Damp, mould and repairs to rented properties

In most cases, your landlord is responsible for the repair and maintenance of your rented home. This section provides advice on what to do if your home requires repairs.

How can I report an issue with disrepair?

In most cases, your landlord is responsible for the repair and maintenance of your rented home. If your home needs repairs, in the first instance you should contact your landlord to tell him or her about them. You can use the following example letter to report any repair problems to your landlord and keep a copy of the letter you send. For urgent issues you may also wish to telephone your landlord.

Sample letter for reporting repairs to your landlord (word 14kb)

You can find further information about how to ensure that a rented property is safe to live in on the GOV.UK website:

GOV.UK - How to rent a safe home (external website)

GOV.UK - Guide for tenants: Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (external website)

Landlord not responding?

Before reporting an issue please read the following guide on how to rent a safe home and what to expect if you contact the council:

Information for Tenants and Landlords (pdf 1.3mb)

If you have a problem getting your landlord to do the repairs, let us know and we can offer you advice or arrange to visit and inspect your home:

Report an issue with disrepair

What can I do if my home is damp and mouldy?

Damp and mould can be a problem in many homes leading to damage to the building or even effecting the health of the people living there.

Some dampness is caused by condensation. To find out how condensation forms and how to keep it to a minimum, we have produced the following fact sheet on damp and mould in the home.

Dealing with damp, condensation and mould growth in your home (pdf 214kb)

The government guidance on 'Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home' has recently been published:

GOV.UK - Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home (external website)

The video below demonstrates how to reduce condensation mould growth in your home.

YouTube video - Preventing condensation and damp

Original video from Bradford Council.

Condensation is not the only cause of dampness, it can also come from defects in the building such as leaking pipes, rain seeping through the roof because of missing slates, or from rising dampness.

YouTube video - Shelter - Possible causes of dampness in the home

Original video from Shelter.

If you are renting your home from a private landlord and you believe that repairs are required or there is insufficient heating or insulation, in the first instance you should contact your landlord to advise them of the problems you are experiencing to give them an opportunity to resolve the matter.

If you are not satisfied with the action taken by your landlord you should contact the council’s private sector housing team:

Email the private sector housing team

If you are an owner occupier, unfortunately the council is not able to recommend contractors. Before employing a contractor you should always ask friends or neighbours who you know have had similar work done.

Alternatively, try contacting the recognising trade associations and ask for a list of their members that operate in your area. You can sometimes identify trade associations from the Yellow Pages.

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