Report damp and mould

SHP takes damp and mould very seriously and we're working as fast as we can to address reported cases. 

What to do if you notice damp and mould and how we'll respond

  1. Contact our Repairs Team immediately on repairs@suttonhousingpartnership.org.uk or 020 8915 2000.
    • Please state in the subject line ‘damp and mould’ along with your full address.
    • Add as much detail on the issue, for example, if anyone in your household is vulnerable and include pictures of the affected areas.
  2. We will arrange for a surveyor to visit your property to assess the problem.
    • They will provide a fungicidal spray and sponge and demonstrate the best technique to remove the mould.
    • The surveyor will also inspect any repairs needed to prevent the causes of damp in your property.
  3. While you wait for the surveyors’ visit, follow the below guidance to reduce the build up of mould in your home.

Keeping your home free from damp and mould

Tackling mould in your home

  • To kill and remove mould, wipe down walls and window frames with a fungicidal wash which carries a Health and Safety Executive ‘approval number’. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions precisely

  • Dry-clean mildewed clothes, and shampoo carpets. Disturbing mould by brushing or vacuum cleaning can increase the risk of respiratory problems

  • After treatment, redecorate using a good quality fungicidal paint to help prevent mould. Note that this paint is not effective if overlaid with ordinary paints or wallpaper

  • The only lasting way of avoiding severe mould is to eliminate dampness

How to avoid condensation 

These few steps will help you reduce the condensation in your home.

  • Produce less moisture - some ordinary daily activities produce a lot of moisture very quickly

  • Cooking - to reduce the amount of moisture, cover pans and do not leave kettles boiling

  • Paraffin and portable flueless bottled gas heaters - these heaters put a lot of moisture into the air, one gallon of gas or paraffin produces about a gallon of water vapour. If you have a problem with condensation, try to find an alternative means of heating

  • Impact of Drying Clothes - Wet clothing accounts for one of the largest amounts of moisture generation in the home, as the moisture from the clothes will naturally move to the dryer air. Drying them on a radiator is the worst thing that you can do in terms of managing condensation mould. If your only option is to dry your clothes inside then it is best to use a clothes airer and keep the radiators clear. Airers are best positioned where possible in the bathroom as it will be the best ventilated room. Keep the door closed and the window slightly open in the locked position. The worst place to dry clothes is in the bedroom, as the heating is never in the right cycle and we breathe out moisture during the night which adds to the moisture from the clothes

  • If you have a tumble dryer make sure you vent it to the outside (unless it is the self-condensing type). DIY kits are available for this

  • The quickest and easiest way to bring in dry air is through opening and shutting of windows. An option is to open a window and count to five and then close it immediately. If you get cold whilst opening the window then that is too long. This is enough to reset the room as water as a gas is always looking to get out of the house as fast as possible. The object is not to “air” the house for hours at a time. That is only for the summer. The golden rule is to do this in each room before you do any activity such as having a bath or shower or cooking. It should also be done as you get up in the morning to allow any moisture that has built up in the house overnight to evaporate

  • Ventilate to remove the moisture - you can ventilate your home without making draughts. Some ventilation is needed to get rid of moisture being produced all the time, including that from people’s breath

  • Keep a small window ajar or a trickle ventilator open when someone is in the room. You need much more ventilation in the kitchen and bathroom when cooking, washing up, bathing and drying clothes. This means opening the windows wider

  • Better still, use a humidistat controlled electric fan (these come on automatically when the air becomes humid, and are cheap to run)

  • Close the kitchen and bathroom doors when these rooms are in use even if your kitchen or bathroom has an extractor fan

  • Doing this will help stop the moisture reaching other rooms, especially bedrooms, which are often colder and more likely to suffer condensation

  • Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes. Avoid putting too many things in them, as that stops the air circulating

  • Cut a ventilation slot in the back of each shelf or use slatted shelves 

  • Cut ‘breather’ holes in doors and in the back of wardrobes. Leave space between the back of the wardrobe and the wall

  • Put floor-mounted furniture on blocks to allow air underneath. Where possible, position wardrobes and furniture against internal walls (walls which have a room on both sides) rather than against outside walls

  • If you replace your window units at any time, make sure that the new frames incorporate trickle ventilators

  • Insulation in the loft, cavity wall insulation and draught proofing of windows and outside doors will help keep your home warm and you will have lower fuel bills as well.When the whole home is warmer, condensation is less likely.