Tenant Rights Damp And Mould Health Concerns 2025 are becoming more important than ever as growing numbers of renters face issues with their living conditions. If you’re dealing with persistent damp or mould in your rented home, knowing your rights and the responsibilities of your landlord can make a real difference to your health and wellbeing.
If you feel your landlord is ignoring serious damp or mould issues, The Tenant Protection Scheme (TPS) should be your first point of contact. TPS offers affordable legal support to renters struggling with disrepair, giving you immediate access to professional help when it matters most.
Understanding Your Tenant Rights Damp And Mould Health Concerns 2025
Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, which remains fully in force in 2025, landlords in England and Wales are legally required to ensure the property is fit for human habitation throughout your tenancy. This includes keeping the home free from serious issues like rising damp, mould growth and poor ventilation. If any of these problems are affecting your health or making your living space unsafe, your landlord has a duty to respond.
Not all signs of damp and mould are equal. Condensation on cold windows during winter might be manageable, but significant black mould on walls or ceilings due to long-term water damage isn’t just unsightly — it can be hazardous. If you or someone in your home experiences breathing problems, asthma, or frequent coughs, it could be linked to mould spores in your environment.
Steps to Take if Damp or Mould Affects Your Health
If you’re dealing with damp and mould that’s impacting your health, there are clear steps you can (and should) take as a tenant. Acting quickly helps you document the problem early and proves you’ve tried to resolve it through the right channels.
- Notify your landlord in writing. Give as much detail as possible and include photos if you can. Explain how it’s affecting your health or causing damage to your belongings.
- Request a response within a reasonable time. Usually, 14 days is considered fair for non-emergency repairs, but this depends on the severity of the issue.
- Keep records of all communications. Save emails, texts or letters. If your landlord doesn’t respond or refuses to take action, these records can support your case.
- Ask your GP for medical evidence. If you’re being affected physically, a note from your doctor can help prove the connection between the mould and your health.
- Contact your local council’s Environmental Health team. They can carry out a Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) inspection and potentially force your landlord to act.
In serious situations, where the landlord consistently refuses to fix the problem, you may be able to take legal action for disrepair or breach of contract. If successful, this could result in compensation for health impacts, distress and even rent reimbursement for the time affected.
The Tenant Protection Scheme (TPS) is a 24/7 tenant legal helpline offering affordable, solicitor-backed help for eviction defence, disrepair, harassment, rent arrears, deposit disputes, and on-the-day court support across the UK. Membership is £10/month. Learn more at The Tenant Protection Scheme (TPS).
What Are Landlords Responsible For in 2025?
Your landlord’s responsibilities are clearly outlined in law. In 2025, UK landlords must ensure:
- The property is free from hazards like rising damp, toxic mould or structural leaks
- Ventilation and heating systems are properly maintained
- Repairs are dealt with promptly once they’re reported
- Any reported health risk is taken seriously and documented
Importantly, they cannot blame tenants automatically. While tenants are expected to ventilate rooms and not block air flow, most mould and damp issues result from poor maintenance or structural issues, which fall under landlord responsibility.
When to Seek Further Help
If you’ve followed all the right steps and your landlord still isn’t helping, it may be time to escalate. This is especially crucial if your health (or a family member’s) is being affected. Legal support can help ensure your rights are enforced, and you’re no longer living in harmful conditions.
There’s strong legal precedent supporting tenants facing long-term damp and mould, particularly when linked to respiratory conditions. However, cases are strongest with good documentation — so always keep records and photographic proof of your living situation.
Tenants in social housing may have additional routes for redress through the Housing Ombudsman, while private renters can make use of court applications or local council enforcement. In either case, delays can worsen the situation, so don’t wait once you’ve identified a risk.
Understanding your rights is empowering, especially when it comes to complex housing issues like damp and health. With stronger awareness in 2025 around tenant protections, now is the right time to assert your right to a safe, habitable home.
Call The Tenant Protection Scheme today on 0330 633 0299 Don’t wait until it’s too late – start your protection now. For just a small monthly cost you get direct legal support from experts, with your membership active within 24 hours. Call us now to start your protection today.