Dealing with damp, condensation, and mould - our commitment to you:
- We're committed to providing safe and healthy living conditions for our tenants.
Damp, condensation, and mould can affect quality of life and could cause serious health problems- which is why it’s important to know some of the common causes/signs of issues and how to resolve them.
There are many things you (as our tenant) and we (as your landlord) can do to tackle issues related to damp, condensation, and mould.
Our short video brings together details on things you can do to prevent and/or deal with issues, along with how to tell us if you’re concerned. You can also scroll down to learn more.
What are the different types of damp?
All homes are at risk of damp and mould, especially during the winter months. Excessive moisture around the home can cause these problems.
By understanding the different types of damp and their possible causes, you can work out what action to take.
Condensation:
Condensation happens in most homes. It appears when warm, moist air inside the house meets a cold surface like a window or wall.
Everyday activities such as cooking, bathing and drying clothes indoors create moisture. Over time, this can lead to black mould on walls, wallpaper, paint or plaster.
Condensation is most common in colder months. You’ll usually see it in room corners, north-facing walls, windows, and places with poor airflow, such as behind wardrobes or beds.
Penetrating damp:
Penetrating damp is caused by a problem outside the home – such as cracked brickwork, broken render, gaps in the mortar, or missing roof tiles.
These faults let rainwater get into the building. It often shows up as a damp, wet‑looking patch on walls after rain. Black mould may appear in the affected area.
Rising damp (internal or external):
Rising damp happens when moisture from the ground travels up through the walls.
It occurs when the damp proof course (DPC) is damaged, bridged, or missing. A DPC is a waterproof layer built into a wall just above ground level to stop moisture rising.
Rising damp only affects basements and ground‑floor rooms. It usually rises no higher than 24 inches and often leaves a ‘tidemark’ of white salts. If not treated, it can cause plaster to crumble and wallpaper to lift.
Water leaks:
Leaks from water or waste pipes – especially in kitchens and bathrooms – are fairly common.
Leaks can damage walls, ceilings and floors, inside or outside the home. The area will look and feel damp, regardless of the weather.
Checking pipework, taps, seals around baths and sinks, and external pipes such as guttering will usually help find the source of the leak.
How does damp and condensation cause mould?
- In time, any areas affected by damp/condensation can attract black mould that grows on the surface.
Mould spores are invisible to the human eye and are always present in the atmosphere both inside and outside homes. They only become noticeable when they land on a damp surface, where they can grow and then multiply.
This is why – in order to be able to deal with black mould growth – it’s important to understand the causes of and ways to deal with dampness and condensation in your home.
What can I do to reduce condensation and prevent damp?
Three factors which affect the amount of condensation in a home are:
- How much moisture or water vapour is produced
- How much air circulation there is
- How warm the property is
Follow our six-step plan for reducing condensation and preventing damp:
Step one: Produce less moisture
Moisture comes from a number of ordinary activities in the home.
Here are a few ways you can reduce it:
- It’s best to dry your clothes outside whenever possible. If you have a tumble dryer, make sure it’s vented properly to the outside or is a condenser type that collects moisture.
- If you need to dry clothes indoors, try to use a clothes airer placed in the kitchen or bathroom. Your kitchen or bathroom is likely to have an extractor fan, which will help to remove the moisture from the air. If you don’t have an extractor fan, open a window slightly to allow fresh air to circulate and let the damp air escape.
- Avoid drying clothes directly on radiators, as this can quickly increase humidity levels and lead to condensation and mould growth.
- Consider using a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.
- Cover pans when cooking and try not to re-boil the kettle more times than necessary.
- Avoid using paraffin or liquid petroleum (bottled) gas heaters. They produce large amounts of water vapor, are expensive to run, and usage of them is not permitted in our properties.
Step two: Remove excess moisture
Wipe the windows and window sills of your home (kitchen roll works best) every morning to remove condensation.
- This is especially important in the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen - just opening the window isn’t enough.
Step three: Ventilate to remove moisture
You can ventilate (air) a room without causing it to become too cold by opening a window slightly or by using the trickle vent found on new UPVC windows. Some windows can be set in the open position while still being locked.
Opening windows allows moisture to escape and lets in dry air, which is also cheaper to heat.
