Damp, condensation, and mould

If you have damp and mould in your home

If you notice damp and mould in your home, early treatment is very important. If left untreated, the problem can worsen very quickly.

Severe damp and mould can give your home a musty odour, make it unpleasant to look at, and make it harder to get rid of.

The best solution is prevention. Mould can be prevented and reduced by following some simple tips in your home.

Ventilating your home

  • Close doors when you are cooking, having a bath, or sleeping to prevent moisture from spreading throughout your home
  • Use extractor fans and open windows slightly to reduce condensation
  • Move furniture slightly away from walls to make sure air can circulate behind it

Reducing the amount of moist air

  • Dry clothes on a drying rack next to an open window rather than on a radiator
  • Put lids on pans when cooking
  • Fill your bath with 1 to 2 inches of cold water before adding hot water to reduce condensation by around 80%

Wiping away any condensation daily

  • Wiping condensation away with a dry cloth will help prevent mould from growing
  • This can be on windows and sills, and surfaces in your kitchen and your bathroom

Heating

  • In cold months, the best way to keep rooms warm and avoid condensation, is to keep the background heat on low all day rather than short bursts of high heat
  • Set your thermostat between 18 to 22ºC

Keeping a home warm and at a level temperature during colder months is advised. However, turning up the heating alone will not sort out the problem.

We know energy costs are high right now. If you need help with your energy bills and extra support, you can visit our cost of living pages.

Treating mould yourself

If you have small amounts of mould in your home, for example, on your windowsills or around the sealants of your bath or shower, it is quick and easy to treat.

However, it must be done properly to keep your home safe and stop it from returning. Good quality mould remover kits are available online and from most do it yourself (DIY) shops.

If the mould and damp in your home gets worse

If you have tried to remove the mould and it comes back or gets worse, it is important that you get in touch.

Once mould and damp spread, it can become a much bigger problem. It is important that we make sure that there are no repairs that need to be fixed that might be contributing to the issue.

If you are a council tenant, you can read about how we can help you and how you can report a damp or mould problem.

Page last updated: 16 February 2023

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