Damp and mould advice for tenants in private rented housing
When dealing with problems of damp and mould in your rented property, there are slightly different routes you should take depending on who your landlord is.
Tenants in the Social Housing Sector:
If you are a tenant in social housing, there is new legislation in place from 27 October 2025 which sets processes for how your landlord should respond to some problems of damp and mould in your property. The new legislation is not enforced by the Private Sector Housing team and you will instead be able to complain to the Housing Ombudsman if you feel your landlord is not dealing with the damp and mould. The Housing Ombudsman advises the following:
- your landlord must inspect your home when you report damp and mould within their policy timeframes. From 27 October 2025, they must also follow Awaab’s Law rules
- try to reduce moisture in your home when possible. If you think your building is causing the problem, tell your landlord.
- when reporting damp and mould problems, say clearly which rooms are affected and if it’s spreading
- tell your landlord if this is a new problem or one you’ve reported before
- if you are not happy with your landlord’s response you can raise a complaint through their complaints process
- if you are unhappy with your landlord’s final response to your complaint you can contact the Housing Ombudsman
If you are a Vale of the White Horse District Council tenant, please see our web page ‘Damp and mould advice Council Tenants‘ to find out about the council’s approach to damp and mould in the accommodation we provide.
Tenants in the Private Rented Sector:
If you rent your home privately and are experiencing damp or mould caused by disrepair, you should first contact your landlord in writing to report the issue. You should give them at least 14 days to respond and outline what action they will take. You can use our template letter to help you do this.
If you do not receive a satisfactory response, you can contact the Private Sector Housing Team. When contacting us, please include:
- Your name, address, and telephone number
- A description of the problem
- Your landlord’s contact details
- Any photographs showing the issue
Important: The Private Sector Housing Team cannot investigate damp and mould issues that have not first been reported to the landlord. You will be asked to provide evidence that you have raised the matter with them.
When you contact us, you will also be asked to complete a short questionnaire. This helps us understand your situation in more detail and assess your case more effectively. You can find the questionnaire here.
Contact us - Private Sector Housing
01235 422436
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialling)
Vale of White Horse District Council
Private Sector Housing Team
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
