I've got mould or I'm having problems with damp or condensation

There are three main types of damp which can cause problems in your home.

Condensation damp

This generally happens when a property can't deal with normal levels of water vapour because of a lack of insulation, ventilation or heating, or a combination of all these things and the excess moisture settles on cold surfaces.

Condensation dampness can occur anywhere on a wall. It may form at the base of the wall, or from top to bottom, and it can result in mould growth.

If this type of mould is forming, make sure the affected room is well ventilated. If there is an extractor fan already fitted, use this to try to ventilate your home.

You can help prevent the build-up of condensation by:

• Always dry your washing outside if possible. Drying clothes on radiators inside causes condensation to form.
• Putting lids on saucepans
• Opening the bedroom window for 15 minutes each morning
• Making sure your home is well insulated
• Heating your home a little more

If you're cooking, showering, or bathing, opening the window or putting the fan on and closing the door of the room you're in can help to get the air flowing through the room and let the steam escape so it doesn’t settle on your walls.

You could try using mould and mildew treatment, which can be picked up from any hardware store or supermarket. You should wear protective gloves and throw away any cloths used to clean the surfaces. 

Rising damp

Rising damp is more common in older properties. It generally affects the lower part of the ground floor of a property up to the height of about one metre. If you live above the ground floor in a block of flats and have damp, it won't be rising damp.

Penetration damp

Penetration damp can be caused by several repair problems, for example:

• a leaking roof
• a cracked wall
• leaking guttering
• a leaking drainage pipe
• rotten windows or doors

If a repair has recently been completed for this, you’ll need to wait for the area to dry out.

Need more information on damp and mould?

Click here to find out how we deal with damp and mould risks.

You can also download our helpful information leaflet here.

How do I report a repair?

You can report a repair to us at anytime, anywhere using My Account or contact us via Live Chat. Let us know when reporting that you’ve followed the advice and what you’ve tried to resolve the issue, this helps us to assess what to do next to get the right person for the job.