A broken extractor fan or poor ventilation can cause damp and mould. Your landlord must keep ventilation working. Here is what to do and how we can help.
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Direct answer
A broken extractor fan or poor ventilation lets damp air build up, which causes condensation and mould. Your landlord must keep the ventilation in your home working. If a broken fan or missing ventilation is making your home damp and your landlord ignores it, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
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 ventilation matters
Kitchens and bathrooms make a lot of moisture. Without a working extractor fan or air vents, that moisture settles on cold walls and windows and turns into black mould. This is not your fault if the fan is broken or the home was never set up to let air move properly.
Your landlord's duty
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord must keep installations like extractor fans and vents in working order. If poor ventilation is causing damp and mould, that is a repair issue. See is condensation the landlord's fault or mine.
What to do
- Report the broken fan or lack of ventilation in writing.
- Take photos of any mould or condensation.
- Keep a note of how long it has gone on.
- If your landlord blames you but the fan is broken, say so clearly.
How we can help
If poor ventilation your landlord failed to fix has caused damp and mould, you may have a claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Free call: 0800 030 4669 | Start your claim
Sources
- Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) guidance (GOV.UK)
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 25 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
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Still stuck?
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