Damp, mould and your health
What your landlord owes you, and what to do when damp or mould is affecting your health.
Guides in this topic
37 plain-English guides. 3 to 5 minute reads, no jargon, free to use.
Can I sue my landlord for mould?
Yes. If your landlord ignores damp and mould, you can claim. Here is the law and how it works.
Read · 2 min
How to report damp to your landlord (and make it stick)
The exact steps to report damp in writing, what evidence to keep, and what your landlord must do under Awaab's Law. 5-minute read.
Read · 2 min
Is condensation the landlord's fault or mine?
Often the landlord's. If condensation comes from poor ventilation, cold walls, or a building fault, it is their job to fix. Here is how to tell.
Read · 2 min
How do damp and mould affect your health?
Damp and mould can cause breathing problems, chest infections, and worse asthma. They are a serious hazard and your landlord must act. Here is what to do.
Read · 2 min
Can I claim for stress or anxiety caused by housing disrepair?
Yes. The harm to your mental health from a damp, cold, or unsafe home can count towards a disrepair claim. Here is how it works and what proof helps.
Read · 2 min
What is the Fitness for Human Habitation Act?
The 2018 Act lets tenants in England sue their landlord directly if their home is unfit to live in. Plain English summary, with the 29 hazards explained.
Read · 2 min
Broken extractor fan and poor ventilation
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.
Read · 2 min
My landlord painted over the mould instead of fixing it: what now?
This is one of the most common complaints we hear. A landlord or their contractor visits, applies mould-resistant paint or a bleach wash, and marks the
Read · 4 min
Mould on my window frames and seals, what should I do?
Mould on window frames usually means condensation, poor ventilation, or failed seals. Your landlord may still be responsible. Here is what to do.
Read · 2 min
I can smell damp but I can't see mould, what does that mean?
A damp smell without visible mould often means hidden damp behind walls, under floors, or in the structure. Here is what to do.
Read · 3 min
Complete guide to Awaab's Law
Everything tenants need to know about Awaab's Law: the deadlines, who it covers, what counts as an emergency, how to use it, and what to do if your landlord misses the clock.
Read · 8 min
My landlord knows about the damp but still hasn't fixed it: what can I do?
Once your landlord knows about the damp, the law says they must act. If they have not fixed it within a reasonable time, you can escalate to the council and,
Read · 4 min
My landlord says the damp is my fault: what do I do?
Landlords often blame tenants for damp and mould. Sometimes they are partly right. But if the underlying cause is structural, the landlord has a legal duty
Read · 3 min
There has been a flood in my home: what is my landlord responsible for?
If the flooding came from inside the building, such as a burst pipe, a leak from the flat above, or a failing roof, your landlord must repair the structural
Read · 3 min
My landlord wants me to pay for a damp survey: do I have to?
Landlords sometimes ask tenants to foot the bill for a damp or mould survey. This can feel like a fair request, especially if the landlord says they just
Read · 3 min
The mould in my home is making my child ill: what can I do?
Finding mould in your home is distressing. When your child is unwell and you suspect the mould is the cause, it becomes urgent. Damp and mould can trigger
Read · 3 min
My child has been diagnosed with asthma: can I claim if mould caused it?
A diagnosis of asthma in a child is frightening. If you have been living with damp or mould in your rented home, you may suspect a link, and you may be right
Read · 4 min
Penetrating damp and rising damp: what is the difference and why does it matter for a claim?
When you report damp to your landlord, they may respond by saying the damp is "condensation" or a "lifestyle issue" and not their problem. Or they may say
Read · 4 min
Damp, mould and cold homes: risks for older tenants
Damp, mould and cold are dangerous for anyone, but older people face higher health risks than most. If you are an older tenant, or you are helping a family
Read · 4 min
Damp and mould: COPD and emphysema in a rented home
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term lung condition that makes breathing difficult. Emphysema is one of the main conditions that make
Read · 4 min
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
Read · 4 min
Condensation or damp: what is the difference and who is responsible?
Condensation is moisture from the air settling on cold surfaces; damp is water getting in through a fault, such as a leak, rising damp, or penetrating damp.
Read · 5 min
The link between damp, mould, and mental health
Living in a damp or mouldy home does not just affect your physical health, the psychological impact can be significant and lasting. Below, we look at how
Read · 3 min
Hidden mould behind furniture: what tenants need to know
Mould is not always visible at first. It can grow behind wardrobes, under carpets, inside cupboards, and behind large pieces of furniture placed against cold
Read · 3 min
Rising damp: signs, causes, and what your landlord must do
Rising damp is a specific type of damp that travels upward from the ground into the walls of a building. It is different from condensation and penetrating
Read · 3 min
Black mould: health risks for tenants and what you can do
Black mould can harm your health. Official guidance links damp and mould in England to thousands of cases of asthma and respiratory infections each year, and
Read · 4 min
Damp survey: what to expect and how it helps your case
A damp survey is an inspection by a specialist that identifies the type and cause of damp in your home and how to fix it. It is strong evidence for a
Read · 4 min
Mould on clothes and belongings: can I claim compensation?
Mould from damp walls and ceilings does not only affect the property itself. It spreads onto furniture, clothes, shoes, books, and other belongings. If your
Read · 3 min
Mould testing in rented homes: what it involves and whether you need it
If you have mould in your rented home, you may wonder whether having it tested is useful, and whether it will help with a complaint or legal claim. Below, we
Read · 3 min
Black mould removal: advice for tenants
You can safely clean small areas of black mould yourself with the right protection, but cleaning only treats the symptom. If the mould keeps coming back, the
Read · 4 min
Dehumidifiers in rented homes: is it the landlord's job?
If your home is damp or full of condensation, you may have been told to buy a dehumidifier, sometimes by the landlord. But is that the right answer, and is
Read · 3 min
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
Read · 4 min
Condensation in a rented home: who is responsible?
It depends on the cause. Landlords often blame condensation on the tenant, but if it is driven by a fault they should fix, such as poor ventilation, no
Read · 4 min
Mould in the bathroom: is your landlord responsible?
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
Read · 3 min
Damp proof course: is your landlord responsible for repairing it?
Yes. A damp proof course is part of the structure of the building, so a failed or missing one that is causing rising damp is your landlord's responsibility
Read · 3 min
Dry rot: is your landlord responsible?
Almost always, yes. Dry rot is structural timber decay caused by moisture getting into the building, so fixing it (and the damp behind it) falls under your
Read · 3 min
Sick building syndrome and housing disrepair: what tenants need to know
If you regularly feel unwell at home, headaches, fatigue, eye or throat irritation, breathing problems, but your symptoms improve when you leave the
Read · 3 min
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