I Have Damp and Mould in My Rented Home, What Can I Do?

Finding mould in a rented home can leave you wondering whether you are expected to wipe it away, ventilate more and simply live with it.

You are paying for somewhere to live. It is reasonable to expect that home to be safe, healthy and capable of being used normally.

Damp and mould can have several causes, including leaks, penetrating damp, defective roofs or gutters, inadequate heating or ventilation, condensation and problems with the building itself. The important first step is not to argue about blame before the cause has been properly considered.

Report it clearly and create a record

Tell your landlord or housing provider as soon as possible.

Describe where the damp or mould is, how extensive it is, when you first noticed it and whether it is getting worse. Put the report in writing where possible and keep a copy.

Photographs are useful, but context matters too. A photograph of a black wall shows the condition; a short note explaining that the room is your child’s bedroom, that bedding feels damp or that the family has stopped using the room explains its effect.

Do not accept ‘just open the windows’ as the whole investigation

Every home produces moisture through cooking, bathing, drying clothes and breathing.

That does not mean significant mould should automatically be blamed on the tenant.

Current government guidance for rented housing says landlords should respond sensitively, identify the severity and underlying causes, and act urgently where health concerns have been raised. It specifically says landlords should not delay action while waiting for medical evidence.

Ventilation and sensible heating may form part of the solution, but they do not repair a leaking roof, failed extractor, defective window or penetrating damp.

Think about how the home is actually being affected

Housing problems are not measured only in square metres of mould.

Can you use the bedroom normally?

Are clothes, furniture or children’s belongings being damaged?

Are you spending more on heating, dehumidifiers, laundry or replacing possessions?

Are you sleeping elsewhere in the property?

Has somebody’s asthma, breathing, skin condition or wellbeing changed?

These details help explain why the problem matters and may become important if the condition remains unresolved.

Your landlord has legal responsibilities

In England, landlords have statutory responsibilities for important repairs including the structure and exterior, heating and hot water, plumbing and electrical installations.

Rented homes must also meet legal standards around fitness for human habitation. Damp and mould can be relevant where conditions are serious enough to make a home unsafe or unhealthy.

The precise legal position depends on the cause, the tenancy and what the landlord knew about the problem.

If nothing happens

Keep reporting deterioration and retain the history.

For private rented housing in England, the local council can inspect housing conditions using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and has enforcement powers where serious hazards are identified.

Social housing tenants also have complaint and regulatory routes, and Awaab’s Law currently imposes specific timescales for emergency hazards and significant damp and mould hazards in English social housing.

Could poor housing conditions lead to compensation?

Potentially.

A housing-conditions claim can involve more than asking for a repair. Depending on the facts, legal remedies can potentially include works being carried out and compensation for the effect of poor conditions. A related personal-injury element can sometimes arise where health has been affected.

That does not mean every patch of mould creates a compensation claim. Liability, notice, severity, evidence and loss all matter.

If serious problems continue after being reported, independent housing-law advice can explain whether legal remedies may apply to your circumstances.

Last reviewed

6 September 2026

Important informationThis guide provides general information only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Housing rights and legal remedies depend on the type of tenancy, landlord, location, the condition of the property and individual circumstances. Where housing conditions are affecting health, safety or legal rights, check current official information and consider advice from an appropriately qualified housing adviser, healthcare professional or legal professional.