Keep your home dry, warm and healthy, one simple habit at a time.

Water vapour is created in every home, every day, by breathing, cooking, bathing and drying clothes. When it settles on a cold surface it turns into condensation, and that is where mould can start. How you use your home can make a real difference, and most of what helps costs little or nothing.[60]

This guide brings together what government, NHS and council guidance recommends you do day to day. You do not have to do all of it at once. Pick the steps that fit your home and build them into your routine.

Some damp comes from the building itself, such as slipped roof tiles, broken rainwater pipes or a faulty damp proof course. No routine can fix those, so keep an eye out and tell your landlord early. Sections 07 to 11 explain how.[60]

This is our suggested way of fitting the advice in this guide into your week. The detail and the sources for each step are in the sections that follow.

Moisture that cannot escape is more likely to turn into condensation. Fresh air is the simplest fix, and outdoor air is often drier than the air indoors, even in winter.[46][62]

• Leave trickle vents open if your windows have them. These are the small slots along the top of the frame, and they let air in all the time.[48][46]
• Where it is safe, leave windows in their vent position: partly open but locked.[46]
• Keep air vents uncovered, and check that your extractor fans work.[49]
• Keep air bricks on the outside of the building clear of debris, if you can reach them.[46]

If noise, safety or the cold make it hard to open a window, trickle vents and fans still help. If a fan is broken or too noisy to use, or a window will not open, ask your landlord to look at it.[46][48]

Air needs room to move. Damp air trapped behind furniture or in a packed cupboard can settle on cold surfaces, so a home that is easy for air to move through is easier to keep dry.[62][61]

• De-clutter where you can, especially along outside walls.[61]
• Do not overfill wardrobes and cupboards. Moisture trapped in them can lead to mould.[62]
• Do not leave clothing or bedding in the corners of rooms.[61]
• Keep beds and wardrobes at least 5cm away from outside walls.[61]
• Let clothes dry fully before you put them away, and air wardrobes now and then by opening the doors while the windows are open.
• If clothes do get mouldy, wash or dry-clean them.[62]

The more people there are in a home, the more moisture they make, so a busy household needs more ventilation. Overcrowded homes are at higher risk of damp and mould. If your home has become too small for your household, speak to your landlord or your council about your options.[60][46]

A warm home is less likely to get condensation on its cold surfaces. The UK Health Security Agency says to try to heat the rooms you spend a lot of time in, such as the living room or bedroom, to at least 18°C. If you can afford to, low, steady heat works better than short bursts, because it keeps surfaces warm.[47][60][62]

You can hold on to heat without changing the building:

• Use curtains and carpets or rugs. They help to retain heat.[46]
• Fit draught excluders around doors. They are a cheap way to cut draughts.[47]
• Learn to use your thermostat and heating controls so that you heat your home efficiently.[60]
• Keep bedroom windows closed on cold nights, which is the health advice for winter. Trickle vents can stay open.[47]

If bills are a worry, these can help. If the heating does not work properly, or the home will not stay warm when it is on, tell your landlord.[48]

• National Energy Action
  Fuel poverty charity with advice on keeping warm and paying bills.
• Warm Home Discount Scheme
  A one-off discount on electricity bills for eligible households.
• Find your local council
  Councils run local schemes for people who are struggling.

Damp is the build-up of moisture in a home. There are several kinds. Condensation is the one your daily routine can help with, and the others need a repair. You do not have to work out which you have, but knowing the signs helps you spot it early and describe it.[46]

Mould often looks like black, green, white or brown patches. Not all of it can be seen, and a bad, musty smell can be the only sign.[49][51]

Most tenants can reasonably deal with condensation and very small amounts of mould. Larger areas should only be handled by qualified professionals, and that is for your landlord to arrange. Take a photo first. The guidance asks landlords to photograph mould before it is removed, and you will want your own record too.[46]

• Use a mould and mildew product rather than bleach, and follow the instructions on it.[46]
• Wear a mask, gloves and goggles, however small the patch.[46]
• Shut the doors to the room to stop spores spreading, and keep the windows open during and after cleaning.[46]
• Let the surface dry completely.[46]
• Wash or throw away the cloth or sponge, and wash your protective clothing or dispose of it carefully.[46]

