Damp, condensation and mould

Damp and mould around window frame and on wall

Damp, condensation and mould

If you have any concerns about damp, condensation or mould in your home, we are here to help. Preventing and treating damp and mould is a priority for Brighter Places and we take resident concerns very seriously.

Please contact us so we can work together to find ways to resolve the problems you are experiencing. You can contact us by:

• Using our ‘Report a repair’ online form.
• Email info@brighterplaces.co.uk
• Calling us on 0117 942 4600. You can call this number during our office hours, or at any time if it is an emergency.

You can upload photos and videos of damp and mould on the report a repair form or email attachment to help us understand any issues you have.

The causes of damp and mould

Damp and mould can occur for many reasons.

Condensation is probably the biggest cause of mould growth, but it can also be caused by:

Water rising from the ground, known as ‘rising damp’ this can only happen in ground floor rooms.
Water coming in from the outside your home – known as ‘penetrating dampness.’
Plumbing which needs repairing, such as broken seals around the bath, shower, or sinks.

It may or may not be clear why you have damp or mould in your home – in any case please tell us so we can fully investigate.

Our ambition is for our residents to never have cause to complain. However, when problems do occur we want our residents to let us know.

You can contact us to provide any feedback using the methods listed above.

What we will do

The measures we can take to resolve any problems include:

Listen to your concerns and take them seriously.
Come out to inspect your home to find out what work is required.
If needed, complete repair work to fix any structural or plumbing issues.
If needed, make improvements to the ventilation in your home (for example installing extractor fans in your kitchen and bathroom).
If needed, undertake mould treatment.
Contact you after 12 months (or more frequently if necessary) to check that the issues have been resolved and the mould hasn’t returned.

Other ways we can help

There are other ways we can help. For example our Tenancy Sustainment Team might be able to support you to get help with your energy bills.

Tenancy support

What can help

There are things you can try to prevent condensation forming in your home:

Every action will help.

Ventilate your home by opening windows or trickle vents – ideally first thing in the morning and when you are washing or cooking.
Keep bathroom and kitchen doors closed when you are cooking and washing.
Cover pans when cooking.
Wipe windows and sills to remove excess condensation.
Dry clothes either outside or in the bathroom with an extractor fan on or window open.
Keep a warm home (ideally 18 °C).
Leave at least a 5cm gap between the wall and any furniture and belongings.
Don’t overfill your wardrobes so air can circulate inside.
Avoid using paraffin or bottled gas heaters.
Look out for leaks and report them to us a soon as possible so we can deal with them quickly. Use a bucket or bowl to collect drips. Then use a mop or towel to keep surfaces dry while we arrange a repair.

Remember – excess condensation is the main cause of black mould. Mould is harmful to your health. That is why it is important to contact us straight away so we can work together to find ways to resolve the issues you are experiencing.

You can contact us by:

You can upload photos and videos of damp and mould on the report a repair form or email attachment to help us understand any issues you have.

How to prevent condensation

Here you'll find information about condensation and more details about things that you can try to help reduce moisture in your home.

more info

Cost of living help and advice

Our cost of living web page is updated regularly with local and national advice and support.

If you’re finding it tough financially we can provide immediate assistance with our Tenant Support Fund that provides up to £350 shopping or energy vouchers.

Energy bills help and advice

If you’re struggling with the increasing cost of energy our keeping warm web page has some helpful advice and support.

Keeping warm

Centre for Sustainable Energy advice

The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), a national charity supporting people and organisations in the UK to end the suffering caused by cold homes, and to tackle the climate emergency, has some helpful advice leaflets.

You can access the CSE leaflets here.

Some of these leaflets are available in different languages, including Arabic and Polish on the CSE website.

If you would like to discuss any of the advice or energy efficiency measures outlined in the CSE advice leaflets above, please contact us.