Mould in the bathroom: is your landlord responsible?

Direct answer

Often, yes. If bathroom mould comes from a fault your landlord must fix, such as broken extraction, a leak, or ventilation they have failed to put right, it is their responsibility to deal with. If it is purely from everyday moisture you can reduce, the picture is mixed. Report it in writing; once they know and do not act, you may have a claim.

Bathroom mould is extremely common in rented homes and one of the most frequently reported housing problems. Whether your landlord is responsible for it depends on the cause. We show you how to tell the difference, and what to do. Government guidance warns that the respiratory effects of damp and mould "can cause serious illness and, in the most severe cases, death."

Key facts

• The 2024 to 2025 English Housing Survey found about 5% of homes in England, around 1.4 million, had a problem with damp, most common in privately rented homes (10%). English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
• Official guidance from the UK Health Security Agency and the Department of Health and Social Care links damp and mould in homes in England to around 5,000 cases of asthma and 8,500 lower respiratory infections among children and adults. Health risks of damp and mould, GOV.UK

Why does mould appear in bathrooms?

Bathrooms generate a lot of moisture, from showers, baths, and running hot water. If that moisture cannot escape, it condenses on cooler surfaces and mould grows.

There are two main causes of bathroom mould:

Structural causes (landlord's responsibility):

• Inadequate or non-functioning ventilation, an extractor fan that does not work or was never installed
• Sealed or unventilated windows that cannot be opened
• Cold surfaces caused by poor insulation
• Leaking pipes or shower seals that allow water behind tiles and into walls
• Rising damp or penetrating damp from adjacent areas

Condensation from use (more complex):

• Steam from showers and baths that is not adequately vented
• Lack of routine ventilation by the tenant

Even where condensation from use plays a part, if the property has no working extractor fan or the windows cannot be opened, the landlord may still be responsible because the structural ventilation is inadequate.

Is a landlord required to provide ventilation in a bathroom?

Yes. Building regulations require bathrooms to have adequate ventilation. In a rented property, if the extractor fan is broken or there is no mechanical ventilation and the windows cannot provide adequate cross-ventilation, the landlord is responsible for providing a working solution.

Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, a property with poor ventilation that leads to significant mould growth may be unfit for habitation.

What if your landlord says it is your fault?

If your landlord says the mould is caused by your lifestyle (not opening windows, taking long hot showers), you can respond by:

1. Checking whether the extractor fan works. Test it, can you feel air movement? Does the light work with it?
2. Checking whether windows open and provide adequate ventilation.
3. Asking the council's environmental health team to inspect. They assess properties independently and can identify whether the cause is structural.
4. Photographing the mould, noting where it appears and its extent.

What should you do?

1. Report the mould to your landlord in writing. Say where it is, include photographs, and state that you believe the extractor fan is not working (if that is the case).
2. Test and document the extractor fan. A broken fan is a repair the landlord must fix.
3. Repeat the report if the landlord does not act and keep a record of every message.
4. Contact environmental health if the landlord does not respond.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

We handle housing disrepair claims where persistent mould caused by structural problems, including poor ventilation, has affected tenants' health or quality of life.

Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.

Sources

• Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home (GOV.UK)
• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)