Councils launch damp and mould awareness campaign for landlords

Two councils have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the risks of damp and mould, urging landlords and letting agents to sign up.

Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council are promoting the Healthy Homes campaign on social media and in GP surgeries across the region.

The councils say 26 letting agents have signed up to the campaign.

Encourage tenants to report damp and mould

The councils are encouraging tenants to report damp and mould first to their letting agent, which they say enables investigations to prevent issues in properties and directs landlords to both council and government guidance.

The councils claim damp and mould issues may occur that are beyond the control of tenants but say tenants should keep properties well-ventilated or use extractor fans when cooking or showering.

The two local authorities say condensation should be wiped down promptly, with soap and water, and clothes should be dried outside, or in a condensing dryer or tumble dryer vented to the outside.

People deserve to live in homes free of damp and mould

The Healthy Homes campaign is funded by the government and highlights how damp and mould can cause health problems.

Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for economic renewal, housing and organisational development, is urging landlords and letting agents to sign up to the campaign

He said: “People across our part of the world deserve to live in homes free of damp and mould.

“Whilst there are steps that tenants can take themselves to try to prevent issues occurring in the first place, there are sometimes going to be damp and mould issues that will need to be sorted by their landlords.

“We do have a good number of local letting agents who have signed up to the campaign, but we are looking for more to come forward, to ensure that all private tenants can be reassured that mould and damp problems will be dealt with properly.”

Damp and mould can cause serious health problems

Councillor Lyn Healing, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet member for public protection, said: “Damp and mould can cause serious health problems if left untreated, and we urge landlords and tenants to report and fix issues as soon as possible.

“We are dedicated to working with letting agents, landlords, and tenants to ensure the provision of healthy and safe homes across our region and I strongly encourage more to sign up to the initiative.”

The news comes as Awaab’s Law is set to be extended to the private rented sector, introducing strict timeframes for landlords to fix damp and mould.

The government has yet to confirm an implementation date, but the law is expected to come into force during phase three of the Act in 2027.