Damp and mould is harming tenants’ mental health – claim

“Renters shouldn’t have to live in homes that could damage their health for another decade.”

I notice a distinct absence of “lifestyle” being a cause or significant contributory factor, but always a failure of the landlord.

It also affects the mental health of landlords 80%of damp and mould is caused by tenants blocking ventilation, refusing to air a property, drying washing indoors, switching off all extractors regardless of conditions prohibiting within tenancy agreements , I suppose these conditions will now be described as being unfair.
Too many Landlords will fall foul of Anwabs law due to no fault of their own, time to exit the sector before broke councils start sending out the fines.

Claims of damp and mould (when CLEARLY) down to tenant use/misuse of the property is causing mental health for landlords.

The time and effort into PROVING that the property and LL is not to blame for what are usually very clear signs that it is the way that the property is being used is the source of the issue is absolutely draining.

I am now literally treating every tenant like an child and explaining the basics of general housekeeping. Common sense has gone out of the window and so has personal responsibility.

I read a very interesting thing yesterday from one council highlighting the type of complaints they receive about housing and when they do go and assess the properties, they themselves note that they can’t make tenants take action to improve issues which result from their own action.

The first commandment for all landlord’s…

Cover thy own ar$e!

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 13/01/2026 – 10:11
Do you have the reference for this – it may be a useful counter argument for landlords in future.

Note that number 1 was inadequate heating – unless the heating system is actually broken that is entirely down to the tenants actions.

Awaabs law defies basic science. Mould usually only occurs where there is pure water. Pure water does not happen if there is penetrating or rising damp (both of which are defects with the building). It generally only occurs if there is condensation. Condensation can be cured with improved insulation, ventilation or improved heating. To create a law that makes a landlord alter the fabric of a building is a mostly waste of time when most of the time the Condensation occurs due to the lifestyle of the occupier. Even if the landlord prevents Condensation for one tenant, the next tenant may have similar issues but in different locations!

The photo at the top of this article is a great illustration but maybe the lady should get off her phone and clean the wall with one part bleach and 4 parts lukewarm water. Problem solved!

What concerns me is that social housing tenants (and eventually private sector tenants) will realise that if they can not be bothered to clean thier dwelling for a prolonged period, when the mould gets a bit unsightly they can call in the landlord to give the property a full ‘spring clean’. For free! It’s going to end up costing the council tax payers millions!

Thank goodness I sold all my BTL years ago!

We have experience of this issue with just 1 tenant. The house was fine when they moved in, then problems. They insisted washing had to be dried indoors because it would get stolen from their enclosed garden. They said saucepan lids stopped ‘badness’ in food being boiled away. Opening a bathroom window after a shower wasted heat. When they moved out claiming we were awful landlords a new tenant came in and magically the problem did nor arise. We have found tenants need to be advised about how to ventilate. The school curriculum does cover it in years 7/8/9 but too many simply do not retain it. Damp houses with damp, heavier, denser air cost more to heat. Even the neighbours told them no-one in the street had ever had washing stolen when they had moaned to them. Saucepan lids can save 40% of the cost of cooking on a ring etc etc. Landlords do have a duty of care to advise tenants when they move in, at the check at the end of the first month and at each 6 month check. Tenants often just don’t know, especially if from a different climate. Brits can struggle with heat etc in homes in France and Spain and complain, so no surprise newcomers may struggle here. That said, two fellow landlords have said they have had tenants who used it as an excuse to stop paying rent.

Reply to the comment left by Xpropertyinvestor at 13/01/2026 – 11:55
I’ve had that happen. The tenant let the mould build up, my agent went and cleaned it off while the tenant looked on and offered a cup of tea. On completion the tenant said she’d call again next time it built up so my agent could come and clean it again.
Section 21 was issued and the new tenants haven’t had any mould.
Heaven help landlords when section 21 goes

I have a tenant who has it all. Full central heating, the latest high heat gas fire at a cost of £900 BUT he won’t use any of it as he won’t pay for the gas! He’s been given notice but won’t quit and knows all the tricks and will stay till the bitter end in a freezing flat! Why do I bother ???

Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 13/01/2026 – 10:58
look at this…
https://bradford.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s54193/2.%20Regen%20Env%20OSC%20Housing%20Standards%20HMO%20Report%20January%202026.pdf

3.20 and 3.21 in particular.

Reply to the comment left by Xpropertyinvestor at 13/01/2026 – 11:55
where there is no penetrating damp nor structural defects (including internal leaks) then you need to look at where exactly mould is located.
Mould is the result of condensation build up. Mould does not appear overnight.
Therefore if it is hidden from view, it has inevitably occurred because of the lack of air circulation in that area.
If not hidden from view then it has landed in a colder location (in comparison to the rest of the room) but has not been dried off or dealt with in a timely fashion.

All down to tenant behaviour/lack of knowledge/lack of care or a combo of all three.