Damp and mould during pregnancy: risks and your rights

Living with damp and mould is harmful to health at any time, but during pregnancy the risks are greater. Here is why damp and mould are particularly dangerous during pregnancy, what your landlord must do, and how to take action if the problem is not fixed. Government guidance names pregnant women among those most vulnerable to the health effects of damp and mould.

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 is damp and mould more dangerous during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the immune system changes so that the body does not reject the developing baby. This means pregnant women can be more vulnerable to infections, including those triggered or worsened by damp and mould. The potential effects include:

Respiratory problems: Mould spores inflame the airways and can trigger or worsen asthma. Poorly managed asthma during pregnancy is associated with risks including low birth weight, premature birth, and pre-eclampsia.

Increased infection risk: Living in a cold, damp home increases the risk of respiratory infections such as chest infections and pneumonia. Serious infections during pregnancy can affect both the mother and the baby.

Stress and poor sleep: The stress of living with ongoing disrepair and a landlord who will not respond, combined with the physical discomfort of cold, damp rooms, can affect sleep and mental wellbeing during pregnancy. Chronic stress during pregnancy has been linked to negative birth outcomes.

Exposure to mycotoxins: Some types of mould produce mycotoxins, chemical byproducts that can be harmful to health. Evidence on the specific effects during pregnancy is still developing, but reducing mould exposure is important as a precaution.

Does cold as well as damp matter?

Yes. Cold homes are a related problem. A home that is damp is often also poorly insulated or inadequately heated. Cold during pregnancy can increase the risk of high blood pressure and other complications.

What is the landlord required to do?

Your landlord has a legal duty to:

• Maintain the heating system in working order
• Keep the structure of the property, roof, walls, windows, external doors, in repair so that rain and moisture cannot enter
• Address damp caused by structural failure or disrepair
• Keep the property fit for human habitation under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018

If damp or mould in your home is caused by a defect your landlord is responsible for, a leaking roof, a damp external wall, a failed damp course, a broken heating system, your landlord must repair it. Your pregnancy does not change these obligations, though it does increase the urgency.

Can I ask for urgent repairs because I am pregnant?

Yes. You can write to your landlord and explain that you are pregnant and that the damp, mould, or cold in the property poses a risk to your health and that of your baby. Asking for urgent action in writing creates a record of when the landlord was informed.

You can also contact your local council's environmental health team. Environmental health officers have powers to inspect rented properties and, where the conditions pose a serious risk to health, serve improvement notices on landlords. Being pregnant and living in poor housing conditions can be a relevant factor when the council assesses the urgency of action.

What if my landlord does nothing?

If you have reported the disrepair to your landlord and they have not acted within a reasonable time, you may be able to bring a housing disrepair claim. A claim can:

• Require the landlord to carry out the repairs
• Result in compensation for the period during which you lived in poor conditions

You do not need to pay anything upfront to bring a housing disrepair claim, solicitors acting on a no-win, no-fee basis can advise you at no cost.

Does disrepair during pregnancy affect my priority for rehousing?

Possibly. If you are pregnant and living in conditions that are damaging your health, you may qualify as being in priority need for housing if you approach your local council. Councils assess individual circumstances, and being pregnant and in a harmful home can be a relevant factor.

However, pursuing your housing disrepair rights directly, and getting the landlord to fix the property, is often the fastest route to improving your situation, particularly if you are otherwise settled in the property.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

If you are pregnant and living in a privately rented home with damp, mould, or heating problems that your landlord has not fixed, call us. Your health, and your baby's health, cannot wait.

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)

Related articles

• How damp and mould affect your health