Damp and Mould in a Rented Home: Who Fixes What, Step by Step

Rung 1: Tell the landlord and keep a record (free)

• Report it now. GOV.UK says to contact your landlord if you think the property needs repairs or has mould, and straight away for faults that could damage health. Medway Council's tenant advice says the same: report the repair to the landlord or letting agent as agreed when you moved in.
• Put it in writing and photograph it. A dated email or text, with a wide photo and a close one, is our practical suggestion rather than a legal requirement, and it makes everything later easier.
• Carry on paying rent. GOV.UK says to carry on paying while you wait for repairs.
• Do not start structural repairs yourself. GOV.UK says to carry out repairs only if the tenancy agreement says you can, and that you cannot be forced to do repairs that are your landlord's responsibility.

Rung 2: Do your part, cheaply (free to cheap)

• Cut the moisture you add. The Property Care Association lists opening windows, using extractor fans when cooking and drying clothes outside as simple changes that can resolve minor condensation. The Centre for Sustainable Energy suggests lids on pans and closing the kitchen and bathroom doors while steam is made.
• Keep a steady, modest heat. The Property Care Association says modest, constant background heat is preferable to intermittent heating. If you cannot afford it, say so to the landlord and see our guide to damp and mould when heating is unaffordable.
• Buy a cheap hygrometer. The Centre for Sustainable Energy recommends keeping humidity between 40 and 60 per cent and says mould is a risk above 60. A week of readings is evidence to show a landlord or a council officer.
• Tell the landlord if a fan, vent or window seal is broken. Ventilation is on GOV.UK's list of things a landlord must repair.

Rung 3: Make the cause the landlord's job (cheap to moderate)

GOV.UK guidance for landlords says the underlying causes of damp and mould, including building deficiencies, inadequate ventilation and condensation, must be tackled, and that simply removing surface mould will not stop it reappearing. It also says landlords should use a qualified professional when appropriate. Ask for the cause to be diagnosed, not just the mould wiped off; GOV.UK suggests inspecting at least six weeks after the work to check it has not come back.

Rung 4: Call the council

GOV.UK says that if repairs are not done you should contact the environmental health department at your local council, which must take action if it thinks the problems could harm you or cause a nuisance. If you think the home is unsafe, the council housing team can carry out a Housing Health and Safety Rating System assessment. In the Medway Towns, Medway Council's private tenant pages say you can report a landlord who is not doing essential repairs, and that the council will then contact the landlord and arrange a visit. If you rent from a housing association or the council itself, the route is different, so check your landlord's complaints process first.

Mistakes that make rented damp worse

• Withholding rent. GOV.UK says to carry on paying.
• Painting over mould or using anti-mould paint as a cure. The Property Care Association says that unless the excess moisture is addressed, the condensation and mould will return.
• Buying a loft-mounted system or changing the fabric of the home without the landlord's written consent.
• Using a portable gas or paraffin heater indoors to save money. The Property Care Association says not to use paraffin or bottle gas heaters for this purpose.

When a dehumidifier is not the answer

A dehumidifier will not stop a leaking roof, a failed gutter or rising damp, and it does not remove mould that is already growing, which must be cleaned off. A Dryzen system is a loft-mounted dehumidifier and fresh air system, so it needs a loft and is not suitable for a rental unless the landlord authorises the changes. For most tenants the answer is the landlord's repair, not a purchase. If you own the home you live in and it has a loft, a Dryzen system helps stop the conditions mould and dust mites need, and a free survey will say honestly whether it suits you.

In Chatham and the Medway Towns

Medway Council publishes advice for private tenants, including how to report a landlord who is not doing essential repairs. We have not found published figures on rented damp in Chatham, so we will not claim any. For the general causes in nearby homes, see our pages for Gillingham, Brompton and Strood.

Questions we are asked

Related guides

• Damp and Mould When You Cannot Afford to Heat the Home
• Getting a Damp Diagnosis Right Before You Pay for Work
• Condensation on Windows: What It Is Telling You
• Hygrometer Guide: Measure Humidity at Home

Local help

• Damp, mould and condensation help in Gillingham
• Damp, mould and condensation help in Brompton
• Damp, mould and condensation help in Strood

Sources: GOV.UK: Private renting, repairs; GOV.UK: Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home; Medway Council: Reporting your landlord; Medway Council: Advice about your landlord; Property Care Association: Condensation solutions; Centre for Sustainable Energy: Condensation, damp and mould.