At move-in, you usually have 48 hours to report:

• existing damage

• missing items

• issues with cleanliness, equipment, or other property conditions

If something is not reported within that period and is only discovered at move-out, it may be considered to have happened during your stay.

This means:

• the landlord may treat it as tenant-caused damage

• the repair or replacement cost may be deducted from your deposit

That is why it is very important to:

• inspect the property carefully at move-in

• take photos and report all issues within the allowed time frame

• keep a copy of everything you reported, such as an email or form confirmation

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.

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.

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.

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.

Check out the DAMAGE section

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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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It might feel strange, but in winter short, intensive ventilation is essential.

• Opening a window fully for 5–10 minutes quickly replaces humid air with fresh, drier air.

• The walls and furniture do not cool completely in such a short time, so the room warms up again quickly when you close the window.

• Leaving the window on a small “tilt” all day is often worse: the room cools down too much and you keep heating the street.

Best practice in winter:

• Heat the room normally.

• Open the window(s) fully for a short time (especially after showering or cooking).

• Close again and continue heating.

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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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Mould and excessive humidity are a big problem in rental properties – for health, for the building, and for the deposit.

In many cases, mould and damp patches are caused not by a “bad apartment”, but by:

• not ventilating enough,

• drying clothes inside with windows closed,

• very little cleaning,

• not using heating correctly, especially in winter.

If this continues for months, it can lead to:

• damaged walls, furniture and windows,

• strong odours and visible black/green spots,

• complaints from landlords,

• deductions from the deposit for cleaning and repairs.

We want to help you avoid these problems and protect both your health and the property.

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Yes. While we do not provide cleaning ourselves, we can:

• recommend or connect you with cleaning service providers that other tenants or landlords have used,

• help you explain to the cleaner what needs to be done (for example, move-out cleaning to match the condition at move-in),

• remind you of the landlord’s expectations regarding cleanliness at check-out.

The contract and payment with the cleaning company are usually between you and the provider, but we are happy to help you find and coordinate if needed.

To report issues effectively:

• Send a written message (email or agreed channel) to the landlord

• Include clear photos and short descriptions of each problem,

• Group issues in one email or form if possible (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom…).

The more specific and documented your message is, the easier and faster it is to resolve.

Check out the DAMAGE section