Damp, Mould and Condensation

Spotting signs of damp, mould and condensation in your home can be worrying and can be a sign of other underlying issues with the condition of your property.  However, moisture in the home can appear differently for different reasons.

The most common moisture found in the home isn’t damp, it’s condensation. This is when water in the air settles on colder surfaces and forms water droplets. You will usually find it on windows and walls. You may notice condensation more in wetter and colder months, usually from September to March. Condensation can be caused by everyday living, doing things like cooking and showering – even just breathing.

You can manage condensation yourself by keeping trickle vents on windows open at all times, keeping an even temperature throughout your home, and by wiping water droplets. If left, condensation can make the perfect environment for mould to grow.

Rising damp is moisture found in walls and buildings that is rising up from the ground. If you have rising damp you will be able to see blistering, staining and peeling on your paintwork. Salt will also build up on the surface of your wall leaving a tide mark up to a metre high. Rising damp can be caused by a number of things, including missing damp proof course or changes to ground conditions.

Water penetration can look like condensation or rising damp. This can be caused by repair issues such as a leaking roof, wall or pipe. 

Untreated mould or damp that is left for a long period can cause health issues as well as being difficult to live with, whilst water penetration can cause more damage the longer the cause is left unaddressed. As such, it is important that you report any issues to your landlord as soon as possible if you rent your property, or seek professional advice if you are a homeowner.

Issues with what appear to be damp, mould or condensation in the home may be a sign that there are issues with the structure of the property that need addressing. As such it is important that you report any issues to your landlord or seek professional advice if you are a homeowner.

• If you are a WDH tenant you can report any issues through OneCALL. Contact OneCALL on 0345 8 507 507 to complete a questionnaire and report your issue for further advice and investigation.
• If you are renting from another housing association, you can contact them directly to report any issues and find out how to proceed.
• If you are privately renting, contact your landlord to report the issue. They have a legal obligation to keep the property safe. If you do not feel like the issue is being addressed appropriately you can seek further advice from Citizens Advice or your Local Authority. Wakefield Council may be able to provide support through the Healthy Housing Pathway.

Damp, mould an condensation issues in the home can be overwhelming, but there are practical steps you can take to help prevent issues arising.

It is important not to let condensation settle: wipe it, open it, move it.

• Wipe it: wipe away any water or moisture you see on surfaces such as windows, walls or furniture.
• Open it: open a window when cooking or when taking a hot bath or shower to let the warm, moist air out. Keep air vents open on your windows and always use an extractor fan.
• Move it: move furniture and curtains away from walls and make sure air can circulate in your home so the moist air can escape.

More generally, you can.

• Try to keep a constant low heat in your home, to avoid rapid temperature changes, especially in winter. Along with ventilation, this will help avoid moist air evaporating and turning into condensation.
• When cooking, use pan lids. Turn on an extractor fan if you have one and open a window to let the moisture out.
• When taking a bath or shower, leave an extractor fan on if you have one and leave the vents open on your windows.
• After taking a hot bath or shower, open a window to let all the moist warm air out for at least half an hour, and close the bathroom door behind you.
• Keeping internal doors closed when cooking or taking a bath or shower will stop moisture settling elsewhere in your home.
• Move furniture and curtains away from walls and make sure that air vents are open to allow air to circulate.
• Try to dry clothes outside if you can. If not, use clothes airers indoors and dry clothes in the bathroom with the window open and the bathroom door closed.
• Avoid drying clothes on radiators. The moisture from your clothes will evaporate, creating more moist, warm air leading to condensation.
• Wipe down any surfaces whenever you see moisture to avoid mould growth.
• Open windows daily for a few minutes to give the moist, warm air a chance to escape. If you can’t open windows, you can use your window vents.

If you think you have rising or penetrating damp in your property, you should report this to your landlord as soon as you can, providing as much information as possible, or seek professional advice if you are a homeowner.

If you already have a small amount of mould on your windowsill or bathroom, you can wipe it away and clean the area with a mould and mildew remover found at most high street shops.

This will ensure the area is fully disinfected, stopping the mould returning straight away.

However, if the mould is repeatedly appearing in large areas you should contact your landlord for advice and for further investigation.