If your home is damp, it is most likely due to condensation.
This happens when warm, damp air - such as steam from cooking - meets a cold surface like a window, wall or water pipe.
There are some simple ways of reducing condensation in your home.
We ask all residents who report condensation to follow these guidelines for six weeks.
If problems continue after this time, we will arrange for a member of staff to visit you.
How to avoid condensation
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keep lids on saucepans and switch off kettles as soon as they boil
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keep kitchen and bathroom doors closed
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avoid using paraffin and portable flue-less bottled gas heaters as these create a lot of moisture in the air
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dry your washing outdoors if possible, not over radiators
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if you have a tumble dryer, vent it to the outside unless it is self-condensing. You can buy DIY kits to do this
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open windows in kitchens and bathrooms when they’re in use. Or use a ‘humidistat’-controlled electric fan
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do not draught-proof kitchen and bathroom windows.
Mould
Excessive condensation can sometimes create mould. If you have any mould, you can remove it by these steps:
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kill and remove the mould by wiping walls and windows frames with a fungicidal wash. Check it’s approved by the Health and Safety Executive
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dry-clean any clothes with mildew on them, and shampoo carpets. Do not brush or vacuum clean them
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follow the avoid condensation advice above
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redecorate using a good quality fungicidal paint to help prevent mould coming back.
Damp
You are unlikely to have damp unless you live on the ground floor of a property.
Damp is caused by leaking pipes or overflows, or by rain coming through the walls or roofs of buildings. It often leaves a tidemark.
Further action
If you think you have damp caused by external faults in the building, or if you continue to have condensation after following the above guidelines for six weeks, please contact us.