Damp is caused by excess moisture in your home. The most common types of damp are rising damp, penetrating damp, damp caused by a leak and damp caused by condensation. It can make your home feel cold and uncomfortable - and it can cause structural damage if it’s not dealt with.
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In England, almost 1 in 3 homes have damp and mould. It’s more common in rented homes. Damp and mould cause thousands of cases of asthma and chest infections every year. It can also cause sore eyes, eczema and fungal skin infections. It can affect your mental health too. Babies, children and pregnant women are most at risk.
If you have damp and mould in your home, you’re more likely to have respiratory problems, allergies or asthma. You can prevent more serious health conditions developing by resolving damp and mould issues in your home.
Mould is a type of fungi caused by excess moisture in your home. It looks like a collection of little black spots and can often be found on windows or in the corners and edges of rooms. Mould can grow in any home and is usually caused by damp conditions like condensation that has been left on a surface for too long.
There are three things that together can help prevent mould from occurring:
- Reducing the moisture in the air
- Improving the airflow
- Keeping the room warm
Here's how you can help reduce the amount of condensation in your home:
- Keep a window ajar when possible or keep window vents open
- Use extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom if you have them
- Don’t cover radiators as this stops them from radiating heat into your home
No matter if you own or rent your home you should still look to get any issues resolved if they do occur to prevent illness.
If you are renting privately, speak with your landlord immediately and review the information provided by Shelter UK by clicking the button below.
Tenants should seek support from their landlords or if having issues seek help from their local council or your local citizens advice service.