Identifying damp and mould
It’s important to understand the different types of damp and mould and what causes it, as this will help when you contact us.
We have created a guide to help you recognise what what could be causing the issues you are experiencing.
Rising damp
Rising damp comes up from the ground and into the walls of your home. It happens in homes that don’t have a damp proof course (DPC) or where the DPC has been damaged. It usually rises 30-60cm up the walls and leaves noticeable damp patches and salty tidemarks on your walls. Rising damp is unlikely to cause black mould.
Penetrating damp
Penetrating damp is caused by damp getting through the walls. This could be due to a leaking roof, missing pointing, damaged guttering or other issues with the outside of your home and can happen anywhere in your property. It will be found close to where the issue is.
Penetrating damp is more noticeable after it rains and will leave a damp patch on your walls or ceilings.
Penetrating damp is unlikely to cause black mould.
Defective plumbing
Damp can be caused if plumbing or pipes need repairing. This usually happens in bathrooms and kitchens. Look for leaks from pipe joints, bath and sink seals and around showers and baths.
Black mould is rare with defective plumbing.
Condensation
Condensation happens when the air gets colder and it cannot hold all the moisture. This is caused by:
- Too much moisture in the air from cooking or bathing
- Poor ventilation
- Cold surfaces
- The temperature of your home.
Condensation will often cause black mould to appear. Read more about condensation here.
Damp and mould guide
Download a PDF copy of our damp and mould guide. This guide contains images to help identify the issues you are experiencing.
Reporting damp and mould
It’s important to report any instances of damp and mould to us as soon as possible.
If you report damp and/or mould to us, we will visit your home within 5 working days to carry out an inspection.
What happens next will depend on the results of our inspection:
- If the damp or mould is classed as severe and/or there are vulnerable people living in your home (young children, older people, people with health conditions), we will visit your home within 24 hours to make safe
- If the damp or mould is classed as moderate, we will carry out necessary work within 10 working days
- If the damp or mould is classed as slight, we will carry out necessary work within 28 working days.