Damp and mould is harming tenants’ mental health – claim

An organisation claims private renters and social housing tenants are suffering anxiety as damp and mould problems in their homes go unresolved.

Research by the Centre for Ageing Better says landlords play a vital role in tackling damp and mould issues, but claims many tenants’ mental well-being is being negatively affected when problems go unresolved.

The organisation says damp and mould can be caused by a range of factors, including inadequate heating, poor insulation and building quality, slow repairs, and a lack of ventilation.

Renters experiencing anxiety and depression due to damp and mould

According to the survey, of only 3,982 people nationwide conducted by Censuswide and commissioned by Health Equals, almost three in ten (29%) respondents living in private rented accommodation or social housing who had previously experienced problems with condensation, damp, or mould said their landlord had not resolved the issue.

However, a third (33%) reported that their landlord had successfully addressed the problem.

More than 40% of survey respondents living in privately rented or social housing with a household member who has experienced stress, anxiety or depression due to cold, condensation, damp or mould in the home, reported that the issue was not resolved by their landlord.

Millie Brown, deputy director for Homes at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “No one should have to live in a cold, damp or mouldy home that damages their health and potentially poses a threat to their life.

“But the reality is that many people most at risk, especially those with health conditions and older people, are disproportionately living in poor quality homes that are making them more ill.”

As previously reported by Property118, in the latest English Housing Survey, the majority of private renters (77%) agreed they felt safe and secure in their home, and 65% of renters said their landlord responded promptly to maintenance issues.

Decent Homes Standard implementation date should be brought forward

The research also reveals 57% of people who own their home outright are concerned about energy bills, increasing to 74% among social tenants and 76% among private tenants.

One in four people from low-income households (25%) cannot comfortably heat their living rooms in cold weather, compared to around one in 20 (6%) among high-income homes.

More than one in five people (21%) from low-income households live in homes with condensation, damp or mould compared to around one in eight people (12%) in high-income households.

The organisation is calling for the Decent Homes Standard implementation date of 2035 to be brought forward claiming “renters shouldn’t have to live in homes that could damage their health for another decade.”

The group is also calling for the government to introduce a Warm Homes Plan to tackle “the poorest quality housing stock and those who need support the most.”