Tackling damp and mould in your home

With rain and cold temperatures firmly on the horizon this month, it's important to focus on ventilation and tackling condensation to help keep your home mould and damp free.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how to keep the air in your home fresh and healthy, and what to do if you do encounter mould in your social rented home.

Keeping your air fresh and healthY

Indoor air pollution – like damp and black mould – can harm health, especially for babies, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with lung or heart conditions.
​
Two in 5 Londoners reported living with damp or mould in their home in 2023-24.

What causes damp and mould?

In the UK, condensation is the main cause of mould. This dampness comes from moisture build-up, usually due to condensation and mould thrives in these environments.

Condensation is warm moist air produced by normal household activities like cooking and bathing. When warm moist air hits a cold surface such as a window or a cold wall, it turns to condensation.

There are three main factors that cause condensation:

• Too much moisture being produced in the property
• Insufficient ventilation
• Controlling cool temperatures

Condensation usually occurs during cold weather and can be found in places where there is little air movement. When it happens on a wall, the wall soaks up the moisture and becomes damp. Mould is then able to grow on the damp areas and can be very tricky to get rid of.

Condensation can happen in any room but is most likely to occur in your bedrooms and hallway as they are cooler.

How to prevent damp and mould

• Wipe down moist surfaces: always wipe down any surfaces where moisture settles. Run extractor fans or open windows in kitchens and bathrooms.
  
  
• Open windows if you can: on dry, mild days, opening your windows regularly for short periods is the best way of ventilating your home and will minimise heat loss.
  
  
• Let the air out: run extractor fans or open windows in kitchens and bathrooms.
  
  
• Use a dehumidifier: these devices extract moisture from the air, keeping damp away.
  
  
• Use saucepan lids: this will reduce the amount of steam that escapes when cooking.
  
  
• Drying your clothes: if you have outdoor space, dry clothes outside. If not, dry them in a bathroom with the door closed and window open or fan on. Do not dry clothes directly on radiators.
  ​
  
• Keep your home warm: condensation forms more quickly when your home is cold because cold air can hold less moisture than warm air. The recommended temperature for heating your home is 18 degrees.

New regulations around damp and mould in social rented homes

Officially known as the Hazards in Social Housing Regulations 2025, Awaab’s Law came into effect in October 2025 after the tragic passing of 2-year old Awaab Ishak in 2020, due to a respiratory condition. The condition was caused by prolonged exposure to black mould in his family’s flat.

Awaab’s Law mandates stricter timeframes for responding to hazards. Landlords now must take quick and effective action against confirmed hazards such as damp, mould and other health risks.

Landlord’s responsibilitY

• Investigate hazards within 14-calendar days
• Provide a written report of the investigation
• Begin repair works in 7-calendar days if the hazard could pose a significant risk to health or safety of the tenants
• Complete repair work within a ‘reasonable time period’ – emergency repairs must be completed within 24 hours
• Social housing landlords must offer alternative accommodation if repairs cannot be completed.

Tenant’s responsibility

• Give notice of any defect they are aware of, allowing the landlord reasonable access to investigate and repair
• Make sure the home is well ventilated to help avoid condensation and damp
• Carry out minor maintenance
• Ensure they know how to operate boiler and other appliances 
• Most will be reasonably expected to remove condensation and mould using appropriate cleaners

While the law plugs a huge gap, there are some limitations.

Firstly, the law does not require landlords to carry out works for which the tenant is liable (see section on tenants’ responsibilities above).

For a hazard to be in scope of Awaab’s Law repair requirements, it must meet certain conditions:

• Be part of building/land for which a social landlord is responsibly
• Be in the landlord’s contract to fix
• Not be damage as a result of breach of contract
• Be a result of defect, disrepair or lack of maintenance
• Be a significant or emergency hazard

Secondly, the law currently only covers social rented properties and so still leaves a huge proportion of Londoners vulnerable to these issues. Private renters account for X% of the homes in Wandsworth, which means thousands of residents who still remain unprotected by the changes.

---

Need help mould and damp-proofing your home

Book a home energy visit with us today to discuss your options and other available support.

Book a home energy visit