Housing - Damp and Mould - NOT LIVE FOR REVIEW ONLY

Damp and mould within the home can produce allergens, irritants, mould spores and other toxins that are harmful to health. Most people encounter the substances produced by damp and mould by breathing them in. This means they predominantly affect the airways and lungs. The effects of damp and mould can lead to serious illnesses and, in the most severe cases, even 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.

Damp and mould can cause disease and ill health in anyone, but children, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to more severe impacts.
There are a number of legal standards that private and social landlords must adhere to in relation to damp and mould in rented homes. Local councils enforce standards in the private rented sector and social housing owned by housing associations and other private registered providers.

In October 2021, the Housing Ombudsman released a spotlight report titled "It’s Not Lifestyle", emphasising the need for landlords not to blame residents for damp and mould issues and to be responsive to reports of damp and mould and to take the necessary action to fix structural problems or faulty installations that have contributed to damp and mould occurring in the property.

By having MECC conversations about mould and damp we can identify both threats to a person's health but also opportunities for them to take steps to improve their health and wellbeing.

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

Do you know how to identify evidence of damp and mould in your home?

If not, click here to show the person visual examples of damp and mould.

Have you noticed any signs of damp and mould in your home?

Explain that if there is observable evidence of dampness in a building, such as visible mould, mould odour or water damage, including condensation, explain that this may indicate the need to remedy these issues to protect their health. Emphasise that even if visible mould is not present, dampness alone can increase the risk of health problems.

Where in your home is it most visible? (e.g., walls, ceilings, windows, corners, furniture)

Explain that even smell of mould without visible evidence of mould may indicate that there is mould behind a surface, such as on the back of wallpaper, panelling, ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets, behind pipes, furniture or inside heating and ventilation units.

Has the problem worsened over time or stayed the same?

Explain the signs of damp and mould increasing could indicate factors beyond your control for example ventilation, structural issues, installation issues such as plumbing and pipework

Do you notice it more during certain times of the year (e.g., winter or rainy seasons)?

Explain that signs of damp and mould are likely to increase during winter but this shouldn’t be seen as normal and can again be linked to factors beyond your control like blocked gutters, downpipes, condensation, heating or ventilation issues.

Are you the owner-occupier of your home?

If Yes please see the ACT section for further advice

Are you currently renting your home either social housing or private rented?

There are some slight variations in action and escalation, these are shown in the ASSIST and ACT sections.

Have you reported damp and mould to your landlord?

Explain that whilst damp and mould would pose a risk to anyone’s health and should always be acted on quickly, it is particularly important that damp and mould is addressed with urgency for the groups below as they are more vulnerable to significant health impacts:

  • Pre-existing physical health conditions (eg allergies, asthma, lung disease, cardiovascular disease)
  • Weakened immune system
  • People living with a mental health condition
  • Pregnant women or those who have recently given birth
  • Children and young people up to age 16 years
  • Older people, aged 65+
  • People who spend a lot of time in the house (eg. bed bound, mobility problems)

Source and further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/damp-and-mould-understanding-and-addressing-the-health-risks-for-rented-housing-providers/understanding-and-addressing-the-health-risks-of-damp-and-mould-in-the-home--2#people-at-increased-risk-from-damp-and-mould

Explain that they have a legal right for the causes of damp and mould addressed in their property and for repairs to be carried out where damp and mould has been caused by a structural defect (eg leaking roof, guttering etc) or defective installation (eg bathroom with no ventilation).

Assist

If yes, ask them if they have kept a record of this report?

Explain that landlords have a legal duty to acknowledge the issues as damp and mould within the property and should typically respond in a reasonable timeframe, such as 3-5 working days.

If you have concerns regarding this report i.e. this was done as casual reference etc, no ability to evidence a report has been made, please see section below about support for contacting your landlord.

Has your landlord been in touch with you about this?

Ask if they landlord had visited your property either themselves of through an external damp and mould expert such as a housing surveyor to address the cause of the problem.

Social landlords have up to 14 days to undertake investigation. If a hazard is confirmed, repairs must begin within 7 days of issuing the summary report to the tenant. Emergency Repairs: For urgent issues repairs must start within 24 hours.

Private landlords have to be reasonable - but the above is used locally as a guide for what is reasonable.

Has your landlord agreed with you to take remedial action to address damp and mould based on their findings, has this been done or is this outstanding?