To keep your home ventilated:
- Open a window when using the kitchen or bathroom, and close the doors to prevent moisture spreading to other parts of the home.
- Open the bedroom window for up to an hour after you get up, and throw back the duvet to air the bed.
- During daylight hours, open curtains and blinds.
- Clear window sills of any clutter that could restrict opening the windows.
- Leave space between the back of furniture and cold walls.
- Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes, and avoid overfilling them as this stops air from circulating.
By opening your windows, you might worry that you’re losing heat. But what you’re actually doing is letting warm moisture-laden air escape and allowing cool, dry air into your home. Dry cool air is actually cheaper to heat than warm, moist air.
Step four: heat your home a little more
In cold weather, the best way to keep rooms warm and avoid condensation is to keep low background heat on all day rather than having short burst of high heat. Use the heating controls on your radiators as well as the thermostat and timer to control your heating and manage costs.
- For a healthy home, it’s important to strike the right balance between keeping it warm while being ventilated.
Step five: insulate and draught proof
You can help reduce draughts in your home by following a few quick steps:
- 1. Close your curtains at night to keep the warmth in and the cold out.
- 2. Keep internal doors closed to stop cold air from moving through your home.
- 3. You can also use draught excluders* at the bottom of external doors, like your front or back door, to block any gaps where cold air might come in.
*Be mindful when using draught excluders on internal doors. Blocking airflow between rooms can reduce ventilation and affect how well extractor fans work, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
Only use draught excluders on internal doors if you really need to, and make sure there’s still enough airflow to keep your home fresh and free from damp.
Step six: deal with any black mould
Black mould can grow on walls, ceilings, furnishings and even on clothes and toys.
By dealing with the causes of condensation (using the steps listed above), you’ll greatly reduce the chances of having black mould in your home.
However, if you spot mould growing on a surface, it’s important to take early action as it can spread quickly. When mould covers a small area, it’s generally easy to remove it yourself. You can use various household products, or a combination of them, like:
- White vinegar: pour the vinegar into a dry spray bottle and spray a good amount on the area of mould. Allow it to sit for one hour. Use a dry, absorbent cloth to soak up the moisture by dabbing or pressing against the cleaned areas. You can spray the areas mould is most likely to grow with white vinegar once or twice a week.
- Tea tree oil: add one teaspoon of tea tree oil and two cups of water to a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the affected area and use a clean cloth to wipe the mould away. Leaving the tea tree oil on the surface will kill the mould and help prevent it from returning.
- Other options: to clean mould that covers a small area, you could also consider using a household detergent or mould remover made for this purpose. Always read product guidance before use, follow all safety instructions given, and test suitability for the surface first to check it won’t cause damage.
Remember, dealing with condensation and preventing mould in your home can be an easy process. But if you’re worried about a more serious problem, please get in touch with us by calling our repairs line on 01204 328000.
Things to avoid:
Don’t ignore issues with damp, condensation or mould, as they could cause health problems and damage your home.
Don’t just paint over areas affected by mould, as this won’t solve the problem and could make it worse.
Don’t use chlorine bleach to clean areas affected by mould, as this is unlikely to remove the root cause of the problem and could be dangerous to your health.
Don’t block any vents or air vents in your home, as this will reduce ventilation and air quality.
Please speak to us if you're concerned:
If you’re concerned about issues relating to condensation, damp, and/or mould in your home, it’s best to call us on 01204 328000.
You can also tap here to see all of our main contact details.
For significant hazards (standard investigations):
We'll clean mould and remove any hazards within 10 days.
For emergency hazards (emergency investigations):
We'll clean mould and remove any hazards within 24 hours.
What happens when you tell us about damp and mould in your home:
Scroll down or watch our short video for a summary of what happens when you report damp and mould-related issues to us.
1. Tell us about it as soon as you can:
2. We'll ask you about the issues you're experiencing:
3. Our technical team will arrange an initial visit:
4. A senior colleague will review the photos from the initial visit:
5. We'll arrange a follow-up inspection where appropriate:
Please allow us access into your home:
Useful downloads:
If you’d like to keep our guidance on dealing with damp, mould, and condensation handy, you can download our ‘Keeping a healthy home’ PDF leaflet by tapping below.
An ‘Easy Read’ version of our damp and mould guidance is also available below.
