Recognising a damp or mouldy home

Early warning signs (often missed)

• Condensation on windows most mornings
• Cold, clammy walls or cupboards; wardrobes that feel “damp”
• Persistent musty odour (especially when returning home)
• Peeling wallpaper, bubbling paint, cracking plaster
• Recurring black staining on silicone/grout
• Swollen skirting boards, warped flooring, rusting fittings

High-risk hidden locations

• Behind wardrobes/sofas on external walls
• Inside cupboards on outside walls
• Under sinks, behind washing machines, around toilets/baths
• Window reveals, behind curtains/blinds
• Loft hatches and boxed-in pipework

Common causes (useful when speaking to landlords)

• Water ingress (doors/windows, defective seals, roof, gutters, downpipes)
• Plumbing leaks (slow leaks behind walls or under floors)
• Ventilation failures (broken/weak extract fans, blocked vents)
• Cold bridging and persistent condensation in poorly insulated areas
• Previous flooding/leaks with inadequate drying

Quick evidence checklist (10 minutes)

1. Take dated photos of any mould, staining, peeling paint, wet patches.
2. Photograph likely sources: door thresholds, window seals, gutters if visible, extractor fans, vents.
3. Write down where the smell is strongest and when it’s worst (after rain, in winter, after showers).
4. Start a brief symptom note (see Page 3) and keep everything in one folder.
5. Report the issue in writing to your landlord/agent and keep screenshots/confirmation.

What not to do (for safety)

• Do not scrape or disturb mouldy plasterboard or insulation yourself.
• Do not rely on bleach-only cleaning as a “solution” (it may not address underlying moisture or embedded contamination).
• Do not accept repeated “paint over and close the ticket” approaches without a cause-and-fix plan.