How A Landlord Should Deal With Damp & Mould

If a rental property is having problems with damp and mould, the landlord has a legal obligation to rectify the issue for their tenant. Nearly 40% of UK households live in private and social rented accommodation but many renters are unaware that they have a legal standing when it comes to ensuring their home is warm, dry, and safe to live in – and if you are a landlord, you have a legal obligation to look after the property you are renting.

According to Gov.uk, people living in social or privately rented properties are more likely to live with damp and mould. Despite numerous laws that meaning landlords should be doing regular maintenance and repair works, many properties unfortunately fall through the cracks.

This means numerous homes do not receive the remedial works they need. Recently in October 2025, Awaab’s Law came into effect after a young child passed due to complications caused by respiratory infection from prolonged exposure to damp and mould.

This means there’s no longer any excuses. If a rental property has problems with rising damp, penetrating damp, excess condensation, the appearance of mould on walls or furniture, or other common signs of excess moisture ingress – the landlord must fix it.

Booking a survey to assess damp and mould issues is simple and is a process that does not need to be completed by the tenant themselves. When an issue is raised, the property landlord must reach out to a certified damp surveyor such as our team at Biocraft South West – we then liaise with the tenant if necessary to ensure our work fits around their schedule.

What The Law Says

There are numerous laws that ensure your property must be maintained and repaired. Awaab’s law is the most recent introduced, but there are other laws such as the Housing Act 2004, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, and the Decent Homes Standard (specific for social housing).

All of these laws culminate in the instruction that homes must be safe, ‘statutory nuisances’ must be addressed (of which damp & mould can be considered), and if a home becomes hazardous, the local council must take action. What this means is that there is a process for ensuring a property is safe, and if adequate action is not taken then tenants have the right to take their landlord or the council to court.

Any costs incurred by the required works – be it the survey or any remedial damp proofing or water proofing services should not be passed onto tenants. However, be aware that if there is reasonable evidence that damp, mould, or condensation issues have been caused by the tenants and not by a landlords’ neglect, then it’s possible the cost may be passed on.

Tenants can also be held liable if they do not allow the landlord or a hired qualified surveyor access the property to perform assessments or carry out remedial waterproofing or damp proofing work. However, a landlord must be reasonable about their requests, and ensure they give adequate warning prior to any inspections or work.

Be sure to check how the law applies to your situation before you act.

How Damp and Mould Can Affect You

On the surface, issues with damp and mould can seem insignificant. Constant condensation on windows and a damp patch on a wall may seem minor, however these can quickly spiral into hazardous issues.

Excess damp and mould can be particularly dangerous to young & elderly people, and those with existing health conditions. Even if visible mould is not present, dampness alone can increase the risk of health problems and worsen existing health complaints.

Primarily, the problems with mould and moisture affect your lungs and airways. This results in coughs, wheeziness, and shortness of breath, alongside respiratory infection. Conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and COPD will also do poorly in an environment where mould spores as present. There’s also a chance for mould issues to cause skin and eye irritation.

If you feel as though your property is experiencing a damp or mould issue – be aware for any health signs such as these. It could be a key indicator that the issue has become hazardous and now needs intervention from damp and mould specialists.

How Biocraft South West Can Help

As a leading damp proofing specialist in the South West region, Biocraft South West is prepared to handle any sort of damp, condensation, or water ingress issue.

Our highly qualified surveyors will be able to find the source of your damp issue and offer a variety of solutions. If you’re a tenant looking for advice, or a landlord looking to resolve issues with their property – get in touch today! Our team is happy to help.