New guidance has been issued by The Property Ombudsman following two surveys of letting and managing agents, aiming to tackle condensation, damp, and mould issues in rental homes.
A survey of 719 letting agents revealed that nearly all had dealt with properties suffering from damp and mould, while 42% reported ongoing issues.
Despite 72% of agents feeling confident about resolving these problems quickly, 9% expressed doubts about landlords’ abilities to recognise these issues.
In 2023, The Property Ombudsman received more than 1,000 enquiries related to damp and mould, resulting in more than 200 cases investigated.
Research indicated that agents unsure about recognising damp and mould could slow resolution times, with 23% believing landlords needed educating on the consequences of such problems.
The guidance aims to help tenants, agents, and landlords identify signs of damp and mould, along with preventative measures.
Key recommendations include: ensuring proper heating and ventilation, using extractor fans, keeping windows open, cleaning any condensation and using anti-fungal products on mould.
Rebecca Marsh, The Property Ombudsman, said: “Our research shows what a complex issue this is. Condensation, damp, and mould are interlinked and caused by a variety of factors: environmental, structural, and behavioural.
“One thing is clear, we need to work with renters, landlords, and agents to prevent it occurring.
“We’ve published some simple guides which we’ll share with businesses, landlords and tenants to ensure greater awareness of the causes and symptoms, how to report it and the risks in living in damp and mouldy conditions.
“We welcome the Government’s plans for further protections for tenants in the private sector as we’ve seen the devastating effects of properties not being adequately repaired or maintained.”
