TPO publishes new guidelines to curb moisture and mould problems in rental properties

“Condensation, damp and mould are closely linked and are caused by a variety of factors: environmental, structural and behavioural. But one thing is clear: we need to work with tenants, landlords and agents to prevent this.”
– Rebecca Marsh – TPO

A survey of 719 rental agencies found:

• Almost all had managed properties with moisture and mold problems

• 42% of rental companies had ongoing problems related to damp and mould in their properties

• 9% of agents surveyed said they do not trust landlords to identify problems and 72% were confident that a quick resolution will occur.

• Most agents considered that condensation due to tenant activities such as drying clothes on radiators, showering/bathing and cooking without an extractor fan was the main cause of damp and mould.

• When moisture and mold occurred due to construction problems, most agents felt that the property should not be rented until the problem was fixed.

The Ombudsman’s casework in 2023 found that the Property Ombudsman’s free consumer service received more than 1,000 enquiries about damp and mould and accepted over 200 damp and mould specific cases for investigation.

Research by the Property Ombudsman has found that estate agents who are unsure whether damp and mould in a property can have serious consequences are less likely to resolve problems with the landlord.

While most respondents believed that landlords are aware of the consequences, 23% did not believe this. This means that problems tend to be resolved more slowly because landlords need to be made aware of the consequences before taking action.

The majority of the 719 agents surveyed by the only private rental sector ombudsman were aware of the effects of damp and mould, but many felt that these were often related to tenant activities such as not using extractor hoods when cooking and bathing or drying clothes, and inadequate ventilation and heating.

The majority of agents also felt that a property should not be rented until structural problems were identified and until those problems were resolved.

A set of new guidelines for tenants, agents and landlords aims to spot the signs of condensation, damp and mould, and provide preventative tips and advice on how to report problems. Heating and ventilating by opening windows and using extractor hoods are key to preventing damp and mould, as is wiping away condensation and using anti-fungal products where mould is present.

If tenants follow this advice and still have problems, they should report it to the landlord and/or agent so that they can investigate the matter. There are also separate policies for landlords and agents that cover building and estate agent issues. If the issues cannot be resolved, tenants and agents can contact their local authority’s private housing team.

In 2023, tenants submitted more than 1,000 enquiries to the Property Ombudsman regarding damp problems, resulting in 200 cases and the award of more than £36,000 in compensation to tenants.

The new Awaab Law, named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old child who died as a result of mold, is intended to provide better protection for tenants of social housing by setting deadlines for landlords to investigate and resolve the problem.

The new government has pledged to extend these provisions to the private sector as part of a series of reforms to clarify the rights of private tenants.

Rebecca Marsh, the property ombudsman (pictured), said: “Our research shows how complex the problem is. Condensation, damp and mould are closely linked and caused by a variety of factors: environmental, structural and behavioural. But one thing is clear: we need to work with tenants, landlords and agents to prevent this.

“We have published some simple guides which we share with businesses, landlords and tenants to raise awareness of the causes and symptoms, how to report them and the risks of living in damp and mouldy conditions.

“We welcome the Government’s plans to further protect private sector tenants as we have seen the devastating impact of inadequately repaired or maintained properties.”