Condensation, damp and mould

What causes damp?

Penetrating damp

Damp caused by water getting into the building from outside due to defects in the walls, roofs, windows and floors.

Condensation damp

Condensation is the process where water vapour held in the air as a gas appears as water droplets on a cold surface. The most common place for this water to form is on windows, especially single glazed ones, but the water can form on any cold surface.
When the air in your home holds too much water vapour, it will condense as moisture causing the air to feel damp.

Leaks

Leaking water from waste and heating pipes, burst pipes and water storage units.

Rising damp

Rising damp is moisture from the ground that rises up through parts of the buildings in contact with the ground. Often it is due to defective damp proof courses and membranes.

What is mould?

Mould is a type of fungus which grows in moist environments. Mould can cause adverse health effects as well as damage to buildings. Mould will often present as small black spots covering an area. If left untreated, mould can quickly spread.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

In your kitchen

Use lids on saucepans and cooking pots, and do not leave items boiling for longer than needed.
If there is an electric extractor fan, please use this when cooking or drying clothes and particularly whenever the windows show any sign of misting. Leave the extractor fan on until the misting has cleared.
If you don't have an electrical extractor fan, please open kitchen windows, but keep doors closed as much as possible.
If you use a tumble dryer which is not already a condensing type, please ensure the exhaust pipe is placed so that any steam is outside your home.

In your bathroom

Run cold water into the bath until the bottom is covered before adding the hot water.
Keep the bathroom door closed during and after bathing.
Open the window straight after bathing in order to get rid of moisture.
If there is an electrical extractor fan, please use this when bathing or showering.
Wipe excess moisture off walls and windows.
Ventilate to remove moisture

General tips and advice

Please dry clothes in ventilated area, not for example, in an unventilated airing cupboard.
Keep airbricks or window vents clear and unblocked, especially in any room with gas appliances.
Heating your home will reduce moisture in the air. It can take a building a long time to warm up, so it is better to have a small amount of heat for a long period of time rather than a lot of heat for a short period.
Wardrobes and other large items of furniture should not be placed directly against external walls as pockets of trapped air can lead to surface condensation and mould growth on the walls and furniture.

Insulate, draught proof and heat your home

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

See Help with gas, electricity and water bills to find out what support is available to help you pay for or reduce your energy bills.

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

Council tenants

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

What will happen when you contact us about damp and mould?

We will arrange for a surveyor to attend your home. The surveyor will assess the current situation and look at what is needed to resolve any current
mould and what can be done to reduce the possibility of it happening again.

Depending on your personal circumstances, the surveyor may discuss with you that it would be better for you to temporarily move from your home to protect your health while works are carried out.

The surveyor will raise any repairs orders 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 repairs 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 repairs took place to carry out another inspection to see if the actions carried out have been successful.

The surveyor will give you advice while at your home and may also provide you with information and/or equipment to help you manage condensation in your home.

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

Further resources for tenants

Damp and mould leaflet (to come)

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

How to rent: guide for tenants in the private rented sector to help them understand their rights and the process of renting.
Guide for tenants: Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018: guide for tenants in the social and private rented sectors on their rights under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act.
Damp and mould: advice from Shelter
Shelter provides housing advice for tenants on housing issues and legal aid and free legal advice for tenants who qualify for advice and representation to address serious housing problems.
Damp repairs in rented housing: advice for tenants on different types of damp, who's responsible for addressing them and how, as well as routes to escalate concerns if the landlord doesn't take action.
Dealing with damp and condensation, NEA leaflet
Indoor air pollution (Asthma+Lung UK): resources for people living with a lung condition, including information on the types of air pollution they might have in their home and how to manage allergies caused by indoor pollution at home.
Moisture in homes (UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB)): resource outlining causes of moisture build up in homes and how to manage this. This resource has been developed for homeowners. However, information on how moisture builds up and day-to-day methods for managing this may still be valuable to tenants.