New guidance: Health risks of damp and mould in the home

The government’s new, non-binding guidance ‘Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home’ makes it clear that investigating the causes of damp and mould, such as ventilation or the structure of properties, and taking action to deal with them, are the landlord’s responsibility and tenants should not be blamed.

The guidance covers:

• health risks such as respiratory problems, eczema and mental health issues, particularly those affecting children and other vulnerable people;
• regulations requiring landlords to diagnose defects in premises and take remedial action;
• landlords' responses to reports of a problem, ensuring they follow best practice – for example, that they act sensitively and urgently, tailor their response to their tenants’ circumstances and characteristics, and provide full information, including timescales, on follow-up action such as provision of alternative accommodation; and
• risk reduction measures such as tenant-friendly systems and policies that record the condition of let properties and reports of damp and mould and give access to them to the appropriate staff and professionals, and procedures ensuring properties are inspected between lets.

Operative date

• Now

Recommendation

• Landlords and agents should check out the guidance on the GOV.UK website, review their properties to identify which may be affected, review their policies and procedures and the skills of their staff and contractors, and take any other steps required to ensure compliance.