Managing condensation and mould

How to avoid condensation and mould in your home.

What is condensation?

Air holds moisture, even when you cannot see it. When the air in your home holds too much water vapour, it will condense as moisture causing the air to feel damp.

Condensation mostly occurs where warm moist air hits cold surfaces such as around windows, cold external walls or areas with little to no air movement.

You may see small drops of water on walls or windows.

Image 1

Black mould on the walls in the corner of a room.

What is mould?

Mould is a type of fungus that grows and develops in damp or humid conditions and where condensation is present. Removing mould permanently is difficult and it will routinely recur mainly in Autumn and Winter. Microscopic spores are always present in the air and traditional housing means that cold walls allow them to grow, even if the heating is routinely on and the property is well ventilated throughout the year. 

When the humidity levels get too high, or where moisture is present in the structure of a building, mould and mildew growth becomes likely.

Mould will often present as small black spots covering an area.

Cold air holds less moisture than warm air. This means that there is an increased chance of condensation, mould and mildew growth in the colder months of the year.

What we are doing to resolve cases of damp and mould 

For council tenants

Hammersmith & Fulham Council are making a number of changes to how we manage damp and mould both strategically across the borough and at an individual property level, including:

  • Investing £600 million in buildings as part of our 12 year capital strategy.
  • Delivering a planned preventative maintenance programme to clear drainage stacks.
  • Completing a stock condition survey (including a Housing Health and Safety Rating System Assessment which assesses risks relating to damp and mould) of all our properties over the next two years.

What will happen when you contact us?

  • We will arrange for a surveyor to attend your property.  The surveyor will assess the current situation and look at what is needed to resolve any current mould in your home and what can be done to reduce the possibility of it happening again.
  • Depending on your personal circumstances, the surveyor may make a decision that you would need to temporarily move from your home to protect your health while works are carried out.
  • The surveyor will in the first instance, raise works for mould treatment as it is important for the mould to be treated as soon as possible.
  • Our nominated contractor will attend your property and carry out the mould treatment.
  • Once the treatment has been completed, further works will be raised where appropriate to reduce the possibility of mould occurring again.
  • Once works are completed, we will contact you again about six weeks after the works were done to carry out another inspection to see if the actions carried out have been successful.
  • The surveyor may also provide you with information and/or equipment to help you manage condensation in your home which may be a contributing factor in why mould has appeared.

For private rented property

Read about what the council is doing to deal with damp and mould problems in private rented property.

How can I manage condensation and mould?

There are a few simple steps that can help you reduce condensation and mould in your home.

Produce less moisture

Moisture is released into the air through everyday activities such as cooking, washing, bathing, even breathing.

You can reduce this by:

  • covering pots and pans when cooking
  • Opening windows to allow moisture to escape
  • pouring an inch of cold water in the bath before adding hot water
  • washing or replacing a shower curtain regularly
  • wiping down windows and sills and other surfaces where condensation forms on a regular basis
  • wringing out clothes rather than drying them on the radiator
  • drying laundry outside where possible

If you need to dry laundry indoors, put it in the bathroom with the door closed and the window open or extractor fan on.

If you have a tumble dryer, ventilate it to the outside.

Ventilate to remove moisture

Tips for ventilating your home:

  • keep a small window ajar where safe to do so or putting on the window lock
  • ventilate kitchens and bathrooms when in use by opening the windows or using an extractor fan
  • close kitchen and bathroom doors when they are in use
  • avoid putting too many things in wardrobes and cupboards which will stop air circulating
  • avoid pushing furniture right up against walls so air cannot circulate around it
  • don’t block trickle or ventilation grilles and air bricks.

Insulate, draught proof and heat your home

In cold weather keep a low background heat on all day above 15 degrees.

Image 2

A dehumidifier

Mechanically remove moisture

Electrical dehumidifiers are electrical appliances that reduce and maintain the level of humidity in the air. They are excellent for removing moisture from the air and help with drying washing. The air filter needs to be cleaned weekly and water emptied daily. They cost around 23-30p an hour to run so are not cheap, but they are effective.

Disposable desiccant dehumidifiers such as calcium chloride and silica gel can absorb moisture but cannot be used for large spaces.

Dehumidifiers can be purchased from your local home improvement stores. Follow all instructions carefully.

How can I remove mould?

Vinegar

Vinegar is a mild acid which can kill 82% of mould species - it is natural, non-toxic and doesn’t give off dangerous fumes like bleach does.

Put white vinegar in a sprayer or bowl, wipe or spray on mould leave for an hour and then wipe down. This may need to be repeated regularly to reduce reappearance.

Baking Soda

Unlike other mould killers which contain harsh chemicals, baking soda is mild (pH of 8.1) and harmless to your family and any pets.

Add one quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda to a spray bottle of water. Wipe down the mouldy area with the baking soda and water solution. Scrub away the mould. This may need to be repeated. You can combine the vinegar and baking soda as an alternative. 

Bleach

If the mould is growing on non-porous materials such as tiles, baths, glass and countertops you can, if used safely, wipe them down with bleach and water solution.

Clothes and carpets

Dry-clean any mildewed clothes and shampoo carpets.

Do not brush or vacuum mould. Disturbing mould by brushing or vacuum cleaning can increase the risk of respiratory problems.

How to report damp and mould problems

Private rented property tenants

If you are a tenant of a private landlord, first tell your landlord about it.  If this does not solve the issue, report to phs@lbhf.gov.uk or 0208 753 1081

Housing association tenants

If you are a tenant of a housing association, first tell your landlord about it.  If necessary use their complaints procedure and the Home | Housing Ombudsman. If this does not solve the issue, report to phs@lbhf.gov.uk or 0208 753 1081

Council tenants

If you are a tenant of the council contact 0800 023 4499 or housing.repairs@lbhf.gov.uk or report it online.

Further resources for tenants

The following resources indicate how tenants can approach damp and mould in their rented properties.

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