Types of Damp
There are four types of damp that build up in homes:
- Condensation – occurs when warm and humid air meets cold surfaces, leading to moisture build up. This is often seen in bathrooms, especially around windows and on the ceiling. and kitchens and can 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.
- 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, particularly in older buildings where there is no Damp-Proof Course (DPC) or the DPC has failed.
- 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
Types of damp – Try the moisture balance calculator Moisture Balance
Also watch this you tube video from Dr Hector Altamirano – Expert advice on tackling damp in properties
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
Report an Issue
If you rent your home then you first need to write to your landlord or agent to report the issue, giving them a reasonable time to fix it. Chase it up with them in writing if they don’t take any action. If you are not happy with the response from your landlord, you can make a complaint about your housing conditions using our Complain about housing conditions form to report a problem.
If your home is owned by Somerset Council, please refer to Damp and mould in Somerset Council homes where you will find details on what to do and who to contact.
