Condensation, damp or mould

What is condensation?

Condensation is the process where water vapour is held in the air as a gas appears as water droplets on a cold surface. The most common place for this water to form is on windows, especially single-glazed ones, but the water can form on any cold surface. This often leads residents to believe that they have a roof leak or a leaking pipe when in fact, they are experiencing condensation.

What is mould?

Mould is formed of very small plants which thrive in the conditions produced by condensation. The spores are very small and exist in the air. They will colonise a suitable habitat very quickly and produce more spores, so that if left untreated, it is common for entire rooms to be covered.

What can I do if I see mould?

Prevention is always best, so please follow the tips in this leaflet, but if you do get a patch of mould, where you are able, please wipe away and mop up any moisture appearing on walls, windows, windowsills, and other surfaces. Wring out the cloth into a sink rather than leaving it to drip dry. You can remove mould by washing the surfaces affected with an anti-fungicidal mould remover, which you can purchase from most supermarkets and DIY stores. Always remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

What is damp?

There are a number of different potential sources of damp. These include:

Condensation damp This type of damp is caused by having a significant amount of moisture in the air from a variety of sources such as cooking, bathing, drying clothes etc.
Penetrating damp Sometimes also called lateral penetration, this type of damp penetration can be from roofs, chimneys, parapet walls, and indeed any wall or building feature above ground. This can be caused by a rainwater defects, weather penetrating the fabric of the building etc.
Plumbing leak damp Dampness caused by pipework leaking internally such as broken pipes, failed stopcock etc. This may require intrusive investigation work as most household pipework is hidden or in floor or ceiling voids.
Rising damp Rising damp occurs when moisture travels upwards against the forces of gravity, typically up a wall or through a floor, from its source below the ground.

What will PA Housing do if you report a problem in your home?

When you report a problem with condensation, damp, or mould, we’ll assess the extent of the problem and arrange to remove the mould as quickly as we can. We'll then arrange for one of our surveyors to attend your home and carry out an investigation into what caused the mould so we can do what we can to stop it returning.

We've put together a handy guide with more information about what we'll do if you report a problem to us and some indicative timescales, as well as some tips on what you can do yourself.

Please note that these are indicative examples of timescales and will depend on the nature of the problem and the investigations required to source and resolve the problem.

Read our guide