If you have damp and mould in your home you could be more likely to suffer from respiratory issues. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system so it is important to treat it. If you have symptoms, speak to your pharmacist or GP.
View our damp and mould guide which gives you advice for keeping your home damp-free.
You can also watch this short video about how you can keep your home free from condensation and mould.
Reporting damp and mould in your home
Before you start treating a damp area, you will need to find the cause. If the issue has not gone away after following the guidance on this page, you can report it online.
You can report it to Environmental Health using the Report a privately rented home issue webform, or email environmental.health@harrow.gov.uk.
Requesting a repair as a council tenant
Council tenants must request repairs through their Council Housing Account. To request a repair:
- Sign in to your MyHarrow Account
- Your MyHarrow Account must be linked to your Council Housing Account. For help on how to do this, see How to link to your Housing Account,
- Access your Council Housing Account from the Housing and Property page
If you are a council tenant and have concerns about a serious damp or mould issue you can call 020 8901 2630. A housing advisor can discuss options for further investigation and repair.
Report a damp issue in a privately rented house
When reporting a damp or mould issue in your home you will need:
- to enter your address details
- to confirm if there are any vulnerable members of your household
- describe more details about the issue
- upload photos (optional).
Advice for keeping your home damp-free
Condensation occurs when warm air comes into contact with a cooler surface. It can appear as droplets on walls, ceilings, furniture and windows.
It tends to be worse in winter and this extra moisture known as damp, often turns into black mould. You may have damp in your home due to:
- leaking supply and waste pipes
- slipped roof tiles or worn flat roofs
- blocked guttering
- gaps around window frames
- cracked rendering and brickwork.
Prevent condensation in your home
The only lasting way to reduce condensation is to improve ventilation. You can do this by following these steps:
Control moisture levels
- Dry clothes outside when possible, or on a clothes dryer in a sunny, well ventilated area. Don't dry laundry on radiators.
- When bathing or showering use the extractor fan and keep windows open.
- When cooking cover pans and use the extractor fan. Keep internal doors closed and ensure kitchen windows are open.
- If you see any moisture on mirrors, windows and tiles around the home, wipe these down using a dry towel.
Control heat and ventilation
- Keep a small window or a trickle ventilator open in occupied rooms. Don’t block air vents.
- Aim to keep temperatures between 18˚C and 21˚C in main living areas. In cold weather, keep low heating on, even when no one is home. This is better than shorter bursts of high heat.
- It is important that your heating system is serviced regularly.
- Consider insulating your home and laying thick carpet with thermal underlay.
If you are worried about rising energy costs financial help and advice is available. You can seek support through the Household support fund.