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Mould and damp issues in private sector housing

Breaking the Mould - Healthy Homes

We want to help you keep your home healthy

We will be sharing valuable information, practical tips, and ongoing support to help you maintain a warm, dry home and manage any challenges that may arise.

Damp and mould are some of the biggest problems in rented homes. They cause serious health issues and mean expensive, complicated repairs if not resolved. Finding the cause can be difficult. There are different types of damp that can cause mould, and there can be more than one affecting your home at once.

Health risks

Damp and mould primarily affect the airways and lungs, but they can also affect the eyes and skin. The respiratory effects of damp and mould can cause serious illness and, in the most severe cases, death.

The presence of damp and mould can also affect tenants’ mental health. This could be due to worries about the health impacts of damp and mould, unpleasant living conditions, and destruction of property and belongings, among other concerns.

Everyone is vulnerable to the health impacts of damp and mould, but people with certain health conditions, children and older adults are at greater risk of more severe health impacts.

Who is responsible

Damp and mould issues are everyone’s problem. Tackling these issues as soon as possible protects tenant health, but also limits damage to the building. If you’re a tenant, you must tell your landlord about damp and mould problems as soon as you notice them.

Do this in writing so you have a record, in case anything goes wrong. The quicker your landlord knows about them, the faster they will get sorted.

If you’re a landlord, address these issues as soon as you can to protect your tenants and save money on repairing the property. Ensure your tenants know how to cut condensation, reducing the risk of damp and mould developing.

How to report damp and mould issues to your landlord

All types of damp can cause harm to health as well as your home. If you have problems with damp, mould, condensation or leaking water in your home, report it to your landlord or property agent immediately.

Make a record of the problem

To report the damp or water leak, it is good to have a proper record of the problem. To make a record find out the answer to these questions:

  • When did it start happening?
  • What does it look like? for example, brown stain, black mould, condensation on window, or paper peeling
  • Are there certain times when it’s worse?
  • Where is it happening?
  • What do you think is causing it?
  • What damage is it causing to your home?
  • Is there an immediate health risk to you or your family?
  • What steps you have already taken already to stop it?

It’s always better to be able to show the problem, so make a record, take photos or make a video; Ask a friend to help if you do not know how to.

Know how to contact your landlord or property agent

Your landlord should have provided you with some contact details to use for emergency situations, when you do receive them, store these details away safely. If you do not have any details, ask for:

  • Name (including of landlord, tenancy officer or property agent)
  • Phone number (including emergency number)
  • Email address
  • Postal address

Many social landlords or property agents have their contact details online or a contact form on their website which you can use.

Your landlord is a social landlord

If your landlord is a housing association, report damp and condensation mould issues immediately. They take these issues seriously, some housing associations have specific ‘Damp and Mould’ teams to help.

Get help from your doctor

Babies, toddlers, older people and people with underlying health conditions are vulnerable, so they may need help urgently if they live in homes with damp,condensation and mould.

If you or a member of your family is affected, tell your doctor immediately. Your doctor can advise you of any health problems that may be caused by mould and support you in getting the problems fixed by the landlord or property agent.

What landlords should do when you report damp and mould

Landlords have different ways to respond to a damp and mould report depending on the cause and urgency of the problem.

We expect the landlord to act within 2 guide times:

  • in an emergency, they should visit within 24 hours
  • for routine issues, they should visit within 5 days

Further guidance for private and social tenants

Landlords and property agents

Sometimes tenants are blamed for creating damp and mould problems through lifestyle choices. Washing, cooking, and other everyday activities are considered the sole reason for damp and mould. Condensation does not help, but it’s unlikely to be the only cause. Anything that means moisture cannot leave the home leads to damp and mould. This might be disrepair, poor ventilation, inadequate heating, or energy efficiency problems.

Government guidance states that it is a landlord’s responsibility to identify the cause and fix it.

As a landlord or property agent, it is your legal responsibility to take action on any condensation and mould quickly and effectively. This is covered under legislation such as the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018 and the Housing Act 2004.

Make sure your tenants know how to report issues

Make sure tenants understand how to report brown damp stains, condensation and mould problems immediately. Landlords and agents should not wait until the problem gets worse, risking their tenant’s health and making issues more costly and difficult to fix.

Create an action plan to tackle the mould and stop it coming back

Plan 6 monthly inspections to monitor damp conditions in your property to prevent health risks or it becoming a costly problem.

Give reasonable notice to your tenant and ask them to be present so you can discuss any small issues and prevent future problems. For example, if furniture is blocking air vents or extractors, or bathroom fans are not being used.

Remember properties become more vulnerable to condensation mould from October when air temperature drops.

What to do if your tenant reports damp, condensation or mould

Take steps to immediately clean away the mould safely to remove potentially hazardous conditions in the home. As a landlord or property agent, it is your responsibility to carry out an inspection to investigate the cause of damp and condensation mould.

Grants advice

We aim to improve homes in our area through central government grants. We offer several schemes to make homes warmer and more efficient.

How to contact us

You can contact us for advice and assistance in reporting mould to your landlord: