The Risks of Living in a Home with Damp and Mould
Mould growth is caused by too much moisture in the air, mould emits spores which can impact your health. Some people are particularly sensitive to them, such as babies and young children, older people and those with allergies or asthma.
For those with allergies, breathing in or touching mould spores can cause severe reactions, including asthma attacks, fever, and shortness of breath, while for others, mould can bring on a runny nose, red or itchy eyes and irritated skin.
How To Identify Damp and Mould?
The reason condensation appears is due to moisture being present in the house, and the lack of adequate ventilation and heating. If not managed, condensation can lead to mould which can be potentially harmful to people and property. If condensation isn’t prevented, mould will start to develop and, in ideal conditions, can germinate in 24 hours and you will be able to see the mould within two to three weeks. The longer that moisture is present, the greater the chance for mould to grow and spread.
If your home is suffering from mould, you may notice a musty or damp smell, black or green marks on the walls. Mould shows up quite clearly on many different wall surfaces. If your home is suffering from condensation and mould you will start to see signs of it very quickly, such as:
- Damp or wet walls, windows, and furniture
- Peeling wallpaper
- Signs of mould growth
- A musty smell on clothes in wardrobes
How To Report Damp and Mould?
If you find that a repair is needed, please report it to us as soon as possible. You can use the web form through our website via the Resident Portal to request a repair or you can telephone us on 020 8800 9606.
What Steps Will IDS Take When Reported?
Our repairs team will discuss with you what you can see and may request further information such as images, the location of the issue, and if any residents are sensitive to mould.
The repairs team may arrange a surveyor visit your property to carry out an assessment, prior to sending maintenance operatives to carry out works.
The repairs team will also discuss and provide you with the following information:
- Ways to prevent damp and mould appearing in your home.
- Have you already tried to wash down?
- How are you heating your home?
- What ventilation do you have in your home?
- Are the vents in the kitchen and bathrooms working?
- Do you have a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system in your property and is it on and working correctly?
A copy of our Damp and Mould Prevention Guidance Booklet will be provided either by post or electronically via email. The link to this booklet is here Damp Mould Prevention Guidance Leaflet.pdf
Actions to Treat the Problem
The repairs team will:
- Send a Maintenance Operative to treat the mould, using our preferred industry leading approach of MGC 3 stage mould wash treatment. Information on MGC can be found here Black Mould Removal Products | Black Mould Treatments (mgcltd.co.uk)
- Inform you who will attend and offer suitable timeframes for the visit.
- Arrange other repairs or improvements required that have been identified during the process, for example the installation of ventilation.
Advice on Prevention of Condensation in Your Home
Reports of mould or damp repairs will be treated as an urgent repair, which we commit to completing mould treatment within seven working days. Further works may take longer to complete but our priority will be to eradicate the immediate risk of mould within the first seven days of the report. Priority will be given to households who have babies and young children, older people, and those with allergies or respiratory ill health such as asthma.
Follow up After Works
After works to your home are completed, we will set an alert to reach out to you after six months to check that all have been successful, and you are not continuing to experience issues with damp and mould. If you do experience a recurrence, please report it to us in the usual way.
