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Damp Britain – 6 Expert Tips For Mould-Free Homes
A survey has revealed that a quarter of residents in Britain are struggling with the effects of mould in their homes, after one of the wettest years on...
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Mouldy Nation Report 2025
As households struggle to keep their homes warm, mould and damp is an issue across the UK. The Mouldy Nation Report, from Uswitch Energy, shows the persistence of mould in homes across the country.
The research has revealed the local authorities and housing associations with the most complaints to the Housing Ombudsman for mould and damp between the 2019/20 and 2023/24 financial years.
Over this period, the Housing Ombudsman received 16,098 complaints, with housing associations receiving the most. Local authorities received a total of 5,138 complaints, while housing associations saw 10,960 complaints. This highlights that housing association properties have been the subject of more complaints than local authority properties.
The Housing Ombudsman received more complaints about damp and mould from housing association properties than local authority properties.
On a per 10,000 units bsasis, Haringey in east London received 30.71 complaints while Hammersmith in west London had 29.07. Lambeth had 26.83 and Lewisham 25.86. Camden, Islington, Southwak in London and the City of London all received the next highest complaints. Only Adur in West Sussex and Lewes in East Sussex feature in England’s worst local authority area.
On the rise
However, despite London registering as the worst for complaints, it doesn’t feature in the list of local authorities where complaints are on the rise. Dover saw a whopping 600% increase in distressed occupiers in 2023/24, Babergh in Suffolk saw a jump of 500%, Oxford 400%, Reding and Rotheram also 400%, West Northamptonshire 367, Ashford in Kent 350, Tendring in Essex, 300% and North Tyneside 250%.
Certain local authorities have seen drastic increases in the number of complaints. West Northamptonshire, for example, had a 367% rise in complaints between 2022/23 and 2023/24, jumping from 3 to 14 complaints.
Harder to control
Ben Galizzi of Uswitch says: “Living in a mouldy home is both unpleasant and a health hazard. Yet many of us have had to deal with mould at some point.
“Whether you rent or own, mould can be a constant problem if the root cause isn’t fixed. With poor insulation and rising energy costs, it’s harder than ever to keep it under control.
“Both landlords and tenants need to do their part in tackling mould. Tenants might need to adjust some habits at home, while landlords take care of bigger repairs to the property.
“Keeping a home warm, especially in the winter, can really help prevent mould. It is worth advising homeowners to check out fixed energy deals to see if they could switch to a cheaper tariff.”
Ongoing issue
A significant 60% of respondents reported experiencing mould at some point in their lives. For many, it’s an ongoing issue, with 31% having faced mould more than once. Among those who had mould, 43% lived in owned properties, 28% in privately rented homes, 16% in local authority housing and 12% in housing association homes. Student accommodation was the least affected, with 7% reporting mould problems.
Raising complaints about mould
More than half (55%) of respondents who have experienced mould took action by raising complaints. A quarter (22%) contacted their landlord, 9% reached out to a letting agent or management company and 15% reported the issue to their local authority.
Responsibility for mould in rented homes
Almost seven in ten (69%) respondents believe landlords are responsible for mould in rented properties, while a quarter (23%) feel tenants are to blame. Just 20% attribute some responsibility to letting agents or management companies.
Who is at fault?
Of those who have had mould in their home, a third (33%) were blamed for the issue. 12% were blamed by their landlord, 8% by their letting agent, 9% by their local authority and 8% by their housing association. Two-thirds (67%) of respondents reported that they were not blamed for mould in their homes.
Leaving properties due to mould
Mould has been significant enough for a third (37%) of respondents to leave a property. Of this group, a quarter (22%) cited mould or damp as the primary reason for moving, while 15% said it was a contributing factor. Nearly two-thirds (63%) did not move due to mould or damp issues.
Rising energy costs and mould problems
Almost seven in ten (68%) respondents have reduced their heating usage over the past two years due to rising energy costs. Among those affected by mould, more than half (56%) believe that using less heating has made the problem worse. 60% of respondents struggling with heating costs find it difficult to maintain adequate warmth in their homes.
Health impacts of mould
A fifth (22%) of respondents reported that mould had negatively affected their health in some way.
The role of property conditions in mould
Almost half (49%) of respondents agree that UK properties are not well-designed to prevent mould, suggesting the need for improved building standards.
Actions taken to combat mould
More than half (54%) of respondents used mould-removal cleaning products, 38% used bleach-based products,and 36% applied anti-mould paints. Other common actions included improving ventilation (43%) and using dehumidifiers (34%).
Responses to mould issues
While some landlords and housing associations have taken action, a third (34%) of respondents reported that no action was taken. For those who received help, 23% had areas treated with anti-mould products and 21% saw improvements in ventilation.
Picture: The Mouldy Nation Report has been produced by Uswitch Energy.
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
29th January 2025