Babies, children, older people, and anyone with asthma, allergies, skin problems or a weakened immune system should stay away from damp and mould as much as possible, so ask someone else to help or ask your landlord. Carpets, soft furnishings and other absorbent items that go mouldy may have to be thrown away, because the mould can be difficult or impossible to remove.[58][46]

Cleaning removes the mould but not the moisture that caused it. Go back over your routine, and tell your landlord if it returns.[46]

If you notice damp or mould, report it straight away. Reporting early stops it getting worse over time. The Housing Ombudsman suggests saying:[51][49]

• which rooms are affected, and whether it is spreading[51]
• whether it is new, or something you have reported before[51]
• whether you think the building or an outstanding repair is causing it[51]

It also helps to say if anyone at home has a health condition, is very young or is older, because your landlord should check that and should act with urgency when there are concerns about health. Ask for the things that are broken by name, such as a fan that does not work, blocked vents, a leak, or heating that will not keep the home warm.[50][46][48]

We suggest keeping your own record, as you may need one later. Report in writing where you can, by email or through the landlord's repairs portal, and keep a copy. Take dated photos, and note every call, visit and reply. Your landlord will also usually need access to inspect and repair, so try to agree a time that works for you.[49]

Reporting damp is a request for a repair, not a complaint. Most problems are easier and cheaper to put right when you and your landlord tackle them together and early.[50][46]

Once you have told your landlord, they will usually need to inspect. Please give them access and keep doing your routine in the meantime. The rules on what happens next depend on where you live and who you rent from.[49]

In England, the government's guidance also says landlords should tell you what will be done and when, and should inspect the home at least 6 weeks after the work to check that the damp and mould have not come back. Removing surface mould alone will not stop it reappearing.[46]

When we last checked, the Housing Ombudsman's online forms were unavailable because of an IT security incident. Its notice asks people to email info@housing-ombudsman.org.uk or call 0300 111 3000 instead.[50]

Please do not put off reporting a problem because you are worried about your home. The guidance says tenants should feel able to report damp without fear of repercussions. In England, private tenants can no longer be evicted through the ‘no fault’ section 21 process, and a landlord now has to give a legal reason. They can still use other grounds, such as selling the property. A section 21 court process started before 1 May 2026 can in some cases still be completed. The Scottish Government's information sheet says you cannot be evicted for reporting repair issues. If you are ever given a notice to leave, get advice straight away.[46][54][49]

Damp and mould mainly affect the airways and lungs, and can also affect the eyes and skin. Mould can cause sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and skin rashes, and it can trigger asthma attacks. Living with damp can affect your mental health too, and that is worth mentioning to your landlord and your doctor.[46][58]

Anyone can be affected, but children, older people and people with certain health conditions are at greater risk of more serious harm.[46]

If you are worried about symptoms, speak to your GP or call NHS 111. If someone is struggling to breathe, call 999. You do not need medical evidence to report damp or mould.[51][46]

The first two are named in the government's guidance as sources of help for tenants. If you find reporting hard, for example because of language or health, you can ask someone to speak for you.[46]

• Shelter England: damp and mould in rented homes
  Housing advice, including free legal advice for people who qualify.
• Citizens Advice: damp or mould in your rented home
  Who is responsible for each type of damp, and what to do next.
• Housing Ombudsman: damp and mould support guide
  For council and housing association tenants in England.
• Shelter Scotland: types of damp and mould and who's responsible
  Advice for tenants in Scotland.
• Citizens Advice Wales: damp or mould in your rented home
  Advice for contract-holders in Wales.
• Mind: working with an advocate
  How an advocate can help with housing problems.

This guide is free. You can print it, share it with neighbours, or send it to your landlord. It is general information and not legal or medical advice, so for your own situation please speak to one of the organisations above or to your doctor.

The practical advice applies across the UK. The legal sections cover England, Scotland and Wales only. If you live in Northern Ireland, different rules apply to your rights.

It was written by Maple Diagnostics, which sells damp and mould monitoring and case records to landlords. Where national guidance gives no detail, we have used council guides written for their own tenants and said so. You do not need to buy anything from us or anyone else to use this guide. Numbers in square brackets link to the source of each point, and the full list is at the end.