What Are My Responsibilities for Damp and Mould as a Landlord?

Damp and mould are no longer seen as minor maintenance issues. In the UK, they are now recognised as serious health hazards, particularly for vulnerable occupants, and landlords have clear legal responsibilities to investigate, resolve, and prevent them.

Understanding these responsibilities is essential for protecting tenants, maintaining property value, and avoiding enforcement action.

Legal Responsibilities: The Basics

Landlords in England and Wales must ensure their properties are free from hazards that could affect tenant health under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Damp and mould are classified as potential Category 1 hazards, meaning local authorities can require corrective action if conditions are considered harmful.

Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, rental properties must be fit for human habitation throughout the tenancy. This includes ensuring that properties are free from serious damp and mould problems that could impact occupants’ wellbeing.

In addition, the introduction of Awaab’s Law (coming into force through the Social Housing Regulation Act) strengthens the expectation that damp and mould issues must be investigated and addressed within defined timeframes, particularly in the social housing sector, with private rental enforcement expected to follow similar principles over time.

Check out our Awaab's Law Checklist HERE.

What Landlords Must Do in Practice

In practical terms, landlords are responsible for:

1. Investigating reported issues promptly: When tenants report damp or mould, landlords must take the complaint seriously and arrange inspection without delay. Ignoring reports or relying on surface-level cleaning is not considered an acceptable response.

2. Identifying the root cause: Damp and mould are often symptoms of underlying building problems such as poor insulation, inadequate ventilation, thermal bridging, or water ingress. Simply repainting affected areas or applying anti-mould treatments does not resolve the issue if the building defect remains.

3. Carrying out appropriate remedial works: Once the cause is identified, landlords must undertake suitable repairs or upgrades. This may include ventilation improvements, insulation upgrades, roof or fabric repairs, or broader retrofit works designed to address moisture risks at a structural level.

4. Keeping clear records: Maintaining inspection reports, contractor documentation, moisture readings, and records of completed works is increasingly important. Good documentation demonstrates due diligence if complaints escalate or enforcement action occurs.

5. Preventing recurrence: Landlords are expected not only to fix existing problems but also to ensure that buildings are managed and upgraded in a way that reduces the risk of mould returning. This often requires a whole-property approach rather than isolated repairs.

Why Damp and Mould Issues Are Increasing

Many UK housing properties, particularly older homes, were built without modern insulation or ventilation strategies. As properties are upgraded to improve airtightness and energy efficiency, moisture risks can increase if ventilation and building fabric improvements are not designed together.

This is why retrofit-led solutions are becoming increasingly important. Addressing insulation, ventilation, heating, and moisture management as a coordinated strategy helps ensure compliance while improving long-term building performance.

How a Structured Retrofit Approach Helps Landlords Stay Compliant

For landlords managing multiple properties or housing portfolios, reacting to individual complaints can quickly become inefficient and costly. A structured retrofit assessment programme can help identify high-risk properties, prioritise works, and create long-term compliance strategies.

Professional retrofit consultants can:

• Diagnose the root causes of damp and mould using building performance assessments

• Develop whole-house improvement plans aligned with current regulations

• Provide compliant documentation and evidence for funding or regulatory requirements

• Deliver long-term solutions that improve EPC ratings, reduce maintenance costs, and improve tenant wellbeing

Final Thoughts

Damp and mould responsibilities for landlords are becoming more clearly defined and more actively enforced. The shift is moving away from cosmetic repairs towards evidence-based building performance solutions that address root causes.

For landlords, housing associations, and portfolio owners, the most effective approach is to move from reactive maintenance to proactive property improvement planning. Whole-property retrofit strategies not only reduce compliance risks but also improve energy performance, asset value, and tenant satisfaction.

How Target Green can help

If you manage rental properties and want to understand your exposure to damp and mould risks, Target Green can support you with building assessments, retrofit design, and long-term compliance planning. Get in touch to discuss how a proactive strategy can protect both your tenants and your portfolio.