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Damp and mould in UK social housing

If you’re in social accommodation, then your landlord must address the mould and damp problem in your home. If they do not take action when you flag such issues, then you should seek tailored advice from a housing disrepair solicitor.

Housing disrepair solicitors will help you assess your situation and ensure that any damp and mould problems in your rented home are properly addressed by your social landlord.

Your solicitor will also be able to establish if you are entitled to compensation for any damage and health problems caused by the damp and mould issues you have been living with. For example, asthma is a common disease caused by living with damp and mould. Furniture and other items of personal property can also be damaged as a result of damp and mould in the house.

You, like everyone else, have a right to live in a safe home, so if you’re being denied that right a solicitor can help you make a  claim to have your landlord ensure all disrepair, mould and damp issues are resolved as soon as possible. Action should be taken, as problems do not go away by themselves. Mould and damp issues will worsen, not improve.

The law on damp and mould in social housing

There are two main laws which protect tenants and landlords in social housing and rented property: The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985 and The Housing Act of 2004.

UK legislation outlines that maintenance and repair of structural and exterior damage are the landlord’s responsibility and should be taken care of once issues have been highlighted. Where damp or mould are caused by structural defects, your landlord must carry out repairs. If the issues have occurred as a result of the behaviour of the tenant, then the tenant is responsible. This could be the case for example where the tenants do not open windows when drying clothes in closed rooms causing mould to appear.

If your landlord is responsible, yet fails to repair any damage to your home, your housing disrepair solicitor can help.

So, what exactly are landlords responsible for?

Some issues should in almost all cases be fixed by the landlord. These include:

  • Water pipes, gas pipes and electrics
  • Basins, sinks, baths, toilets
  • Repairs to the structure and exterior of the property
  • Fixed heaters and water heaters

Mould and damp in homes is often a result of disrepair and can be made worse by the landlord’s failure to make repairs in a timely manner.

What tenants are responsible for

Tenants, like landlords, have responsibilities too.

You should always ensure that the property remains well-ventilated at all times, because good ventilation helps to avoid mould from growing and spreading. Black mould especially can be a big risk to your health, so you should consider your own behaviour as well as your landlord’s. If you don’t keep your home aired out and mould or damp develops, you can’t expect your landlord to fix your issues.

However, if you have been unable to keep your home ventilated as a result of other disrepair issues which aren’t your fault, then you may have an opportunity to claim for compensation.

In order to combat mould and damp from developing you should always:

  • Keep your house adequately heated to avoid your walls getting too cold
  • Dry washing and towels outside where this is an option
  • Open your bathroom window after showering or taking a bath
  • Keep your kitchen fan on when you are cooking
  • Keep large appliances and furniture an inch away from the walls to avoid tight spots
  • Use mould cleaner to remove any mould immediately where some spots do occur

Even where your landlord is at fault by failing to maintain the property properly, you should try to carry out the above steps to avoid problems from worsening quickly. It is your own health and safety that is at risk, so it’s a good idea to do what you can.