About damp and mould
Mould grows on damp surfaces and in most cases caused by condensation. The moist air in the home from every day activities including cooking, using kettles or irons and showering, will settle on cold surfaces.
Damp may also be caused by leaking pipes in your home, blocked guttering or an outside wall that needs repointing. In some cases this could be a combination of water leaving your property and condensation.
Residents of damp or mouldy buildings are at increased risk of experiencing health problems including:
- respiratory symptoms
- respiratory infections
- allergic rhinitis
- asthma.
Some people are more sensitive to mould than others and some groups are particularly vulnerable.
What is condensation
In the colder months, condensation becomes a more common problem.
This is caused by warm and moist air hitting cold surfaces including windows or external walls, which will condense and run down the cold surface as water droplets. If this is left, it can develop into black mould which looks and smells bad and can cause health problems.
You should look for condensation:
- in corners
- near windows
- behind wardrobes
- inside cupboards
- on the ceiling
- in places where there is little air movement.
Condensation usually happens at night when temperatures drop, and doors and windows are closed. Even people breathing can cause condensation and this can cause damp where mould can grow.
How to reduce condensation
You can reduce condensation by:
- keeping the temperature inside consistent
- ensuring tumble dryers are properly vented
- leaving trickle vents in windows open
- not blocking air vents
- moving furniture away from external walls
- not disabling extraction fans or units
- not supplementing your heat with paraffin gas type heating
- avoiding indoor clothes drying. If you have no choice, place a clothes rack near an open window in a room with the door shut. Do not dry clothes over radiators.
Spot the signs of damp or mould
You should check your home for:
- overflow from block gutters
- leaking pipes or waste overflow
- rain water coming into the house where tiles or slates are missing.
If it seems like the cause of the mould may be dampness getting into your home from outside, you should contact us and we'll send someone to fix this. We'll give you advice and support on how to tackle any mould growth from condensation.
Contact us
If you're experiencing damp, mould or condensation in your home, you should:
- email: housing.repairs@medway.gov.uk or housingsafetyconcern@medway.gov.uk
- phone: 01634 733 499 or 01643 333 601.
After you have reported the problem either a member of the housing property service team or someone from our repairs contractor Mears will:
- find what the issue is
- arrange for a damp and mould treatment
- look at measures to put in place to prevent damp and mould returning.