Damp and mould: the risks for babies and young children

Babies and young children are more vulnerable to the health effects of damp and mould than adults. Their immune systems are still developing, their airways are smaller, and they spend more time at home, often in the most affected rooms. Below, we cover the health risks, your landlord's legal duty, and what to do if your home has damp or mould. Government guidance warns that the respiratory effects of damp and mould "can cause serious illness and, in the most severe cases, death," and names babies and young children among those most at risk.

Key facts

• 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
• 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

Why are babies and children particularly at risk?

Mould releases spores and chemicals into the air. When breathed in over time, these can cause and worsen:

• Asthma, children in mouldy or damp homes are more likely to develop asthma
• Respiratory infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia
• Wheezing and coughing, persistent symptoms that can be mistaken for a cold
• Skin conditions, including eczema, which can be triggered or worsened by mould and damp
• Allergic reactions, runny nose, eye irritation, and allergic rhinitis
• Developmental impact, in severe and prolonged cases, poor respiratory health can affect sleep and development

The death of Awaab Ishak in 2020, a two-year-old boy who died after prolonged exposure to mould in social housing, led directly to new legal requirements (Awaab's Law) requiring social landlords to act on mould reports within strict timeframes. The underlying duty on private landlords to maintain properties free from health hazards existed before and continues to apply.

What is the landlord's legal duty?

Your landlord must keep your home free from serious hazards to health under:

• The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, which requires landlords to keep the structure, exterior, heating, and drainage of the property in repair
• The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, which requires that your home is fit for human habitation at the start of and throughout the tenancy. Damp and mould that poses a risk to health makes a home unfit
• The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), which classifies damp and mould as a Category 1 or Category 2 hazard depending on severity

A landlord who is told about a damp or mould problem and fails to fix it is in breach of these duties.

What should I do if my baby or child is living with damp or mould?

1. See your health visitor or the child's doctor about any respiratory symptoms. Ask them to note the link between symptoms and the home conditions, this evidence can be important later
2. Photograph the mould, document every affected area, with dates
3. Report the problem to your landlord in writing, clearly describe where the mould is, how long it has been there, and that you are concerned for your child's health
4. Keep a written record of all contact with your landlord
5. Contact environmental health at your local council if the landlord does not respond or the problem gets worse. They can inspect and serve enforcement notices on the landlord
6. Consider a housing disrepair claim, if your landlord has failed to act after being notified, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm caused

What evidence helps a claim?

• Photographs of the mould, dated
• Medical records showing a link between the child's health and the home conditions
• Copies of messages and letters to the landlord about the problem
• Any inspections by the local council or environmental health reports

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

We handle housing disrepair claims. If your landlord has failed to fix damp or mould in your privately rented home and this is affecting your child's health, we may be able to help you claim compensation.

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)
• English Housing Survey (GOV.UK)