Looking after your home

Living in a student house doesn't mean you have to live in disrepair. You should be aware that there are certain standards that your landlord has to maintain. Here are some hazards that can occur in your house:

• Excess cold - Is your accommodation warm enough? If your rooms fall below 16°C then it's not warm enough and it may need to be insulated.
• Damp and mould - Are there black markings on the walls? This could be a sign of damp and mould which can lead to various illnesses.
• Falling on the stairs - Is the carpet loose on the stairs and in need of repair? Falling on the stairs is one of the most common accidents.
• Falling on level surfaces - Uneven floors or loose wires are trip hazards which can lead to serious injuries.
• Flames and hot surfaces - 12,000 people visit A&E every year with burns and scalds.

While not a public health pest, bedbugs can be an unpleasant and persistent nuisance. Infestations are on the rise, mainly due to the increase in worldwide travel. Bedbugs draw blood from their hosts, and some people can have an allergic reaction. Signs of bedbugs include:

• Sightings - Adult bedbugs are roughly apple pip size and may appear red or purple. They can be found in mattress seams, corners, buttons, sockets, crevices, curtains, or along skirting boards and carpet edges.
• Bites - Bedbugs feed at night. Bites are red, slightly swollen, itchy, and may appear in clusters.
• Staining - Bedbug faeces will appear as dark brown stains on the bedding.
• Blood - Spots of blood may be found on the bedding caused by the bedbugs feeding or from crushing the insect.

These tips may help to prevent them:

• When staying in public accommodation when you are on holiday, store your luggage off the ground and away from the bed.
• Inspect all second-hand furniture that you purchase.
• If there is an infestation, vacuuming the mattress and fabrics in infested areas may help. The vacuum must be emptied outside into a sealed bag and disposed of in an outside bin. This will not prevent them but may help to control numbers.

If you suspect you have bedbugs in your home, inform the landlord immediately. Since they are difficult to eradicate, we recommend that the service of an experienced bedbug control expert is sought. They should be a member of the British Pest Control Association.

Condensation is tiny droplets of water on cold surfaces such as windows, walls, baths, and mirrors. It's formed when moisture in the air becomes cold, generally when the weather is cold and where there is little air circulation.

Excessive condensation can lead to mould on walls and furniture, mildew on clothes and fabrics, wooden window frames rotting, and a rise in the number of dust mites.

Tips to control condensation:

• Do not dry washing on radiators or heaters. Hang it outside instead, in a bathroom with the window open, or in a dryer.
• Cook with pan lids on.
• When having a bath, run the cold tap first, then add hot.
• Some tumble dryers need venting outside; if in doubt, ask your landlord.
• Do not use your gas cooker to heat your kitchen.
• Keep the bathroom and kitchen doors closed to prevent moisture escaping to other areas of the house.

Ventilate your home by opening the windows when you are in for around 30 minutes per day (please be security conscious though).