Damp and mould advice and guidance

Advice on how to prevent damp and mould in your home, and how to report it, can be found below.

Do I have condensation problems?

Signs of condensation in your home

• Water trickling down the inside of windows
• Damp patches on the wall especially behind furniture and in corners
• Wallpaper peeling off
• Black dots on window frames
• Mould growth/black mould starting to appear
• Soft furnishings and fabrics become prone to mould or mildew.
• Condensation can be at its worst during colder weather.

What is rising damp?

Rising damp happens when ground water rises up walls via capillaries in the brickwork or other masonry. It can be caused by a breach in the damp proof course, the building having no damp proof course.  Homes should be fitted with a damp proof course which prevent rising damp. 

Typical signs include:

• Damp patches that start at the base of a wall and gradually move upwards
• Skirting boards or plaster that are damp ore rotting
• Floor coverings such as tiles, vinyl or carpet that are wet or lifting
• Peeling paint or wallpaper lifting from the bottom of the wall
• Yellow or brown tide marks or staining on the wall

What is penetrating damp?

Penetrating damp is when moisture penetrates the inside of a building from the outside. It can commonly be caused by rain leaking in through the brickwork or mortar, by blocked leaking outside pipework such as guttering or even debris piled up against an outside wall of a building, but there can be other causes.

The signs of penetrating damp are similar to rising and condensation. 

Typical signs include:

• Staining to external walls
• Damaged decoration, deterioration and staining on internal walls
• Damaged plaster, wet and crumbling, blistering, disintegration
• Rotting floorboards and skirting
• Localised damp patches that grow in size when in contact with moisture
• Mould growth visible and a musty smell
• Drips, puddles, pooled water
• Brick damage, damage to the brickwork can allow moisture in.

What are the health implications?

The NHS website says that damp and mould can exacerbate existing respiratory problems and skin allergies such as eczema.

Some groups of people are particularly vulnerable.

• Babies and children
• Older People
• Those with existing skin problems
• Those with respiratory problems, such as asthma or allergies
• Those with a weakened immune system such as those having chemotherapy

Can damp and mould affect my health? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

The most common type of damp is condensation caused by everyday activity in the home.

Tips to prevent condensation

• Leave trickle vents (slotted vents in the window or window frames) open when rooms are occupied even in the winter when your heating is on.
• Use kitchen and bathroom extractor fans and/or open a window when cooking and showering – leave them on for a period of time afterwards.
• Keep the doors closed when cooking or showering and bathing; but have a window open to make sure that steam escapes outside and doesn’t circulate around your home.
• Furniture should be kept clear of the external walls to allow better air circulation. If unable to keep well clear, keep at least a small gap between the walls and furniture, particularly against “cold walls” and allow ventilation of any cupboards to keep air flow moving.
• Avoid drying laundry on clothes airers or radiators. If you do need to dry clothes indoors, close the door of the room where the clothes are drying and open the window. 
• A dehumidifier in damp rooms works well and can also be used to dry clothes.
• If you use a tumble dryer, make sure that it is vented properly out of a window or through an outside wall.
• Keep the temperature of the house between 18oC and 22oC.  Modern heating systems have room thermostats and can be set to come on if the room temperature drops below a set level.
• Avoid using portable gas or paraffin heaters. The fuel that they burn releases water vapour into the air causing it to feel damp and muggy.
• When condensation appears wipe away as soon as possible.

Tips for dealing with mould caused by condensation

• Black mould is most commonly found in rooms where a lot of steam is created such as the bathroom or kitchen.
• Mould caused by condensation can be wiped away using a mould killer spray or bleach.
• You can paint affected walls with anti-mould paint or wallpaper paste after the mould has been wiped away and this can be very effective in stopping it from returning.

Reporting damp and mould issues

Reporting damp and mould issues as a council tenant

Reporting damp and mould for private tenants, landlords and owner-occupiers