Action to combat household damp and mould

They will be responsible for surveying and repairing properties, and for providing practical advice to tenants.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Virginia Moran, said: “The health and safety of our tenants is a priority for us so it is important that we can gain access when required to help with damp and mould issues, which often stem from condensation through poor ventilation.

“Staff from our new team will visit to conduct inspections and book the work required to make improvements. They will assess any damp and mould issues and take forward all necessary actions.

“As a responsible landlord we are pleased to be able to provide a consistent and timely response when an issue is reported to us by our council tenants.

“Fortunately, there is a lot that people can do for themselves to prevent mould forming. Ensuring the home is well heated and ventilated is the first step, which we can also advise on.”

A key message is that one of the main causes is poor ventilation.

A Condensation, Mould and Damp Control leaflet can be downloaded from SKDC’s website which includes a key section on the many ways to reduce the amount of moisture vapour.

This can be found online alongside more advice on damp, mould and condensation at: www.southkesteven.gov.uk/dampmould 

Condensation is when excess moisture in the air changes to a liquid and can occur in kitchens, bathrooms or bedrooms – in fact any room where the moisture is combined with cold surfaces and little ventilation.

The main activities which produce a lot of water quickly are cooking, washing and drying clothes, and having baths or showers. Where clothes are dried indoors the total moisture can be over 20 litres, or 36 pints, a day. It is important to open windows to allow moisture to escape and air to flow through.

In occupied rooms, some ventilation is needed all the time to get rid of the moisture being produced, including that produced by breathing. General advice is to keep a small window or a trickle vent open. This is the small vent usually part of the window frame. It will not combat condensation alone but will help the air to circulate.

People living in a private rented property who think dampness is a result of the building fabric rather than the way it is used, or that a building lacks the ability to be properly ventilated, must contact their landlord.

If your landlord is SKDC, then damp and/or mould should be reported via 01476 406080.