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Damp and mould advice

Advice for Council Tenants: Reporting damp and mould

We take reports of damp and mould very seriously and are committed to keeping your home safe and healthy. Under Awaab’s Law, we must investigate and resolve hazards within strict legal timeframes.

If you notice damp or mould, please contact us immediately on 01636 650 000. You can also contact us via email or in person. 

What to expect when reporting damp and mould

When you report an issue, how we respond will depend on whether it is classed as an emergency hazard or a significant hazard.

  • Emergency hazards include severe mould causing health risks and electrical danger.

    We will inspect your home within 24 hours of being made aware of the potential hazard and make your home safe. If we cannot remove the emergency hazard, we will provide you with alternative temporary accommodation until the hazard has been removed. 
  • Significant hazards include persistent mould or worsening damp.

    We will inspect your home within 10 working days of being made aware of the potential hazard.

    We will provide a written summary within 3 working days of the investigation's conclusion.

    Necessary repair works will begin within 5 working days of the written investigatory report being issued, if the hazard could pose a significant risk to the health or safety of your household.

    There may be circumstances where it is not reasonably practicable to complete the relevant repair works within this time frame. These works will be completed within 12 weeks. 

  • If there is not an emergency hazard or significant hazard identified, these repairs will be completed within 30 working days. 

Visiting your home

We will arrange a visit to your home and do the following:

  • Examine your property to see if any repairs are needed to remedy the issue, such as a leaking gutter or roof repairs
  • Consider any small improvements we can make to the home to reduce the likelihood of issues happening in the future, such as increasing ventilation or insulation
  • Check that your heating system is working correctly

Things you can do to help

There are some things that you can do which will help reduce moisture in the home which can contribute to mould, such as:

  • Drying clothes outdoors or in well heated and ventilated spaces
  • Cooking with lids on pans
  • Keep air vents clean and trickle vents open on windows
  • Keeping your home warm around 18°c
  • Always run your extractor fan or open a window when cooking or showering
  • Pull furniture and beds away from external walls and corners of rooms to improve air movement in your home

Our Damp and Mould Policy

You can find out more within our Damp and Mould Policy here: Damp Mould Policy (PDF File, 169kb)