Damp & Mould advice
In the last few months, we have spoken to lots of families who are concerned about damp in their homes. After the coroner shared their verdict, that two-year-old Awaab Ishak’s death was due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home, many parents and carers turned to their GPs for support.
The coroner, Joanne Kearsley, said “I’m sure I’m not alone in having thought: how does this happen? How, in the UK in 2020, does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?”. We hope that Awaab’s tragic death will have a lasting impact and that more will be done when families and healthcare professionals raise concerns around damp and other housing issues.
We have put together some advice on how to raise concerns and get help with damp.
Why is mould dangerous?
As mould grows it produces spores. Breathing in or touching mould spores can lead to an allergic reaction, cause breathing issues and can lead to asthma attacks.
Having smaller airways means that babies and children are more vulnerable to the health effects of mould.
How does mould form?
Mould is a type of fungus that grows in cool, damp conditions.
Dampness in our homes can be caused by different things:
- Homes not having proper insulation, ventilation or heating (or a combination of all of these) can lead to condensation*
- Leaks from water and waste pipes
- A problem with how the building was designed
- Rising damp in basements or ground floors, where water rises up from the ground
- Rain seeping in because of a damaged roof or window frames
To fix the problem you need to work out what is causing dampness in your home and if any repair work is needed.
*Condensation happens when moist air comes into contact with a cool surface e.g. on mirrors and tiles after a shower. Opening a window and keeping your house well ventilated will help stop condensation
What can I do to prevent dampness?
If possible, making these everyday changes can help prevent mild cases of damp:
- Hang your washing outside to dry
- Open windows for at least 10 minutes a day
- Wipe down windows if there’s water on the inside
- Use extractor fan and put lids on pans when cooking
- Dehumidifiers can be expensive. Make your own moisture trap by putting salt or cat litter (or other substances that absorb moisture from the air) into an open pot/tray on your window sill (windows can be a hotspot for mould growth)
- The World Health Organisation recommends keeping inside temperatures between 18-21 degrees Celsius
The Cost of Living Crisis has forced many families to cut down on heating or not turn the heating on at all. You might be eligible for support from the government to help with the cost of heating, visit your local council’s website for more information e.g.
Cost of Living Support Hub | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (rbkc.gov.uk)
Cost of living support hub and strategy | Westminster City Council
What should I do if there is mould in my home?
If it is only a small amount of mould you can use white vinegar or a mould remover spray (bleach is not recommended). Hammersmith and Fulham have more advice at the bottom of their webpage on how to tackle mould. For large areas of mould you might need to contact a professional
Private property (rental):
- Report damp or mould to your landlord
- Read more about repairs and damp on the Citizen’s Advice website, including what to do if your landlord has ignored your complaint
- GLA warm homes grant
Private property (owned):
- Green Doctors or GLA warm homes grant
Social Housing
- Contact your housing association/housing management organisation, you can find contact details in the ‘For local healthcare professionals – contacts for reporting and repairs’ section
For everyone:
- Speak to your GP or healthcare professional if you are worried that your housing is affecting your child’s health
- Contact your local environmental health team, search ‘environmental health team’ and the Borough you live in for contact details for your local team
For local healthcare professionals – contacts for reporting and repairs
Contact details for Hammersmith and Fulham
Contact details for Kensington and Chelsea
Contact details for Westminster
Resources and useful links
Can damp and mould affect my health? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Adapted information from South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust “Preventing damp and mould in your home” J26774_Damp_and_Mould_leaflet_2022_v3.pdf (swft.nhs.uk)
With thanks to Catherine Handley, Senior Public Health Strategist, and Dr Liz Brutus, Deputy Director of Public Health, from Westminster City Council and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, for their input.
