Guide
Best dehumidifiers for rented flats (UK)
How to pick a dehumidifier for condensation, damp and drying washing in a UK rented flat – sizes, running costs and what's on your landlord.
Ad – this guide contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Streaming windows every morning, a musty wardrobe, washing that takes three days to dry on the airer – it's a familiar winter in a lot of UK rented flats. A dehumidifier won't fix a leak or a broken extractor fan, but it can take a lot of moisture out of the air, cut condensation and make drying clothes indoors far less grim.
Most decent machines cost somewhere between £100 and £400, so it's worth getting the type and size right first. Here's how to choose, a shortlist of models to look at, and what to do if the damp is your landlord's problem rather than yours.
How to choose a dehumidifier for a flat
Compressor or desiccant. According to Which?, compressor (refrigerant) dehumidifiers work by creating a cold surface that moisture condenses on, and typically struggle in colder spaces. Desiccant models work in warm and cold rooms alike, so they suit an unheated flat, a chilly bedroom or a room you only heat for an hour or two.
Size. Capacity is quoted in litres extracted per day. Which? groups them roughly as 7–12 litres for small spaces, 14–16 litres for medium and 18 litres or more for large. A one- or two-bed flat with ordinary condensation is usually fine with 10–12 litres; go bigger if you dry a lot of washing indoors.
Laundry mode. Nice to have, not essential. Which? notes that any dehumidifier can help dry washing, and many "laundry modes" simply run the machine at full power.
Tank size and continuous drain. A bigger tank means fewer trips to the sink. If you can sit the unit near a sink, shower tray or drain, a continuous-drain hose outlet means you never empty it at all.
Noise. In a studio or one-bed you'll hear it. Look for a quiet or night mode and check owner reviews for noise before you buy.
Running costs. According to Which?, its Best Buys average around 7p an hour to run, with the most efficient around 3p and the least efficient about 17p (at 26.32p per kWh). A built-in humidistat, which switches the machine off once the room reaches your target, helps keep that down.
A cheap digital hygrometer (humidity meter) tells you whether you need a dehumidifier at all – and whether the one you've got is doing its job.
Compact picks for small flats and bedrooms
Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier
A popular budget-friendly option for a small flat with everyday condensation. A sensible first dehumidifier if you mainly want drier windows and fresher-smelling rooms. Typically around £140 at the time of writing – check current price.
Honeywell TP FIT 12L
Another small-space compressor model in the same 12-litre band – a good one to compare side by side with the Pro Breeze on noise, tank size and features. Typically around £150 at the time of writing – check current price.
Ebac 2150e 12L
Ebac is a long-standing British dehumidifier brand. This 12-litre model sits a little higher on price, so it suits someone who'd rather pay more for an established name. Typically around £180 at the time of writing – check current price.
MeacoDry Arete One 12L
A compact 12-litre compressor unit that's also sold as an air purifier, which appeals if you want one machine rather than two in a small flat. Compare prices across retailers, as they vary.
Bigger units for drying washing indoors
If the airer is up most days, a larger machine pulls moisture out faster and is less likely to run flat out all day. Put it in a small room with the door shut and the washing close by – it works much better than in an open-plan living area.
Pro Breeze 25L Dehumidifier
A big jump in capacity for not much more money than some 12-litre models – good value for households drying washing for several people. Typically around £200 at the time of writing – check current price.
Ebac 4650 18L
An 18-litre model from Ebac's 4000 series for larger flats or persistent damp. A bigger outlay, so worth it mainly if you'll use it most of the winter. Typically around £310 at the time of writing – check current price.
Duux Bora Smart 30L
A large-capacity smart dehumidifier you can control from your phone – handy if you want it running before you get home. Overkill for a studio, but suits a bigger flat or a house share. Typically around £350 at the time of writing – check current price.
A tiered clothes airer to pair with it
Spreading clothes out so air can move around them speeds up drying with any dehumidifier. A tall, narrow airer fits next to the machine in a small room and folds flat afterwards.
Cold rooms and cheap stopgaps
Meaco DD8L Zambezi desiccant dehumidifier
A small desiccant model for rooms that stay cold – a north-facing bedroom or a flat where the heating is rarely on. Desiccant units give off a little warmth as they run, which can be welcome in winter, though that comes from using more power. Check current price.
Other compact desiccant dehumidifiers
If you want to compare brands, search by type and look for a humidistat, a timer and a quiet setting. Check reviews for real-world noise and running costs.
UniBond Aero 360 moisture absorber
No plug, no noise – a crystal tab slowly draws moisture from the air into a tray. Useful in a wardrobe, under the sink or in a small bathroom, but it's a stopgap for a cupboard-sized space, not a fix for a damp flat.
Digital hygrometer
A small humidity and temperature monitor costs a few pounds and shows which rooms are worst and when. Readings over time are also useful evidence if you need to raise damp with your landlord.
Damp in a rental: what's on you and what's on your landlord
Day-to-day condensation is something you're generally expected to help manage – open windows or trickle vents when you can, use extractor fans when cooking and showering, and keep furniture a little away from cold outside walls. A dehumidifier fits in here.
But if damp or mould keeps coming back despite that, or it's caused by something like a leak, a faulty extractor fan, broken heating or rotten window frames, finding and fixing the cause is usually your landlord's job – not yours, and not something a dehumidifier should be papering over.
- Report damp and mould to your landlord or letting agent in writing, and keep a copy.
- Take dated photos, and note humidity readings if you have a hygrometer.
- Keep a record of every call, email and message, and let them in to inspect.
- If nothing happens and the problem is serious, Shelter suggests contacting your council's environmental health team.
Rules differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and do change, so check current advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice for where you live before you take things further.
Wipe condensation off windows and sills every morning with a squeegee or cloth. It takes a minute and stops water soaking into frames and sealant – which also helps at check-out.