What to do when your home is unsafe, damp or mouldy
How to report damp, mould and other housing hazards, protect health evidence and escalate when repairs stall.
Last reviewed: 6 July 2026 · UK guidance
In brief
Damp and mould are symptoms, not a diagnosis of tenant behaviour. Leaks, disrepair, insulation, ventilation, overcrowding and heating can interact. Report the location, extent, smell, damage and health or access impact, and ask the landlord to inspect the underlying cause rather than only wash or paint the surface.
Immediate danger—such as a collapsing ceiling, serious electrical risk, gas concern or acute breathing emergency—needs an emergency service or urgent landlord response. Keep evidence, but do not enter unsafe spaces merely to photograph them.
Document the pattern
Take dated photographs from the same positions, record weather and rooms affected, keep damaged-item evidence and note previous reports. Include condensation, leaks, broken heating, blocked vents and whether the room can still be used.
Report impact and access needs
State children, asthma, respiratory illness, disability, pregnancy or inability to clean safely. Ask for communication adjustments, an appointment window and support moving furniture or decanting where needed. Medical evidence can describe impact but does not replace the landlord’s inspection.
Request cause, work and timetable
Ask what inspection found, the proposed repair, temporary measures, start date and how mould-contaminated finishes or belongings will be handled. Repeated surface treatment without fixing water entry or cold bridges may not resolve the problem.
Escalate through the correct route
Use the landlord’s formal complaint, council environmental-health or private-sector housing team, housing ombudsman route where applicable, and legal advice for serious disrepair. Rules differ by tenure and UK nation. Keep paying rent unless a qualified adviser tells you otherwise.
Avoid unsafe DIY responses
Do not mix cleaning chemicals or disturb suspected asbestos. Ventilation and reasonable heating may help condensation, but unaffordable heating or structural defects require support rather than blame.
Make a formal disrepair report
Send with dated evidence.
I am reporting damp, mould or disrepair at [location], first reported on [date]. It affects [rooms] and has caused [damage, unusable space or health impact]. Please inspect the underlying cause, provide temporary safety measures, a written repair schedule and any required decant or accessibility support. Treat this as a formal complaint if the earlier report was not resolved.
A practical checklist
- Photograph safely and keep a report timeline.
- Describe health and accessibility impact.
- Ask for the underlying cause and repair schedule.
- Escalate formally rather than withholding rent without advice.
Check the current information
These are the most relevant official or specialist places to confirm live rules, availability and application details.
england.shelter.org.uk
Open official informationgov.uk
Open official informationhousing-ombudsman.org.uk
Open official informationgov.uk
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