Damp and mould your landlord must fix
Your council or housing association must fix damp and mould if it is either:
serious and could make you ill
making your home unfit to live in
caused by a repair problem in your home
Your landlord should always investigate properly to understand what's causing damp and mould in your home.
They should not say it's your responsibility without investigating.
Serious damp and mould that makes you ill
Damp and mould can be a health risk to anyone but some people are at higher risk.
For example, babies, young children, pregnant people and older people.
Some people with health conditions are also at higher risk. For example, because of:
allergies
asthma or other lung diseases
cardiovascular diseases
a weakened immune system
More on the health risks of damp and mould.
Serious damp and mould that is a hazard
Serious damp and mould is a risk to your health. It must be fixed quickly if it is:
a significant hazard
an emergency hazard
Significant hazards
A significant hazard means that damp and mould could cause serious harm to the health of someone who lives in your home.
Your council or housing association must fix the problem quickly.
From 27 October 2025, they have:
5 working days to make your home safe after they investigate
Emergency hazards
An emergency hazard is a problem that could cause immediate and serious harm to the health of someone who lives in your home.
Your council or housing association must make your home safe in 24 hours.
How your landlord decides if damp and mould is a hazard
Your council or housing association must:
find out how damp and mould affects you and anyone who lives with you
take into account if anyone is at higher risk of damp and mould
check if damp and mould is caused by a problem in your home
A problem in your home can be something that needs fixing, like a roof leak.
But it can be problems like bad design or not enough ventilation. For example, windows that do not open and no air vents.
Tell your landlord if you think it is an emergency.
For example, if you have breathing difficulties caused by mould spores.
If a damp and mould problem gets worse
Always tell your council or housing association if:
damp and mould in your home gets worse
there's a new baby or someone is pregnant
someone who is at higher risk of damp and mould moves in
Example: When existing damp and mould must be fixed quickly
Ben and Darren rent a flat from a housing association.
They have had problems with damp and mould for a few years. Their landlord knows about this.
The problem is now a lot worse. There is black mould on the ceiling, their clothes have been damaged and Ben has started coughing at night.
Ben and Darren tell their landlord that the problem is worse.
Their landlord must now investigate damp and mould quickly, even though it's not a new problem.
Damp and mould caused by a repair problem
Your council or housing association should fix damp and mould even if it's not a hazard.
They must fix damp and mould caused by a repair problem in your home. For example:
faulty pipes
leaking roofs
broken gutters
damaged brickwork
broken extractor fans
Your council or housing association must fix the problem as soon as they can. There is no legal timescale unless it is a hazard.
Damp and mould could become a hazard if your social landlord takes too long to fix things. Check their damp policy or repairs policy for timescales.
More about repairs in council and housing association homes.
Example: Less serious damp and mould your landlord must fix
Hana lives in a council house.
There are mould patches on the ceiling in Hana's spare bedroom. They're small but Hana notices they get worse every time it rains. She notices some of the roof tiles are broken.
Hana tells the landlord about the mould and the roof tiles.
The landlord has to fix it, because it's caused by a repair problem with the roof.
If the landlord does not fix the problem, it will get worse and become a hazard.
What about condensation?
Your landlord should not blame you for condensation without investigating.
They should make sure there are no other problems in your home.
Your landlord might have to fix things that make condensation worse, for example:
fit air vents and extractor fans
fix leaking pipes and roofs
install new windows
add insulation
Example: When your landlord must fix condensation
Barbara lives in a council flat.
Barbara's flat has condensation and mould. Barbara opens windows often and uses extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom but nothing seems to work.
The landlord must investigate what causes condensation and mould in Barbara's flat.
The landlord must investigate quickly if mould in Barbara's flat becomes a hazard.
Need more advice?
Last updated: 27 October 2025
