Damp & home condition

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1. A guide to damp in your home

Damp and mould in your Home

Your home should be safe, healthy, and comfortable. Damp and mould can affect your health and damage your home if not dealt with quickly. This page explains what causes damp and mould, what you can do, and how to report it to us so we can take action.

How to report damp and mould

Please report damp and mould as soon as you notice it. When reporting, tell us:

  • Where the damp or mould is located
  • How long it has been present
  • Whether anyone in the household has health conditions affected by it
  • If it is getting worse or spreading

We will book an appointment for the Works Surveyor to come out and visit you.

You can report damp and mould by:

What is damp and mould?

  • Damp is unwanted moisture in your home
  • Mould is a fungus that grows in damp conditions and often appears as black, green, or white patches

Damp and mould are not just a cosmetic issue — they can affect breathing, worsen asthma, and be especially harmful to babies, children, elderly residents, and people with existing health conditions.

Our responsibilities under Awaab’s Law

Under Awaab’s Law, we must:

  • Investigate reports of damp and mould promptly
  • Assess whether there is a risk to your health
  • Carry out repairs within legally defined timescales
  • Act urgently where damp and mould pose a serious health risk

We take these responsibilities seriously and will not blame residents for problems caused by defects in the property.

For more detailed information about Awaab's Law please visit:

Assessing vulnerability and prioritising repairs

As a social landlord, we assess whether anyone living in the home may be more vulnerable to harm from housing conditions, such as children, older people, disabled residents, or anyone with a health condition that could be affected by issues like damp, mould, excess cold, or poor ventilation. When a vulnerability is identified, we take this into account when assessing the level of risk and deciding how quickly action is needed.

In line with Awaab’s Law, hazards that pose a risk to health are investigated promptly, and where vulnerable residents are affected, repairs and remedial works may be prioritised or accelerated to reduce the risk of harm. Our focus is always on addressing the cause of the problem and ensuring the home is safe and suitable for everyone living there.

Why does damp and mould occur?

Damp and mould usually develop due to one or more of the following reasons:

1. Condensation

This is the most common cause and happens when warm, moist air meets cold surfaces (such as windows or external walls). Everyday activities like cooking, showering or bathing, and drying clothes indoors can create moisture if there is not enough ventilation.

2. Structural Problems

These may include:

  • Leaking roofs, gutters, or pipes
  • Cracked walls or defective brickwork
  • Faulty windows or doors

These issues can allow water to enter the building.

3. Rising Damp

Moisture from the ground can travel up through walls if the damp-proof course has failed or been damaged.

Managing moisture in your home

Warm air holds more moisture than cold, it’s better to keep your home at a constant temperature, we recommend 19-21oC. The temperature of the air dictates how much of this moisture it can hold per day.

Common sources of moisture

  • Drying clothes indoors – 9 pints
  • Cooking and kettle use – 6 pints
  • Bath or shower – 2 pints
  • Washing dishes – 2 pints
  • Washing clothes – 1 pint
  • Two people living at home – 3 pints

That’s around 23 pints (13 litres) of moisture every day.

Bringing in dry air

The quickest and easiest way to bring in dry air, is through opening and shutting windows. It is advised to open a window, count to five, and then close it immediately. This is enough to reset the room as ‘water as a gas’ is always looking to get out of the house as fast as it can. It is also important to not to let heat out and cold in. 

A good rule of thumb is you get cold while opening the window then that is too long. The object is not to air the house for hours at a time-that’s only for the summer.

The golden rule is to do this in each room before you do any activity such as having a bath or shower or cooking. It should also be done as you get up in the morning to allow any moisture that has built up in the house overnight to dissipate.

Wiping down visible condensation from window sills etc. after a shower can help, as can closing the door, to prevent the warm air from escaping into the rest of the house.

How can I prevent condensation?

Try the following steps:

  • Mould only grows on clean water i.e. condensation
  • Keep your home warm (ideally heat the lounge to 21oC and all other rooms to 19oC).
  • Keep kitchen and bathroom doors shut during and after cooking and bathing/showering
  • Stop moisture building up by wiping surfaces where moisture settles
  • Leave trickle vents on windows open
  • Keep a small gap between large pieces of furniture and walls
  • If you have one, use your extractor fan. Please call repairs at Exeter city council if it is faulty or you don’t have one
  • Ventilate or air your home
  • Cook with pan lids on
  • Make sure tumble driers are condensing or vented to the outside
  • Dry clothes outside where possible, if unavoidable Airers should be positioned in the bathroom, where possible. If the bathroom doesn’t have a fan, open the window slightly and close the door. This will contain the moisture in that area. For a small flat, a clothes airer that can straddle the bath and therefore not take up floor space. Kitchens can also be used as long as these are warmer and have some background trickle ventilation and the door is kept shut.
  • Avoid overloading cupboards and wardrobes and ventilate regularly.

Financial support

There is often financial support and advice available. Please contact us if you are experiencing financial hardship and this is affecting your ability to maintain your home.

Not heating a home, particularly during cold weather, can cost significant damage the structure of the building and your belongings.  It also presents serious risk to the health of those living there. 

We work with ECOE which is a Devon based charity, their team offers expert advice to help you stay warm, safe, and well. Whether you’re worried about your energy/water bills, or simply need support to make your home more comfortable. They can liaise with landlords, councils, and suppliers on your behalf.

Please see the Home - ECOE Advice for further information. 

Avoid disrepair claims 

We strongly discourage residents from using disrepair claims management companies or “no win, no fee” solicitors who approach you through social media, leaflets, or cold calls. These companies often:

  • Provide misleading advice
  • Charge high hidden fees
  • Delay repairs while pursuing compensation
  • Create unnecessary legal action

Reporting issues directly to us is the fastest and safest way to get repairs completed and protect your home and health. Using third-party claims companies does not make repairs happen quicker.

If you are unsure or need support, please contact our housing team — we are here to help.

Environmental sensors

Some of our homes are fitted with environmental sensors which monitor things like temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide. They may also be connected to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. We use these to ensure these monitored homes are safe and have a healthy indoor air quality. We also occasionally fit them where homes are suffering from damp or mould issues, to help us and tenants understand the causes and how to reduce it. The most common system we use is the Aico HomeLINK system.

Need further help?

If you are worried about damp and mould affecting your health or feel your report has not been addressed, please contact us again. We are committed to providing safe, decent homes for all our residents.

Citizens Advice can also assist with advice about debt and benefits. 

Reporting damp or mould

If you have a damp or mould issue, please contact us as soon as possible via our Report a council housing fault or repair page.

Please include:

  • Where the issue is
  • What it looks like
  • How long it has been there - Photos are helpful and can speed things up.