Noel Fok, indoor air quality expert and co-founder of EcoAir, manufacturer of air treatment products.
Damp and mould can trigger or exacerbate respiratory infections and diseases including asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia, nasal congestion and sinus issues, rashes and skin irritations such as eczema, various allergies, fatigue, headaches and, in cases of prolonged exposure – especially where lung-damaging, toxic mould is present – can prove life-threatening.
Two year old Awaab Ishak’s tragic death in 2020 was a painful reminder of how deadly neglect can be. Damp and mould in the home is a widespread, dangerous, and yet in many cases, an easily fixable issue. Up to 6.5 million households are affected in the UK, with 1 in 20 households in England suffering significant cases of damp. Coming into effect on the 27th of this month, Awaab’s Law requires social landlords to investigate and fix damp and mould hazards within strict timeframes, and gives tenants the power to take legal action if they fail to do so. It is a huge and much needed step forward to prevent unnecessary illness and fatalities.
The government is extending similar protections to the private rental sector via the Renter’s Rights Bill, due to be approved imminently following a number of delays this year.
As many as a third of private renters face issues with mould and damp and, according to a 2024 government landlord survey, 26% of landlords are aware of the issue, reporting damp or mould in at least one of their properties.
Legislation that puts the onus on both council and private landlords, making damp and mould their legal obligation to fix, means that, finally, the health and lives of tenants will no longer be overlooked.
Every household deserves a home that’s safe, dry, and dignified. Awaab’s Law for social housing and the Renter’s Rights Bill for the private sector will ensure this right applies to all tenants to combat the ongoing public health emergency in the battle against damp and mould.
The dangers of leaving damp and mould untreated
Air quality in the home can have an enormous impact on both the building’s and our own health.
Excess moisture in the air can lead to an array of issues, the main ones of course, being a build-up of condensation, damp, or mould. These problems will then inevitably cause damage to home furnishings, décor or structural issues, which can be costly to fix, but at their worst, can make people living in the household unwell.
Airborne microorganisms thrive in humid conditions. The survival and breed rate of bacteria, viruses or dust mites, for example, will escalate as soon as humidity levels rise above 60 per cent, so once an infection is brought home by any member of the family, excess moisture present in the air will increase the risk of everyone else in the house becoming infected.
A humid environment can also aggravate existing conditions such as asthma or eczema and can trigger numerous allergies, whilst homes exposed long-term to excess moisture have a much higher chance of harbouring lung-damaging and sometimes highly toxic mould.
Recognising and tackling damp or mould in the home
There are a number of simple steps we can take to avoid or reduce moisture build-up to protect both our homes and our health.
Firstly, look out for the telltale signs – condensation, musty odours, yellowish-brown water stains or fluffy white salt deposits on walls, appearance of mould or mildew, rotting wood or peeling paint, ‘tide-lines’ along the bottom of basement or ground floor walls, increase in allergic reactions, asthma attacks, respiratory problems or skin infections…
You can easily measure moisture levels using a hygrometer, which are widely available online and are inexpensive. Optimum indoor humidity levels are between 40-60%.
If faced with high humidity, you need to consider where the main sources of moisture might be coming from. Bathrooms are naturally one of the most humid spaces in the home (two thirds of a household’s water is used in the bathroom), often made worse by a lack of proper ventilation or absence of windows, especially in the case of ensuites. Kitchens are another culprit in contributing to moisture build-up, thanks to water vapour generated from the use of dishwashers, kettles, boiling water taps, and even cooking.
There’s no need to stop bathing or creating your culinary delights, though. What is key is to ventilate. Ensuring good air flow is essential, so open windows and doors to create cross-ventilation (or a through-draught) to allow excess moisture to escape. Extractor fans can be a noisy nuisance, but using them when cooking or after taking a shower or bath is important to help reduce humidity and its ensuing issues.
High rainfall, leaking pipes, rising damp, moisture in construction materials, faulty seals on door or window frames, faulty damp proof courses, and blocked up vents, gaps or draught excluders, can all contribute to excess moisture in the home. As can air drying or hanging laundry on the radiator.
It’s worth being mindful of what you do with your heating too. It’s a common misconception that turning the heating up will reduce humidity, however, warm air carries more moisture. Humid air in a warm interior creates the perfect environment for microbes to thrive and will also cause condensation issues as the warm air settles and condenses on colder surfaces, such as windows or walls.
So, to tackle humidity in the home, address any areas where air and moisture might be being trapped, open windows and doors regularly, use extractor fans, be more moderate with the heating, and avoid air drying laundry indoors.
For a more immediate, affordable and controlled solution, a dehumidifier can successfully restore and maintain the correct moisture levels in the home. A desiccant model will also eliminate any microorganisms that pass through the unit due to its internal heat, so doubles up as an air purifier for added peace of mind.
Once humidity levels in the home are brought down to below 60%, airborne bacteria, viruses and other microbes will not only stop breeding, but will struggle to survive.
To control heavier cases of condensation, damp or mould that are causing damage to your property, it’s advisable to bring the humidity down to 40%.
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