Damp and mould in a rented room: what to do

Damp and mould can affect your health and your belongings. This guide summarises gov.uk's guidance on damp and mould in rented homes in England.

What causes it

Condensation, the most common: moisture from cooking, bathing and drying laundry settling on cold surfaces.
Penetrating damp: water getting in through defects in walls, roofs or windows.
Rising damp: ground moisture rising through building materials, typically in older properties.
Leaks and flooding, such as a burst pipe.

Poor insulation, ventilation or heating, and poorly maintained buildings, make it more likely.

What you can do

Report it to your landlord straight away, in writing, with dated photos.
Use extractor fans and open windows when cooking or bathing.
Keep internal doors closed while cooking or bathing, use pan lids, and dry laundry outdoors where you can.
Leave a gap between furniture and external walls.

Gov.uk is clear that these steps help but do not replace the landlord dealing with building defects.

What a landlord should do

The guidance, written for housing providers, says they should respond urgently, find and fix the underlying cause rather than just remove visible mould, document the problem before treating it, and check again at least six weeks after treatment. That is a follow-up interval, not a deadline for the initial repair; any recurrence reported in the meantime should be acted on promptly. See also who is responsible for repairs.

Health

Damp and mould mainly affect the airways and lungs: cough, wheeze, breathlessness and worsening asthma. Children, older people and people with respiratory conditions are more at risk. See a doctor if you are worried about your health.

When to contact the council

Your landlord does not respond to your reports.
You suspect a serious (category 1) hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
The damp is a statutory nuisance harmful to health.

Reporting damp locally

For a home in Barrow, Dalton or Ulverston, use Westmorland and Furness Council’s damp, mould and cold guidance for its reporting route. The council says to report the problem to your landlord or agent in writing first, then contact the council if it is not fixed. Keep copies of your reports and dated photos.

Councils can take enforcement action against landlords. If the landlord needs to visit to inspect or fix it, see can my landlord enter my room?

This is general information for England, not legal advice. See also how renting with us works.

Join the interest list

Official GOV.UK guidance (checked 15 October 2026): understanding and addressing damp and mould; repairs and council escalation.

Local council route checked 18 October 2026. The national guidance review date above is unchanged.

Common questions

What causes damp and mould?

Gov.uk describes condensation (the most common), penetrating damp, rising damp and damp from leaks or flooding. Poor insulation, ventilation or heating can make it worse.

Is it my fault if there is mould?

GOV.UK says normal activities such as cooking, bathing and washing should not be blamed for damp and mould. Working with tenants must accompany, rather than replace, action on the underlying building, ventilation or heating problems.

What should a landlord do when I report mould?

Gov.uk's guidance says landlords should respond urgently, address the underlying cause rather than only removing visible mould, and follow up at least six weeks after treatment. The follow-up interval is not a repair deadline or a reason to delay action on recurring mould.

When should I contact the council?

If the landlord does not respond, or you suspect a serious hazard or a statutory nuisance affecting health.