Tackling mould in social homes
Tackling mould and and disrepair in social housing is a growing problem. The 2023-24 English Housing Survey shows 7% of social-rented homes were damp. 4% had hazards rated at the most dangerous level [1].
By Victoria Wan
Living with persistent mould or serious disrepair is incredibly stressful. At Citizens Advice we see clients waiting months, even years, for basic repairs. They endure frequent unanswered calls and a constant blame game between contractors and landlords.
Our research reveals the consequences for clients and their families can be huge.
Keep the windows open!
Client 1 lives with her young child in a flat plagued by severe mould. Her Housing Association’s (HA) only advice was to keep the windows open, leaving the flat freezing cold. To make matters worse, a broken front door leaves them feeling unsafe. Repeated calls for a replacement have been ignored.
Stuck!
Client 2 has been reporting six mouldy doors for five years. The HA agreed they all needed replacing but failed to complete the job; on one occasion a worker arrived to solve the problem with a single door! The continuing disrepair prevented the client from moving in a mutual house exchange; she was stuck in an unsuitable and potentially unsafe home.
Mould matters!
We have helped multiple clients by helping them buy dehumidifier. This works up to a point but is a temporary fix for a much bigger problem. Tenants pay the real cost of inaction in their health and finances.
CAEE advisers hear about:
- Clothing and bedding that smell or rot within days.
- Soaring energy bills from constant heating.
- Worsened health problems and even ambulance call-out.
Tackling mould and disrepair must go beyond dehumidifiers to long-term solutions. Everyone has a right to a safe home. Learn what you can do if you have damp or mould in your rented home.
Awaab’s Law
The government has taken a vital step forward by expanding Awaab’s Law to the social-rented sector. There will be strict new timescales for landlords to fix hazards like damp and mould [2]. Yet the law’s success depends entirely on robust enforcement and a commitment to fixing homes properly.
We urge the government to:
- Strengthen the regulator’s power to inspect and hold landlords accountable.
- Provide secure, long-term funding to retrofit homes and fix root causes.
- Expand legal aid so tenants can enforce their rights.
Need help? If you’re struggling to get your HA to act, contact us. We can explain your rights and help you through the complaint process. Don’t put up with unsafe housing—talk to us today.
[1] Chapters for English Housing Survey 2023 to 2024: Headline findings on housing quality and energy efficiency. Gov.uk
[2] Improving the quality of social housing and strengthening tenant voice: Statement made on 6 February 2025. UK Parliament.