Mould is a type of fungus that can grow on many surfaces. It releases tiny spores that can cause allergies, irritation, and sometimes serious health problems if exposed to them for prolonged periods of time in areas with little or no ventilation. This is why it’s important to stop mould from forming in your home.

To prevent mould, we need to control moisture levels by reducing/controlling the causes of condensation, using reasonable amounts of ventilation all year round and using a reasonable amount of heating. It’s also important to check that there are no structural issues causing water to get into your home, such as a roof leak or defective rain water drainage.

Treating Mould Safely

• Clean mould as soon as you notice it using an anti-fungal spray (always follow the product instructions).
• Be careful when removing mould growth as this can spread the spores around your home. Use a wetted-absorbent cloth that can be disposed of afterwards., then dry that affected area thoroughly.
• If the mould keeps coming back, spreads, or you can’t get rid of it, please contact us. We can arrange a visit to help treat the problem.
• If anyone in your home has a respiratory condition, let us know right away so we can act quickly.

There is always some moisture in the air inside your home, even if you can’t see it. When this moisture touches a cold surface, like a window or wall, it turns into water droplets—this is called condensation.

What Causes Condensation?

• Too much moisture in the air (from activities like cooking, showering/bathing or drying clothes indoors)
• Not enough ventilation (lack of airflow to carry the moisture out)
• Cold surfaces (like windows, walls, or unheated rooms)
• Insufficient heating (low temperatures cause surfaces to stay cold, increasing condensation)

By reducing moisture and improving ventilation and heating, you can help prevent condensation and stop damp and mould from forming in your home.

Penetrating damp happens when water from outside gets into your home, often leaving white, salty marks on walls and ceilings. The most common causes of penetrating damp are:

• Leaking roof (caused by cracked, slipped, or loose tiles)
• Blocked gutters or broken rainwater pipes (causing water to overflow)
• Leaking plumbing (like pipes or taps inside the walls)
• Rotting windowsills (allowing water to seep through)
• Cracked brickwork or chimney stacks (letting water into the structure)

Signs of Penetrating Damp:

• Drips or puddles inside your home
• Blotchy or damp patches on walls or ceilings
• Wet, crumbly plaster

Rising damp is extremely rare but in certain conditions or very old buildings built without damp-proof courses, moisture in the ground  can seep into your home. However, what looks like rising damp can also be caused by excess water indoors, like mopping floors too often or not cleaning up spills.

Signs of Rising Damp:

• Rotting skirting boards
•  Ground floor wall stains at low level ( a “tide mark” ) or decaying plaster and crumbling brickwork when exposed.

By following these steps, you can help reduce condensation and prevent damp and mould in your home:

• Ventilate Your Home: Open windows for at least 10 minutes a day to let fresh air in. Especially in Bedrooms after sleeping, Bathrooms after bathing/showering and Kitchens after cooking.
• Dry Washing Outside: Hang clothes outside if possible. If drying indoors, use a drying rack near an open window, and keep the door closed.
• Control Steam: Keep bathroom and kitchen doors shut when cooking or showering and afterwards  to stop steam/water vapour from spreading throughout the home.
• Use Extractor Fans and Dehumidifiers: Always use extractor fans where fitted during moisture creating situations and leave them on for 20 minutes after bathing or cooking. If you have a dehumidifier, use it to help reduce moisture.
• Wipe Down Condensation: Check windows for condensation and wipe it away to stop moisture building up. This will usually be in the mornings….
• Heat Your Home: Try to use the heating in your home for reasonable periods of time to heat your home to a reasonable temperature – say 16 -18c if possible. If you have rooms that are not used frequently it’s not necessary to heat them but please close the door to these rooms.
• Cover Pans When Cooking: Put lids on saucepans to prevent steam from escaping into the air and use the extractor fan to extract moisture or open a window slightly.
• Avoid Blocking Radiators: Don’t put furniture directly in front of radiators. Or, if this is not possible leave a decent gap so heat can circulate properly.
• Manage Curtains: Close curtains at night to keep the warmth in but open them during the day to let in sunlight.
• Avoid Drying Clothes on Radiators: This adds moisture to the air and makes it harder to heat your home. Use a drying rack instead and keep a window slightly open.

You can report damp and mould in your home to us by:

• Visiting one of our offices in person
• Calling us on 01524 582929
• Emailing us at councilhousing@lancaster.co.uk