Is Damp Bad for You? Health Effects of Living in a Damp Home

If you've discovered damp in your home, you may be wondering: 'Is damp bad for you?' While there's no need to panic, you should deal with damp or mould in your home as quickly as possible, as it can have a negative impact on your health if you're exposed to it for a long period of time.

In this blog, we cover the health effects of living in a damp home, with guidance for both landlords and tenants on identifying and preventing damp and mould.

Understand the risks associated with damp and mould, what landlords' legal responsibilities are for dealing with it, and more with our CPD-certified damp and mould training course.

What are the health effects of damp and mould?

Damp conditions, which promote the growth of mould, can cause a wide range of health conditions if not dealt with quickly. Some of the most common symptoms of long-term exposure to damp and mould include:

• Respiratory problems: Inhaling mould spores can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma attacks, leading to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
• Skin and eye irritation: Mould can produce allergens and irritants that trigger allergic reactions, including skin rashes and eye irritation.
• Infections: In more severe cases, exposure to mould can lead to fungal infections like aspergillosis.
• Mental health issues: A strong correlation has been found between living in damp or mouldy conditions and mental health issues like anxiety, stress, and depression.

Who is most at risk?

Vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of experiencing severe health issues or even death due to living in damp or mouldy conditions.

The tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak was a result of a respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his home, and has resulted in the UK government introducing Awaab's Law - a new piece of legislation that mandates social housing landlords to investigate and resolve damp and mould issues within a strict timeframe.

What other issues can damp and mould cause?

As well as causing potentially serious health problems, damp and mould can have a negative effect on the condition of your property, leading to structural damage and reduced quality of living environments if left untreated.

Damp can weaken walls, ceilings, and floors in your home, leading to costly repairs. You might also find that damp and mould ruin your home furnishings such as carpets, curtains, wallpaper, and furniture, all of which can be costly to replace. It's bad news if you're thinking about selling your property, too, as a damp, mouldy property is less appealing to buyers and can massively decrease the value.

Identifying damp and mould in your home

There are several types of damp that you might find in a property:

• Condensation damp is the most common type of damp you're likely to find. It appears on cold surfaces like windows, external walls, and tiles, and shows as water droplets. Wipe condensation away in particularly wet areas of the home, like the bathroom, kitchen, and windows, to prevent mould growth.
• Penetrating damp is usually caused by leaks or structural issues and is typically found on walls and ceilings. Keep an eye out for damp patches that get worse after rain, peeling paint, or discoloured plaster.
• Rising damp occurs when moisture travels up walls from the ground. Keep an eye out for tide marks on the walls, salt deposits, or damaged skirting boards.

If damp issues go unnoticed or ignored, it might lead to the growth of mould. Common signs of mould include:

• Patches of black, green, white, or brown that may appear fuzzy
• Discoloured patches or stains on walls, ceilings, window frames, or furniture
• A persistent musty or earthy smell
• Warped walls or floors might indicate that mould is growing beneath the surface

Tips for preventing damp and mould

Whether you're a homeowner, landlord, or tenant, there are plenty of things you can do to minimise the risk of damp and mould infiltrating your home.

• Improve ventilation: Use extractor fans and open the windows when cooking or showering and use a dehumidifier if drying clothes indoors.
• Control humidity: Aim to keep your home at a consistent temperature and use a dehumidifier in damp-prone rooms.
• Minimise condensation: Wipe any condensation away from windows and sills, especially during the winter months, and keep lids on pans when cooking to reduce steam.
• Maintain your home: Keep an eye out for leaks in roofs, gutters, or pipes and fix them promptly. If you're a landlord, ensuring your property is structurally sound and making repairs is your responsibility, and you must, by law, deal with any issues swiftly if they're raised by your tenants.

How to safely treat damp and mould

To safely remove small patches of damp and mould from your home, use a specialist mould cleaner or mild bleach solution to wipe the affected surfaces, then dry thoroughly. Unfortunately, you may find that mould cannot be removed from porous materials such as carpets and soft furnishings, so the only option might be to replace these.

Make sure you wear gloves and a mask to avoid breathing in harmful spores, and avoid brushing or vacuuming dry mould as this is likely to spread spores.

For larger areas of mould (over 1m²), or if the mould keeps coming back despite efforts, it's best to get a professional damp specialist to assess your home.

Tenants are not responsible for removing damp and mould in the property they rent, but have an obligation to alert their landlord as soon as they notice the issue. By law, the landlord must arrange to remove the damp and mould promptly, before it spreads and renders the property unsafe to live in. See our blog on tenants’ rights surrounding mould and damp for more information.

Landlords' legal responsibilities for dealing with damp and mould

If you're a landlord, it's your legal responsibility to keep your properties free from damp and mould. Failure to comply can place you at risk of prosecution or financial penalties.

The key pieces of legislation that landlords must comply with are:

• Housing Act 2004: This act states that homes must not contain serious “category 1” hazards, which include issues such as mould and damp.
• Environmental Protection Act 1990: Properties must be free from conditions that could harm health. If damp or mould poses a risk, this act entitles tenants and local authorities to take legal action against the landlord.
• Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 & Landlord and Tenant Act 1985: Landlords are required to ensure their properties are safe and suitable to live in, meaning they must not contain hazards like damp or mould that make them unfit for habitation.
• Decent Homes Standard: Social housing must be kept in good repair and provide sufficient warmth and insulation to reduce the risk of damp and mould problems.
• Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES): Privately rented homes must achieve at least an EPC rating of band E (unless exempt). This requirement helps improve energy efficiency and reduces the likelihood of damp and mould.
• Awaab’s Law: From 27 October 2025, landlords will be legally obliged to deal with serious damp and mould problems within a fixed timeframe if they pose a health risk.

For more information, check out our blog on landlord damp and mould responsibilities.

Understand your responsibilities with CPD-certified damp and mould training

For landlords or those who work in social housing, staying up to date with your legal obligations can be tricky, especially with the introduction of new legislation like Awaab's Law.

Our CPD-certified damp and mould training course is designed to help you identify mould, understand the risks associated with it, and keep track of what legal obligations there are around dealing with it.

Explore our full range of social housing training courses to build the skills, knowledge, and confidence you need to remain compliant and support your tenants.