Advice to prevent damp and mould
- Good ventilation
Make sure you air rooms well, even in winter. - Close doors, use extractor fans and open windows
Close the bathroom door and turn on the extractor fan whilst having showers or baths and afterwards for 30 minutes. Open the windows to allow for ventilation. - Keep trickle vents open
Allow ventilation through the vents by leaving them open throughout the year. - Cover pans and use the extractor fan in your kitchen
To reduce the steam and save money, keep the lids on the pans whilst cooking. Use the extractor fan and keep the window open for 15 minutes after cooking. - Let the damp air out and the fresh air in
Open the windows and wipe window sills daily. - Dry your clothes outside or on a clothes airer inside
If drying clothes indoors, do so in the bathroom, closing the door and leaving the extractor fan on - Properly vented washing-machine or tumble-dryers
A lot of moisture can escape into the atmosphere in a short space of time. Escaping moisture from an unvented dryer will likely lead to increased heating costs. - Maintain a constant temperature in your home
Set your thermostat to around 18°c and maintain it to avoid the release of moisture. - Leave gaps between your furniture and the walls
Leaving a gap between furniture and walls enables the air to circulate freely, reducing the chance of mould growing. - Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes
Avoid overfilling them as this will prevent air circulation.
-
Report damp and mould
If the damp and mould is not treatable, or if you are concerned, please contact Hightown to arrange an inspection. We will treat areas of mould and assess any measures needed to prevent the mould from returning. You can report it by:
- Using our online form - this is the best way to provide the information we need to assess your report.
- emailing healthy.homes@hightownha.org.uk and attaching photos.
- calling 01442 292301.
- using your MyHightown account.
Report damp and mould - online form
If you have a disability or require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know when you submit your report.
What happens after I report it?
We will contact you to discuss the report and your circumstances to assess if it is as an emergency or significant issue.
If there is a significant leak in your home or the damp and mould is affecting your ability to breathe, we will either fix the issue within 24 hours or provide you with alternative accommodation within 24 hours whilst we carry out the works in your home.
We will:
- Inspect the problem within 10 working days.
- Give you a written report within 3 days of the inspection.
- Start repairs within 5 working days (or up to 12 weeks if major work is needed).
Your home must be safe and healthy to live in. If repairs aren’t done in time, we will offer you alternative accommodation.
If you are unhappy with the way we have dealt with your report of damp and mould, you can make a complaint in a number of ways:
- Website
- Resident portal
- Email: housing.services@hightownha.org.uk
- Phone: 01442 292300
The Housing Ombudsman Service
The Housing Ombudsman Service offers a dispute support approach which actively supports landlords and customers to find a resolution between themselves within the landlord's procedure. You can contact the service at any time while a complaint is going through the internal process for advice and to help find a resolution.
The Housing Ombudsman can be contacted via:
Housing Ombudsman Service
PO Box 1484
Unit D
Preston
PR2 0ET
Telephone: 0300 111 3000
Minicom: 0207 404 7092
Hightown will comply with the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code.
