Research by Uswitch has revealed the local authorities and housing associations with the most complaints to the Housing Ombudsman for mould and damp between the 2019/20 and 2023/24 financial years. Over this period, the Housing Ombudsman received 16,098 complaints, with housing associations receiving the most. Local authorities received a total of 5,138 complaints, while housing associations saw 10,960 complaints. This highlights that housing association properties have been the subject of more complaints than local authority properties.

Local authority and housing association complaints

The Housing Ombudsman received more complaints about damp and mould from housing association properties than local authority properties.

Local authorities with the most complaints per 10,000 units

Among local authorities, Haringey has received the highest number of complaints regarding mould and damp, with an estimated 31 complaints per 10,000 housing units. Other top local authorities include Hammersmith and Fulham, Lambeth, and Lewisham. Interestingly, eight of the top 10 local authorities with the most complaints are in London.

Local authorities with the biggest per cent increase in complaints

Certain local authorities have seen drastic increases in the number of complaints. West Northamptonshire, for example, had a 367% rise in complaints between 2022/23 and 2023/24, jumping from 3 to 14 complaints.

Percent of the group with damp and mould found in dwellings

According to the English Housing Survey, over the past decade, local authority housing has seen a 33% fall in damp and mould found in dwellings. At the same time, housing associations have seen a 19% rise since 2012. The proportion of all English properties with damp and mould has dropped by 17%.

Expert quote by Uswitch

Ben Galizzi, Uswitch energy expert, comments:

“Living in a mouldy home is both unpleasant and a health hazard. Yet many of us have had to deal with mould at some point.

Whether you rent or own, mould can be a constant problem if the root cause isn’t fixed. With poor insulation and rising energy costs, it’s harder than ever to keep it under control.

Both landlords and tenants need to do their part in tackling mould. Tenants might need to adjust some habits at home, while landlords take care of bigger repairs to the property.

Keeping your home warm, especially in the winter, can really help prevent mould. If you're on a standard variable tariff and struggling with your energy costs, though, it might be worth checking out fixed energy deals to see if you could switch to a cheaper tariff than the one you're on.”

Consumer survey results on individuals' experiences with mould and damp in their home

Who’s affected by mould?

A significant 60% of respondents reported experiencing mould at some point in their lives. For many, it’s an ongoing issue, with 31% having faced mould more than once. Among those who had mould, 43% lived in owned properties, 28% in privately rented homes, 16% in local authority housing, and 12% in housing association homes. Student accommodation was the least affected, with 7% reporting mould problems.

Raising complaints about mould

More than half (55%) of respondents who have experienced mould took action by raising complaints. A quarter (22%) contacted their landlord, 9% reached out to a letting agent or management company, and 15% reported the issue to their local authority.

Responsibility for mould in rented homes

Almost seven in 10 (69%) respondents believe landlords are responsible for mould in rented properties, while a quarter (23%) feel tenants are to blame. Just 20% attribute some responsibility to letting agents or management companies.

Blame for mould: who’s at fault?

Of those who have had mould in their home, a third (33%) were blamed for the issue. 12% were blamed by their landlord, 8% by their letting agent, 9% by their local authority, and 8% by their housing association. Two-thirds (67%) of respondents reported that they were not blamed for mould in their homes.

Leaving properties due to mould

Mould has been significant enough for a third (37%) of respondents to leave a property. Of this group, a quarter (22%) cited mould or damp as the primary reason for moving, while 15% said it was a contributing factor. Nearly two-thirds (63%) did not move due to mould or damp issues.

Rising energy costs and mould problems

Almost seven in 10 (68%) respondents have reduced their heating usage over the past two years due to rising energy costs. Among those affected by mould, more than half (56%) believe that using less heating has made the problem worse. 60% of respondents struggling with heating costs find it difficult to maintain adequate warmth in their homes.

Health impacts of mould

A fifth (22%) of respondents reported that mould had negatively affected their health in some way.

The role of property conditions in mould

Almost half (49%) of respondents agree that UK properties are not well-designed to prevent mould, suggesting the need for improved building standards.

Actions taken to combat mould

More than half (54%) of respondents used mould-removal cleaning products, 38% used bleach-based products, and 36% applied anti-mould paints. Other common actions included improving ventilation (43%) and using dehumidifiers (34%).

Responses to mould issues

While some landlords and housing associations have taken action, a third (34%) of respondents reported that no action was taken. For those who received help, 23% had areas treated with anti-mould products, and 21% saw improvements in ventilation.