Damp, mould and condensation

Condensation is the most common form of damp and is a common cause of black mould. 

These are our top tips on how to keep your home free from condensation: 

• dry clothes outside where possible - if you can’t, dry them on a clothes airer rather than a radiator, in a room
• where you can close the door and open a window
• if you have a tumble drier, vent it to the outside and never into the home
• cover pans when cooking and do not leave kettles boiling
• do not use gas bottle heaters
• wipe down windows and windowsills every morning, especially in bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens
• clear windowsills of clutter that will restrict opening the window or prevent surfaces from being wiped
• you can also catch condensation dripping from windows with condensation channels and sponge strips which are available to purchase from DIY shops
• ventilate all rooms by opening windows, even if only slightly, and making sure any trickle vents are left open
• open bedroom windows for up to one hour as soon as you get up and pull back the sheets or duvets to air the bed and bedding 
• open windows during cooking or bathing and use extractor fans afterwards - if you haven't got an extractor fan, leave your windows opened until the moisture has cleared
• avoid overfilling cupboards and wardrobes as this prevents air circulation, and make sure there is space between them and the wall, ideally 100mm
• heat all rooms in the house even if only at a low temperature - the Energy Saving Trust recommends that your thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature, typically between 18°C and 21°C 
• don’t cover air bricks or vents 

We recommend that you regularly check for mould growth paying particular attention to under divan bed drawers and behind wardrobes, bedside cabinets, bedheads and clothing stored in cupboards. 

If you have black mould, you can do the following: 

• don’t disturb mould by brushing or vacuum cleaning as it may release mould spores which can increase the risk of respiratory problems
• carefully remove excess mould with a mould removal product, following the manufacturer's instructions. This will help remove the staining that persistent mould can leave behind. Make sure you throw the cloth away afterwards
• after treatment, redecorate using a fungicidal paint – do not paint over with an ordinary paint as mould is likely to grow back
• dry-clean affected clothes, and shampoo carpets where necessary

If you are a council tenant and have mould in your home, please report this as soon as possible by using the contact details below.

Rising damp is generally caused by water from the ground rising into the home – usually after a failure of the damp proof course.

Common signs include a ‘tide mark’ along the lower part of the wall.

If you have rising damp you need to contact your landlord to raise the necessary repairs to the damp proof course.

Penetrating damp is usually caused by water penetrating through external walls, roofs or from leaking gutters, damaging walls and or ceilings inside the home. External repairs will be needed to fix this. 

If you have penetrating damp you need to contact your landlord to raise the repair to prevent water penetrating your property.

Defective plumbing can include leaky pipes in different areas of the home including under sinks, baths and flooring.

If you have defective plumbing you need to contact your landlord to raise the plumbing repairs needed to resolve the problem.