Introduction

In your home, condensation is the main reason for dampness and mould. Condensation is when there is too much moisture in the air and then this comes into contact with a cold surface, like a bathroom mirror when you are having a bath or shower. This can then cause mould to grow. It’s often much worse in the winter.

Condensation is caused by not heating and ventilating your home properly. As a tenant, you need to do things to prevent condensation which includes increasing ventilation and heating in the property as well as reducing the amount of moisture you produce.

Condensation, damp and mould leaflet

Information about condensation, damp and mould in homes.

PDF, 16MB

Types of damp

There are four types of damp that build up in homes:

• Condensation – condensation is the most common type of dampness. It can happen at any time but is often a problem between September and April. Condensation, and the mould that appears due to a build-up of condensation, can occur when using heating in a poorly ventilated and insulated area. For information on how to prevent condensation and treat mould, visit the Centre for Sustainable Energy
• Rising dampness – rising dampness occurs, particularly in older buildings, when groundwater rises through walls, floors, and masonry. The brick or stone blocks soak up water from the ground like a sponge. It usually shows as a watermark on the wall up to a metre in height. Rising dampness does not normally cause mould, but it can cause rot in skirting boards
• Penetrating damp – penetrating dampness is usually caused by one of the following:
  • Porous walls — ageing bricks lose the ability to keep out rain penetration
  • Spalled bricks and degraded mortar — damage to brickwork allows water to penetrate
  • Building defects — for example, defective guttering and downpipes, roof damage, and dilapidated or poorly installed windows
• Leaking Pipes – leaking pipes should be repaired immediately. if you are a tenant, let your landlord know straight away

Your responsibilities

• try to maintain consistent background heat rather than short bursts of high heat, and try to avoid sudden drops and rises in temperature
• using extraction fans in bathrooms and kitchens
• keeping lids on pans when cooking
• closing internal doors when cooking, showering or bathing
• keeping vents on windows open
• opening bedroom windows for 5 to 10 minutes when you first get up
• drying clothes outside when possible if you have an outdoor space, or using a vented tumble dryer
• leave gaps between furniture and external walls

Condensation isn’t the only cause of dampness and mould. It can be caused by:

• rising damp – this is when moisture beneath a building is soaking up into the bricks or concrete
• penetrating damp – water coming through external walls or the roof or when there is an internal leak or plumbing problem, such as with a shower or bath
• if the damp and mould aren’t caused by condensation, and it is severe and persistent and requires your landlord to carry out a repair, you must write (email, letter or text) to them to tell them about the problem

Examples of repairs your landlord will need to fix

• a leaking internal pipe
• broken heating systems, including a boiler
• missing roof tiles
• faulty or broken guttering
• faulty ventilation fans in the kitchen, bathroom or shower room
• cracked walls or rotten window frames
• a failed or broken damp-proof course

Private rented tenants

When you write to your landlord or letting agent to report the issue, you must give them a reasonable time to fix it. Chase up the repair with them if they don’t take any action. If your landlord or letting agent does not fix it, then report it to us with a copy of what you have sent them and we will follow it up. Use our Complain about housing conditions form to report a problem.

Council tenants

As landlords do, we will fix your damp or mould issue if it’s either:

• caused by a repair problem
• affecting your health and safety

We must:

• organise an inspection
• carry out repairs within a reasonable time
• Please report your damp and mould using our report a repair online form as soon as you are aware of the issue
• Alternatively, please call 0300 123 2224 between 8.30am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday. Calls after these times are directed to our out of hours service and only emergency attendance or repairs are attended to until the following working day at 8.30am

Make sure your home is fit to live in

Your home must comply with the lettable standard from the start of your tenancy until you leave.