Damp, condensation and mould - information for tenants

What is damp, condensation and mould?

Damp, condensation and mould are common household issues. They can have a significant negative impact on your wellbeing and how you feel about your home. It's important to know what causes them and what you can do to prevent them.

Damp forms when moisture collects in an area and does not dry out properly. This can promote the growth mould.

There are four main types of mould that may affect your home:

Condensation
Rising Damp - when ground water moves up through a wall or floor
Penetrating damp - when water passes from the outside to the inner surfaces of your home such as ceilings or walls
Problems with your water or plumbing system

The most common cause of dampness in homes is condensation, which occurs when warm air hits cold surfaces and results in droplets of water, this is condensation. Common causes of condensation are:

Too much moisture in your home
Not enough ventilation
The temperature in your home being too low
Cold surfaces

Over a long period, condensation build up can result in damp and allow black mould to grow.

What can homeowners and tenants do?

You can prevent and reduce condensation and mould by

Reducing the amount of moisture you produce
Wiping away any condensation daily
Improving the ventilation in your home
Keeping your home well heated
Homeowners may wish to make structural improvements such as upgrading windows, increasing insulation, and installing externally venting mechanical extraction in rooms which create a lot of moisture such as kitchens and bathrooms.

More information can be found in the council's Damp and Mould Leaflet (PDF, 1 MB)

Structural issues in rented properties

Tenants who experience damp and mould within their properties which they believe are the result of structural problems should raise the matter with their landlord in the first instance. Your landlord should then investigate the matter and complete any identified works to remedy the problem.

Social tenants should follow their housing providers complaints procedure if the matter is not resolved.

Tenants of private rented properties can log a request for service with the council's Environmental Health Team by Report a Problem with a Privately Rented Property where the matter can be investigated by an officer who will take the appropriate action.

What are we doing about damp & mould?

Sunderland City Council takes matters relating to damp and mould seriously. The Council is currently taking part in the government funded Healthy Homes Project which is currently due to run until the end of March 2025. As part of this we are proactively identifying privately rented properties that may be susceptible to damp and mould problems due to a combination of a buildings age, its energy performance certificate rating and state of general repair. Once identified we are engaging with the privately rented tenants of the dwellings to completing an inspection. The inspection is to assess the risk to the health of the resident. The Council will then take a range of actions dependent upon the degree of risk resulting on what is actually found in the dwelling in terms of structural conditions and mould and damp. This may range from working with the landlords to have the properties improved to taking formal action demanding that the properties are made safe.

If you are a private rented tenant and you have issues with damp and mould, please click on the above link to report a problem.