Damp and mould in your home

What damp and mould are

Damp is excess moisture in your home — on walls, ceilings, around windows, or behind furniture. Mould is what tends to grow on damp surfaces: usually black, grey, or green patches.

It's almost always a sign of a building problem (a leak, poor ventilation, cold spots) combined with day-to-day moisture from cooking, washing, drying clothes, or just breathing. It's rarely "your fault" or "the building's fault" alone — it's usually a bit of both.

Why we take this seriously

Damp and mould can affect your health. People with asthma, allergies, or breathing problems are most at risk, but anyone living with persistent mould is more likely to get colds, chest infections, and skin irritation.

Under Awaab's Law — named for two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 from prolonged exposure to mould in a social home — landlords have to investigate damp reports quickly and fix the cause. The law is being extended to private rentals in October 2026, and we're getting ahead of it: every report goes through the same fast, structured process, regardless of what the law currently requires.

If you've spotted damp or mould

Don't paint over it, don't ignore it, and don't worry about whether you "should" report it — you should. Here's what to do:

1. Open the F&A Housing app on your phone and sign in.
2. Tap the Damp & mould tile on your dashboard.
3. Tap Report damp or mould and fill in the short form.
4. Add 1–6 photos if you can — they help us understand the problem before we visit.

What happens next

Once you submit a report:

1. Your property manager is notified straight away. They'll acknowledge the report — faster if it's urgent, within a few working days otherwise.
2. An inspection is arranged. We'll come and have a proper look, take measurements if needed, and figure out what's causing it.
3. We decide what to do — that might be a repair, a deeper survey, advice on ventilation and heating, or a combination. You'll get a written summary of what we found and what we're going to do.
4. About a month later we check in to make sure it hasn't come back. If it has, we open it again — no need to file a new report.