In short:

• Ventilate regularly, even in winter (short, strong airing).

• Heat rooms to a reasonable temperature, especially those you use or where you store things.

• Dry clothes carefully and ventilate more when you do. Do not dry clothes on radiators.

• Clean regularly and don’t ignore small spots.

• Report serious or persistent issues early, with photos.

By doing this, you:

• protect your health,

• protect the property of the landlord,

• protect your deposit,

• and make your stay more comfortable and problem-free.

HomeInZagreb and landlords appreciate tenants who take mould and humidity seriously and cooperate to prevent damage. If you are ever unsure, ask us – we are happy to advise.

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This is usually a bad idea.

A room that is:

• never heated
• never ventilated
• and perhaps contains furniture or clothes
• becomes a perfect place for mould.

Even if you use only part of the apartment, all rooms need some ventilation, and in cold months at least minimal heating, to avoid serious humidity problems.

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Some signs of excessive humidity:

• water drops on the inside of windows for long periods,

• walls feeling cold and damp to the touch,

• a strong, musty smell,

• clothes and bedding feeling slightly wet or never fully dry,

• small black/grey spots appearing in corners or around window frames.

If you notice any of these regularly, you should:

• ventilate more often and more intensively,

• avoid drying clothes in that room,

• heat the room properly in cold weather,

• clean small spots immediately.

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Yes.

If mould and humidity damage are clearly related to lack of ventilation and cleaning during your stay, the landlord can:

• charge cleaning and repainting costs,

• charge for damaged furniture, curtains, mattresses or other items,

• deduct these costs from your security deposit.

Examples of tenant-related damage:

• thick mould behind wardrobes pressed tightly to outside walls,

• heavy mould in bathroom where there is a window that was almost never opened,

• windows and frames black with mould and never cleaned,

• rotten silicone and grout due to months of standing water and no cleaning.

On the other hand, if a serious structural problem is proven (e.g. roof leak), that is typically landlord’s responsibility – but it still needs to be reported early.

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Act early:

1. Ventilate more – especially the room where mould appears.

2. Clean the affected area with appropriate cleaning products (there are specific anti-mould sprays in supermarkets and drugstores).

3. Move furniture slightly away from the wall if mould is behind it.

4. Check your habits – drying clothes, closed windows, lack of heating.

If:

• the mould comes back quickly,

• spreads despite better ventilation, or

• seems to be connected to a leak (wet patches, peeling paint, dripping),

then:

• take clear photos,

• inform the landlord in writing,

• describe since when you noticed it and what you already tried.

Early information makes it easier to find the real cause.

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It depends:

• Small spots in bathroom, around windows, corners that appear due to daily living (steam, condensation) and lack of ventilation

Tenants are expected to clean these quickly using normal household cleaning products (and to improve ventilation habits).

• Large, persistent mould that keeps returning even when you ventilate and clean properly

You should report this to the landlord with photos. If it is caused by a structural problem, the landlord is usually responsible for repairs.

If you ignore small mould spots and let them grow for months, this is usually considered negligence, and cleaning/repair costs can be deducted from the deposit.

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Bathrooms are high-risk areas for mould. After a shower:

• If there is a window, open it fully for 5–10 minutes.

• If there is an exhaust fan, let it run for a while.

• Wipe excess water from tiles, shower walls and the floor if it stays very wet.

• Don’t keep wet towels piled up in the bathroom for days – they release a lot of moisture.

A bathroom that stays wet and unventilated almost always develops mould on ceilings, corners and silicone joints.

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You can dry clothes inside, but you must do it carefully:

• Try to dry clothes in a well-ventilated room, ideally with a window you can open.

• When clothes are drying, open the window fully from time to time to let moisture escape.

• Avoid drying large amounts of laundry in a small closed bedroom with no ventilation – this is one of the fastest ways to create mould.

If you have access to a balcony, terrace or drying area, use it whenever the weather allows.

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Ventilate regularly

• Open windows fully for 5–10 minutes, several times a day.
• Especially after showering, cooking or drying clothes.
• Cross-ventilation (two windows opposite each other) is best when possible.

Use heating reasonably

• Very cold rooms + humidity = ideal conditions for mould.
• If you never heat a room and never ventilate it, it will almost certainly develop mould in winter.

Keep furniture a little away from walls

• Leave a few centimetres between wardrobes/sofas and cold outside walls so air can circulate.

Clean regularly

• Wipe condensation from windows and window frames.
• Clean corners, bathroom tiles and seals before any spots grow.

These small routines are usually enough to avoid serious damage.

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Mould needs moisture + poor ventilation.

Common sources of moisture:

• steam from showering,

• cooking without lids or extractor,

• drying clothes inside,

• breathing (especially in small, closed rooms),

• leaks from pipes or roofs (less common, but serious).

If the air is humid and the room is not ventilated, moisture sits on cold surfaces (corners, windows, outside walls) and mould starts to grow there.

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