Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week
Supporting Landlords, Tenants and Homeowners
In support of Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week (20 to 26 October 2025), we've compiled our most useful resources to tackle damp and mould.
Read on for the damp and mould treatment essentials, as well as information on Awaab's Law (which comes into effect for the social rented sector from Monday 27 October 2025).
What is Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week?
Damp and mould affects an estimated 27% of households in England. In 2018, health issues stemming from the most serious dampness cost the NHS £38 million.
Spearheaded by Aico, this pan-industry event aims to tackle the causes of damp and mould in homes across the UK.
In support of Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week, we're here to offer our knowledge to help your home or properties remain dry, comfortable and safe this winter.
Damp and Mould Causes
Damp and mould from condensation develop when warm indoor air meets a cold surface and reaches its dew point. Everyday moisture from showers, cooking and clothes drying raises relative humidity and vapour pressure, so water moves to the coldest spots and condenses.
In UK homes we often keep background heat modest and the air change rate low, which lets surfaces sit below the dew point, especially at thermal bridges such as window reveals, corners and lintels. If those areas stay damp for hours, mould spores settle, colonise the surface and grow into visible mould.
Manage moisture at source, keep steady background warmth and ensure effective ventilation to keep surface temperatures above dew point and break the cycle of mould growth.
The question is: how can we all achieve that?
Remember: prevention is always better than cure!
Preventing damp and mould caused by condensation is about keeping indoor humidity in check while ensuring that the room temperature remains warm and stable.
Use proper extraction during moisture-generating activities. Open windows or turn on ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms while cooking or cleaning. Reduce indoor moisture further by keeping lids on pans, keeping bathroom doors shut during showers and drying laundry with a vented tumble dryer instead of on radiators.
Keep trickle vents open and open windows for a minimum 5 to 10 minutes in the morning and evening to swap stale air for drier outside air without losing too much heat.
In summation, as long as room temperatures are consistently above 18 ℃ and relative humidity remains between 40 and 60%, your home should stay dry and mould-free.
TIP: One window in every room at the front and back of the house should be slightly (cracked) open at all times.. Throughout the night the same must apply but perhaps just the upstairs window for security and safety purposes. Yes some heat will escape, but thats part of the cost of living - Wrapping yourselves up warmer is all part of the cold season.
Mould caused by condensation is the tenants responsibilty because its all to do with lifetstyle, Hoever their is also various forms of damp
Rising Damp, Penetrating damp, and traumatic damp.
Rising damp occurs when groundwater rises through capillaries in masonry to saturate it, this is from the ground up.
Penetrating damp is the process of moisture moving from the exterior wall of a building to the interior, such as gutters overflowing and penetrating the brickwork.
Traumatic damp is defined as dampness caused by a building defect that lets moisture into the home, this could just be a leaking pipe.
If you believe you have one of these three damp issues you MUST inform your landlord immediatley.
