Managing damp and mould
If you notice damp and mould in your home, please report this to us so we can do an inspection to confirm the cause of the issue. We can then work with you to resolve the problem. For example, there may be a leak from above, or a concealed leak.
The issues you are experiencing may be related to condensation. Too much condensation can make your home damp, with a risk of mould and can even cause breathing problems. It can help to use a fan, making sure the vent isn’t blocked and is dust free. If you don’t have a fan, please contact us so we can arrange a survey to install one.
Three months after your initial inspection we follow up to make sure that any work we have done in your home or advice we have given has made a difference.
Your household might also meet the criteria for a referral from our Tenancy Intervention and Enforcement team. If you do, the team may be able to apply for funding grants to help you – for example, in the Buckinghamshire area there is a new fund which can support households with additional costs for heating and utilities.
If you are experiencing issues with condensation the hints and tips below may help to keep your home warm and well ventilated. Please click on the boxes below to get some useful information.
Tel: 0300 303 1010
Furnishings
Put up thick curtains at doors and windows. Laying a carpet with a good underlay can also help. Use draught excluders – making sure that there’s good ventilation elsewhere. Try not to put furniture against external colder walls.
Heating
If you have your heating on a timer, heat can be off for a long time during the day and night. This means that temperatures drop and condensation forms. To reduce the chance of condensation, leave your heating on at a constant lower temperature setting.
Drying clothes
Where you can, you should try to dry clothes outdoors if the weather is nice. If you have a tumble dryer, make sure you vent to the outside, as self-condensing types produce a lot of condensation.
Do not dry your clothes on a radiator.
If you need to dry clothes in a room, use your bathroom. If there is no window, make sure your extractor fan is on and that it works, is clean of dust and the bathroom door is closed.
Ventilation
Open your windows, when you can, to ventilate rooms. This will let the air flow through your home.
Cooking
If you can, open a window while you’re cooking to let steam escape.
Bathroom
Close the door while you’re in the bath or shower so the steam doesn’t get into other, colder rooms.
If you have a fan fitted, make sure this is on to get rid of any moisture. You could also open a window once you’ve finished using the bathroom.
Wipe away the damp
If you see condensation on any surfaces or windows, wipe them down and wring out the cloth (if you’re using one) rather than drying it on a radiator.
To help control condensation, you could install condensation channels or sponge strips – available to buy at DIY stores.
Steps against mould
Wipe away any spots of mould with a wash that has a Health and Safety Executive approval number, making sure that you follow the instructions.
Dry-clean mildewed clothes and shampoo carpets if required.