Damp and Mould

Further information around damp and mould 

Clearly, the death of Awaab Ishak in a housing association property in Rochdale has shocked the 
nation. However, the uncomfortable truth is that damp & mould in properties of all tenures has 
been a problem for years. The causes are complex, and individual but some of the issues are: 

• In a small number of cases, persistent leaks that penetrate the fabric of the building, and 
  provide moisture for mould to grow
• In most cases, condensation from normal family living (cooking, bathing, drying clothes, 
  occupancy levels) will result in seeing surface moisture within the home, 
  and enabling mould growth
• Poor ventilation doesn’t allow air movement or moisture to escape, compounding the 
  issues. Also, the addition of thermal improvements within the home such as double 
  glazing, external insulation, uPVC doors, and modern heating systems has seen more homes 
  becoming ‘sealed’ homes creating more condensation problems
• Overcrowding doesn’t help (as more humans produce more moisture) and too many families 
  need to move
• The cost-of-living crisis means homes will be colder, and people will be even more reluctant 
  to use heating systems or open windows and ventilate

If you have a problem with damp and mould in your property, please report to your landlord in the 
first instance. If you require any additional advice and support, see further information below. 

Damp, mould and condensation | Wyre Forest District Council (wyreforestdc.gov.uk)