If the tenant has not had a satisfactory response, ask if they would like some further information on how to escalate this if their landlord has failed to act upon this? – See ACT section for escalation advice

If no report has been made, ask if they would some advice on reporting damp and mould to your landlord?

Please see ACT for further information

Do you need any support to contact your landlord for example help with writing an email, what to write or access to the internet?

Most tenants who want to report damp and mould to their landlord will be able to do this independently if they have sufficient information about how they can do this. There may be some cases where individuals are unable to advocate for themselves, for example due to poor literacy or lack of English language skills or lack of access to the internet. In these cases, health and social care professionals could offer to make a report to the landlord on the tenant’s behalf. It is important to ensure that the tenant provides consent for the report. Professionals can assist the tenant to make the report using an online form or use the letter template provided (add link here).

Other important considerations

Understand that tenants might be worried about reporting damp and mould to their landlord as they may feel that they will be blamed for causing this.

If a tenant is worried about raising damp and mould issues with their landlord, advise them that they can speak to ‘Shelter’ first or following their guidance, so that they follow the right process.  It is a landlord’s responsibility to find out what’s causing the damp.

Understand that tenants might worried about reporting damp and mould if for example they could be in rent arears, or worried that reporting an issue may impact on their tenancy or future relationship with the landlord.

Explain to them that reporting damp and mould is important for their health, and their landlord has a legal duty to ensure their home is safe and well-maintained. Their landlord will need access to the property, either personally or through a professional, to assess the issue and determine the best solution. If they feel there is a risk of eviction, signpost them to: 

Revenge eviction if you ask for repairs - Shelter England  https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/revenge_eviction_if_you_ask_for_repairs

Act

National support services and advice

Dealing with damp and mould in your home is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment. In the UK, several organisations offer advice and support to help you address these issues.

NHS Health Advice

People living with mould are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, infections, allergies or asthma, external.  Inhaling or touching the spores that mould releases into the air can cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and a skin rash.

Mould can also trigger asthma attacks and cause coughing, wheezing and breathlessness.

If you're concerned about the health effects of damp and mould in your home, you can call NHS 111 or see your GP.

Escalating concerns about damp and mould – Private Landlord

Report the Issue to Your Landlord (if you haven’t already done so): Notify your landlord or letting agent in writing about the damp and mould problems, providing details and any supporting evidence, such as photographs.

Contact Your Local Council (details can be found in the local support and contact details listed below): If your landlord does not respond or delays repairs unreasonably, reach out to your local council's private renting team. They can:

  • Assist in getting your landlord to perform the necessary repairs.
  • Refer you for a home visit or inspection from the environmental health team if the problem is serious.

The environmental health team can assess the severity of the damp and mould and, if they find it poses a health hazard, they have the authority to enforce repairs by serving an improvement notice on your landlord.

Escalating concerns about damp and mould – Social/Council Housing Landlord

Report the Issue to Your Landlord (if you haven’t already done so): Inform your council or housing association about the damp and mould problems as soon as possible. You can use Shelter's letter templates to communicate your concerns effectively.

  • Follow Up on Delays or Inaction: If your landlord blames you for the damp and mould, delays repairs, or ignores your concerns, contact them again to assert your rights. Shelter provides letter templates to assist with this communication.
  • File a Formal Complaint: If the problem persists, utilize your landlord's formal complaints procedure. Details on how to do this can typically be found on your landlord's website or by contacting their customer service.
  • Escalate to the Housing Ombudsman: If your landlord fails to resolve the issue through their complaints process, you can escalate your complaint to the Housing Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can investigate and has the authority to order your landlord to make repairs or provide compensation.

Step by Step advice from the Housing Charity Shelter on Damp and Mould

Landlord and tenant responsibilities to deal with damp and mould in Private rented housing

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/damp_and_mould_in_rented_homes

Landlord and tenant responsibilities to deal with damp and mould in Private rented housing

Landlord and tenant responsibilities to deal with damp and mould in Social/Council housing

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/damp_mould_social_housing/what_landlord_should_do?

Citizens advice on Damp and Mould

If you have damp or mould in your rented home

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/repairs-and-housing/repairs-and-housing-conditions/whos-responsible-for-repairs/repairs-damp/

Housing Ombudsman Service

All the information that residents and landlords will find useful on this key topic including guidance, spotlight reports and training options for landlords.

https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/

Are you struggling to heat your home?

If yes, please refer to the Affordable warmth section on MECC Link

Local Support and Contact Details