Damp and mould issues on the rise, according to charity

There has been a rapid increase in damp and mould issues, particularly in private rented accommodation, according to one Yorkshire charity.

North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre saw a 62 per cent rise in issues during the last quarter compared with the same period last year.

The charity says the issue has been exacerbated by the increase in the cost of energy and clients being unable to heat their homes adequately.

Laura Randles, Energy Project Manager at North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre, said: “Damp and mould is prevalent in properties where there are problems with the fabric of the building and poor ventilation. In Scarborough, there is a high proportion of privately rented accommodation and shared housing which is old and poorly insulated and often occupied by vulnerable people.

“This issue is further compounded when it becomes too costly for homeowners or landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.

“We know from speaking to clients that those with health conditions are at greater risk. Sixty-six per cent of the clients we supported with damp or mould issues had a long-term health condition.

“Depending on the health condition or disability, our clients can spend more time at home, especially if they are unable to work. This means that moisture generated from breathing, washing laundry, cooking or showering can lead to more damp and mould. Furthermore, those people would be at risk of health conditions caused by damp and mould, or an existing condition could be made worse.”

Laura and the team work hard to raise awareness among the community and ensure people are aware of the small measures people can take to improve living conditions and prevent issues from happening.

Laura says people can make behavioural changes like avoiding overfilling kettles, reducing time spent in the shower, turning lights off and turning down the temperature of washes to 30 degrees.

The team also encourages people to heat their homes where costs allow to help dry out any damp and condensation on walls and furniture, provides advice on insulation solutions to keep homes as warm as possible, and tips on ventilating their homes to allow excess moisture to escape from the property.

Laura added: “Where possible, having external doors and windows open can reduce the build-up of moisture in the property, as can ensuring extractor fans are working and vents and airbricks aren’t blocked. These measures can help reduce damp and mould issues where they already exist or prevent damp and mould from occurring at all.”

The team is supporting people like David*, a single father of one living in a privately rented property. On a low income, David was struggling to keep his property warm, which was also suffering from damp despite him informing his landlord of issues. The charity was able to support David with income maximisation advice so he could afford to put the heating on.

David was also given practical energy saving tips that could be implemented immediately to reduce his energy consumption and prevent damp issues from building up, which again made his heating more affordable. He was also given advice about how to complain about his living conditions in a bid to resolve issues with his landlord.

*name changed to protect identity

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