Damp, mould and condensation

Some questions we get asked are below. You might also find our leaflet Damp and mould in your home: advice, prevention and when to contact us useful.

Condensation is caused by moisture in the air turning intro droplets when it comes into contact with a cold surface; it’s the most common cause of damp and mould in homes. The most obvious sign is mist and water droplets on windows, where the temperature outside is colder than in.

Moisture is common when you’re doing everyday jobs like cooking, drying clothes, and washing – but even breathing whilst you’re asleep can cause condensation on your bedroom window!

In extreme cases, too much condensation can cause black mould to appear on windows, walls, floors, ceilings and furniture, and it can also cause woodwork to rot.

Mould is caused by excess water, and in a home, is often the result of condensation. If you don’t deal with condensation mould it can lead to problems that can affect your health (i.e. respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis and asthma) and the condition of your home.

To read a resident’s guide to condensation, please click here. As with our other publications, we will do our best to offer a translation service in a different language if this would be helpful. This may include using a translator to speak to you about the content of a publication rather than giving you a hard copy of your own. We also do our best to offer large print or audio versions of publications. Contact the Soha Communications team at communications@soha.co.uk.

There are ways that you can prevent condensation mould from being a problem at home, which are listed in the drop-down below.

Condensation is actually different to damp.

Damp is where water gets into the home from the outside through the walls, floors, roof or from leaking pipes. Signs of damp are more usually associated with ‘tidemarks’ on walls and ceilings. Tidemarks look like stains or patches on your walls. They can be circular, odd shaped, or look like drips running down surfaces.

Damp is unhealthy, smelly and can encourage the growth of mould and mites, which often looks like a cloud of little black dots; it can also cause plaster to bubble and wallpaper to peel away.

If you see any of these marks in your home, please report them to us immediately through the MySoha app, by emailing housing@soha.co.uk, by calling on 0800 014 15 45 (Freephone), or in person at our offices during our opening hours.

Whilst cooking

• Keeping lids on pans when cooking can reduce steam
• Boil as much water as you need in the kettle and don’t leave them boiling for longer than needed
• It’s good to let any steam out an open window as soon as it appears.

Drying clothes

• Where possible, drying washing outdoors on a washing line will reduce moisture in your home – but we know this isn’t always practical!
• During the colder months, if you have to dry your clothes inside, hang clothes in the bathroom – close the door, open the window and keep the extractor fan on.
• Electric-powered dehumidifiers are also an option to remove moisture from the air, but they can be costly to run.
• If you use a vented tumble dryer, make sure the vent takes the moisture straight outside (unless it has a condenser).

Hanging clothing over radiators, on doors, or on furniture will create extra moisture in your home, so we don’t recommend it.

Keeping moisture at bay

• Each morning, wipe moisture off windows and glass doors with a clean cloth
• Keeping the bathroom door shut when bathing or showering will stop the moisture spreading through your home
• Let moist air out by opening a window, or using your extractor fan if you have one
• Trickle vents can be your best friend! Trickle vents are small vents which you can open to help air flow through – check your windows to see if you have them.
• Leave gaps between furniture and walls, and leave wardrobes and cupboards open occasionally, as this lets the air circulate
• Leave gaps between your furniture and radiators, so that the heat can circulate properly too

Heating your home

Cold rooms are more likely to get damp and mould so, in colder weather, consider keeping your heating on a low setting all day.

• Set the thermostatic radiator valve to 1 (low) in unused rooms to give out a little bit of heat
• If you don’t have central heating, consider using a room heater with a timer and temperature control
• Portable calor gas or paraffin heaters produce high levels of humidity, so they’re not recommended to use in your home
• Remember that rooms you don’t use will often need airing
• Draft-proofing your home and insulating pipe-work will help to cut fuel bills and help keep warmth in.

Decorating your home

When re-decorating, use an anti-fungicidal paint or wallpaper paste.

If you find mould in your home, it needs to be cleaned off properly as soon as possible. Washing the mould away as soon as possible can reduce the risk of further growth.

If you’ve taken a picture of it, you don’t have to wait to show us the mould in person.

How to safely wash away mould

• Buy a black mould or mildew remover – they available in most supermarkets
• Also buy a fungicidal wash, which says on the container that it kills black mould
• Carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions and any safety precautions printed on the containers that you use
• Leave the washed areas to dry overnight and then spray the area with an anti-fungal wash and allow that to dry

We don’t recommend one brand over another, but it’s a good idea to read the container carefully before purchasing. Please take all the safety precautions, and follow the recommended instructions printed on the container, when applying.

If you spot any damp or mould forming anywhere in your home, please report it to us as soon as possible through MySoha, by emailing housing@soha.co.uk, by calling 0800 014 15 45 (Freephone) or in person at our offices during opening hours.

Reports of damp and mould must be dealt with by Soha within set timelines. Please find these timelines outlined in our damp and condensation policy.