Damp and Mould
Managing damp and condensation in homes
With recent national coverage of damp and mould in homes across the country, we want to reassure you of the steps we take to help prevent extreme cases of mould in the Council’s homes.
When we receive contact about damp and mould we use a specialist surveying company, who will visit the property and assess the problem that the customer is experiencing. They will look around the home to see if there is a cause of the problem which needs repairing. These can include:
- Leaking roof
- Defective damp proof course or damp-proof membrane
- Defective lead flashing
- Porous brickworks and mortar
- Blocked gutters or drains
- Leaking internal pipe internal.
Your responsibilities
You are expected to ventilate and heat your home properly so that damp doesn’t build up.
Ventilation and controlling moisture
Everyday activities like cooking, showering and drying clothes create moisture in your home which can lead to condensation. This can be worse if your home is overcrowded.
It can help if you:
- cover pans when cooking
- use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms if you have them
- keep internal doors closed when you cook or shower
- leave a gap between furniture and external walls
- dry clothes outdoors or use a vented tumble dryer if you can
- open bedroom windows for 5-10 minutes when you get up.
We work hard to prevent extreme cases of mould. By making adaptions and supporting tenants, most homes will be well maintained and do not experience severe cases of mould.
The work we do to help prevent serious mould and damp problems includes:
- Carrying out a stock condition survey every five years
- Installing extractor fans on all kitchen and bathroom refurbishments
- Improving insulation of homes, lofts and walls
- Supporting tenants with advice on condensation
- Supporting tenants with fuel poverty advice
- Prioritising repairs which cause damp problems.
If you have any questions or concerns about mould and dampness in your home and would like further advice, please contact us on 01206 282514 or email info@cbhomes.org.uk
Condensation and how to reduce it
This guide will help you to understand the causes of condensation and how you can prevent it becoming a problem in your home. It also includes some useful tips on reducing the amount of moisture you produce and advice on getting rid of mould.
The Government has published a short guide to tenants’ rights when living in damp and mouldy homes and Government action to address this issue: Helping tenants with damp and mouldy housing.
You can also view this short video to help prevent damp and mould:
