Help with damp, mould and condensation

What is condensation?

Moisture is produced in all homes by breathing, cooking and washing. In fact, the average home produces 21 pints of water vapour a day. However, there is a limit to the amount of water vapour that air can contain. If there is too much moisture, it collects on cold surfaces, causing condensation.

Where will you find condensation?

Condensation is most present in rooms with high moisture levels, such as the kitchen and bathrooms. It’s typically seen as steam on windows and damp patches on walls and ceilings. 

Why is it a problem? 

Small amounts of condensation can be found in most homes, and for the most part, is controllable. However, if the condensation isn’t dealt with, it can cause damp conditions and mould to grow. The development of mould can damage furniture, clothing and decorations while worsening health conditions that affect your breathing, immune system, and allergies.

Practical ways to reduce condensation in your home

If you think you have condensation in your home, here are some practical tips and guidance to help.

The key to achieving a condensation free home is to ensure there is a balance between three elements — heat, moisture, and ventilation.

Reducing condensation in the bathroom 

• Heat the room before taking a bath or shower
• Close the door while showering
• Open the window after showering
•  Pour an inch of cold water in the bath before adding the hot water
• Use an extractor fan to clear steam during and after bathing or showering

What’s the difference between damp and mould?

Not striking the right balance between ventilation, heat, and moisture can lead to several possibilities in your home, including dampness and mould. It’s essential to understand what these factors are and how they can affect your health.

To identify and report damp and mould, we’d like to help you understand the difference between the two. 

How to clean mould

The government advice now suggests that regular cleaning away of the mould is vital for your health. Cleaning out mould is one of the first things we will arrange to do if you report mould in your home.

You can also safely remove small amounts of mould caused by condensation regularly. To do so wipe down the affected walls and window frames with a preparatory mouldcide or fungicidal spray. These products can be found at your chemist and some retailers. You can also purchase mould kits from specialist suppliers. Remember to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure the product is suitable and to wear the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid personal injury or damage to possessions. If you don’t think you can clean away small amounts of mould regularly, please let us know.

Handy tips

Once the mould has been safely cleaned up, here’s some tips to follow to ensure it doesn’t return.

• Clean any clothes affected by the damp
• Shampoo and dry your carpets
• Avoid disturbing and spreading the mould spores by brushing or vacuum cleaning
• Following treatment, redecorate using a good quality fungicidal paint to prevent mould
• Don’t over-coat with ordinary paint, emulsion, or wallpaper. Use a mouldicide solution additive to mix with the paint, or wallpaper paste containing a fungicide
• Using a dehumidifier will help control the airborne moisture and help reduce the problem, however, dehumidifiers will not solve the cause of the condensation problem.

What can you expect when reporting damp and mould?

It’s important to understand the process when reporting a case of damp and mould within your home. To help, we’ve outlined the steps you can expect below. 

Book an appointment 
If you spot damp or mould in your home, the first step is to report the issue and book an appointment to resolve the problem. You can do this by reporting a repair on your online account or by calling our friendly Customer Contact Centre on 01772 667 002. 

When will my appointment be? 
We take cases of damp and mould very seriously, as it can affect the quality of our homes and your health, so we will provide an appointment as soon as we can. Rest assured that we’ll do what we can to resolve your issue as quickly as possible.  

What to expect during your appointment 
During your appointment, our friendly experts will inspect the site where the damp and mould is present, clean the area with the appropriate products and remove any residue that might have been affected. We will also paint any walls affected by the problem with specially formulated paint to prevent dampness from reappearing. Please keep in mind that the painting stage of the process may require a follow up visit to complete.

How can you help?

Heating and ventilating your home is really important so that damp and mould doesn’t build up. 

If you are struggling to heat and ventilate your home, please get in touch. We offer a wide range of support including helping with queries about your energy bills, tips to reduce your energy use and support with energy debt. 

We also understand that some things are out of your control. For example, if you live in a flat with no outside space, it’s unreasonable for us to expect you to dry clothes outside. So, have a look at the protective measures in the how to reduce condensation in your home section and see how you can reduce your risk of mould. Let us know if you need our help.     

How can Places for People help you with increasing costs of heating your home?

If you are struggling with the impact of increasing costs, please get in touch. We are here to help. For more information on the support available, please visit our Cost of Living support page.  

If you can’t find an answer to your problem or if you have an emergency, or just need to speak to someone in our team, then please give our friendly Customer Contact Centre a call on 01772 667 002.

When you call, please have your house number and postcode ready.

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Help with damp, mould and condensation leaflet

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