What Are Damp, Mould, and Condensation?
Condensation happens when warm air meets a cold surface, like water on a window after a shower. Dealing with condensation can prevent damp and mould.
Damp is when water gets into your home from leaks, rain, or the ground, causing wet patches.
Mould is a fungus that grows where there’s too much moisture. It can cause health problems, especially for people with allergies or breathing issues.
What We’ll Do to Help
We take damp and mould problems very seriously. Here’s what you can expect from us after you report a problem:
If you report mould and there are no previous reports, an operative will attend your home within 20 days. They will wipe down, treat and decorate the affected area, using stain block.
If there is history of a similar problem or stain blocking has previously been completed on the affected area, a surveyor will inspect your home within 10 working days. Any repairs needed will be done within a timescale depending on the urgency of the work.
If you report damp, a surveyor will attend your home to assess the potential causes and raise any further surveys or works needed.
We’ll call you 3 months after repairs to check everything’s okay.
How You Can Help Prevent Damp, Mould, and Condensation
By reducing the amount of moisture in your home, you can prevent condensation which will stop mould from forming. The best way to do this is to increase air circulation in your home.
Tips for preventing damp, mould and condensation
Open windows and use extractor fans to let moisture out.
Make sure to do this when you’re cooking or bathing. Extractor fans are cheap to run and some operate automatically when moisture levels in rooms are high, so please leave them running and use any ‘booster’ functions when cooking or bathing.
Please report any broken extractor fans immediately so we can repair them.
Wipe away water on windows, tiles, and walls.
Use a cloth to remove condensation from the windows and windowsills of your home every morning. Wipe down bathroom tiles and shower screens after bathing to avoid moisture being released into the air.
Keep your home warm to stop damp.
It is best to have your home at a consistent temperature of 14º or above. If you need help with heating costs, contact our Welfare Benefits Team on 03000 11 00 11 or email Welfare.Benefits@northstarhg.co.uk.
Avoid drying clothes on radiators
Hang them outside if you can. If you can’t, dry them in the bathroom on an airer with the door closed and the extractor fan on (or in another well-heated room with the windows open and the door closed).
Leave space between walls and furniture.
Don’t push furniture right up against the wall or radiators.
Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes
This can be done by providing breather holes in the units’ false backs. Do not overfill cupboards and wardrobes and use slatted shelves if possible.