Housing in Herefordshire

Types of damp and what causes it

Too much moisture causes damp and mould. There are three types of damp:

• Penetrating damp
• Rising damp
• Condensation

Penetrating damp

Penetrating damp happens when water seeps into a building.

This can happen when:

• The roof or rendering is damaged
• The gutters are blocked
• Pipes are leaking or plumbing is damaged
• Areas around sinks, showers or baths are damaged

Rising damp 

Rising damp happens when water rises from the ground through the floor and into the walls of the building. You can often see rising damp because it leaves a tide mark low down on affected walls. 

If you think your home has penetrating or rising damp, tell your landlord as soon as possible. Damp can cause a lot of damage if you ignore it. 

Condensation and mould

Condensation happens when warm humid air hits a cold surface, such as windows and external walls. These useful resources, kindly shared with us by Community Housing, give help and advice about how to prevent condensation and mould.

Read Community Housing's simple guide to controlling damp, condensation and mould.

Condensation is common in areas where there is little air movement, such as:

• Behind furniture
• In cupboards
• Under work surfaces
• On north facing walls
• In corners

If a property doesn't have good ventilation and heating, condensation can cause mould and other fungi, certain species of house dust mites, bacteria or viruses. Mould is a type of fungus which grows in damp conditions. Its spores can cause or make some medical conditions worse, such as:

• Respiratory infections, such as bronchitis
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Eczema

For more information about asthma this please see these useful links: Home - Beat Asthma and Asthma + Lung UK

See help to heat your home if you cannot afford to heat your home.

If you still have damp or mould in your home

Please contact your housing provider of your home if you still have damp or mould and you:

• Have followed the advice on this page
• Cannot follow the advice on this page because of an issue with your home (for example, the heating doesn't work or the extractor fans are broken)

Your landlord must investigate and fix the damp or mould if it's caused by disrepair, such as:

• No working heating
• Broken extractor fan

If you're a social housing tenant please contact your housing provider directly:

• Platform Damp and Condensation Mould | Platform Housing 
• Connexus Condensation, damp and mould | Connexus
• Citizen Citizen | Your guide for condensation, damp and mould 
• Bromford Help with condensation, damp and mould
• Sanctuary Condensation, damp and mould | Sanctuary 
• Guiness Partnership Damp, Mould and Condensation - The Guinness Partnership 
• Stonewater Prevent and Get Rid of Mould and Damp | How to Stop Condensation | Stonewater
• Two Rivers Housing Reporting damp and mould - Two Rivers Housing - page 1
• Wyedean Housing Association Wyedean Housing Association Damp and Mould - Wyedean Housing Association

Do not stop paying your rent because there's damp or mould in your home. This could put you at risk of being served an eviction notice.

If you are not happy with the service you receive please follow your landlord's formal complaints process.

If you're a tenant of a private landlord

You must contact your landlord or lettings agent to report the issue.

• Clearly describe the problem and ask your landlord or agent to investigate and do the necessary repairs or improvements.
• Do this in writing in case you need to prove that they knew about the problem at a later date.

Do not stop paying your rent because there's damp or mould in your home. This could put you at risk of being served an eviction notice.

When we can get involved

If a landlord ignores a tenant's request or refuses to carry out necessary repairs, we may be able to offer help and advice. An officer will discuss the details or arrange to visit. Where unacceptable hazards exist in the premises, we will contact the landlord to discuss the condition and the options available. Enforcement procedures are available where informal action is unsuccessful or inappropriate.

Contact us using the details below. We aim to respond to your enquiry within five working days.