Local affordable homes

Improving our response to damp and mould

You will have seen damp and mould in the news recently, following the tragic death of two year old Awaab Ishak in 2020, and the introduction of Awaab’s Law.

At Selwood Housing we’ve been proactively reviewing and developing our damp and mould response for some time, including the introduction of a specialist team. 

What's changed?

• When damp and mould is reported to us, we'll check if a customer has a pre-existing medical condition, is pregnant or has any children at home under the age of 3 years. If so, we'll prioritise their case and visit them quicker.
• We've changed how a damp and mould enquiry is recorded and processed on our system. This will improve reporting so we can more accurately track and monitor cases.
• Where damp and mould problems persist in a home, our damp and mould surveyors will undertake quarterly visits, to inspect the home in each season of weather until the damp and mould issues are resolved. This also takes responsibility away from customers to keep reporting the same issue to us.
• All our frontline staff will receive training and be encouraged to report any damp and mould they see when they are out and about visiting customers' homes using a dedicated form.
• Our customer scrutiny team recently reviewed our damp and mould services and we have taken on board seven of their recommendations.

What can I do about damp and mould in my home?

At this time of year as outdoor temperatures drop, you may see condensation on your windows, especially at night when the heating is turned off. 

There are lots of ways you can help reduce the chances of condensation leading to damp and mould, including:

• Increasing the ventilation and airflow around your home, especially in kitchens and bathrooms which cause most of the moisture.
• Opening windows regularly and switching on bathroom extractor fans and kitchen cooker hoods.

Other types of damp are penetrating and rising damp which are more common in older properties. These are caused by flaws in the building or problems with the damp course. You might have this kind of damp if you have wet patches with flaking paint on walls or your floor coverings are lifting up. 

Click here to request a damp or mould assessment or repair.

Cost of living support

Are you sure you're receiving all the support you're entitled to? Our advice pages can help you find out.

• Cost of living: here you'll find details and links to local council and community schemes, including wellbeing hubs, food banks and urgent financial help.

• Help paying your bills: this section has links to grants and schemes that could help eligible customers with their fuel and water bills.

• Money advice: this includes benefit calculators and links to local and national charities and organisations that can help with debt and loan advice.

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