a window” your way out of. In practice, it’s often a shared picture: good daily habits help, but recurring damp and repeated boiler failure need proper maintenance and repair.

The winter routine that saves your deposit (and your sanity)

Think of winter maintenance as a small weekly rhythm rather than a one-off deep clean. Air the rooms, run the fans, keep moisture moving out, and don’t ignore the first signs of damp. 

If anything feels “beyond normal condensation”, report it early with evidence and in writing. That’s how you avoid a tiny patch of mould turning into a whole-wall issue – and how you stop a boiler breakdown becoming a week-long cold shower storyline.

Winter in a student house doesn’t have to be grim. A few simple habits, plus fast reporting and clear boundaries on responsibilities, can keep your home warmer, healthier, and drama-free right through to spring.