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
Condensation forms when the air in a room becomes saturated with water vapour, and a wall surface is cold enough for the vapour to turn back to a liquid. The mould spores present in the air then form on the water vapor. To stop condensation and mould forming, a property needs to be both adequately ventilated and heated, and any condensation wiped off the surface.
Condensation 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 mould is forming, it should be treated immediately using a proprietary mould spray, and the affected room should be adequately heated and well ventilated. If you have extractor fans, use these to help ventilate your home. If you think your fan isn’t working properly, please contact our customer services.
You can help prevent the build-up of condensation by:
- Always drying your washing outside if possible. Drying clothes on radiators inside causes condensation to form.
- Putting lids on saucepans.
- Opening the windows for 15 minutes each morning.
- 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.
Where mould keeps re-appearing in a specific area despite adequately heating and ventilating your property, there may be an underlying issue with the area in question. Please contact our customer services so an operative can visit to determine if any work may be required.
Rising damp
Rising damp is more common in older properties. It is generally caused by the damp proof course being breached or failing. Rising damp generally affects the lower part of the ground floor of a property up to the height of about one metre. It is identified by this area looking damp or salts forming on the surface. This is also generally a tide mark on the wall. Black mould will generally not form on a surface that has either rising or penetrating damp. If you live above the ground floor in a block of flats and have damp, it won't be rising damp.
Penetrating damp
Penetrating damp can be caused by several problems, for example:
- a leaking roof
- a cracked wall
- leaking guttering
- a leaking drainage pipe
- faulty window and door frames.
- decking touching the external walls
If a repair has recently been completed for any of these, you’ll need to wait for the area to dry out before redecorating the area.
If you suspect a repair is needed to prevent penetrating damp, please contact our customers services to arrange an inspection and any necessary works will be organised.
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.
