Help is at hand to keep your home healthy

I firmly believe that our homes should be a safe space, a place where people can feel comfortable, warm, and healthy.

Issues such as damp, condensation and mould are common household issues that can have a significant negative impact on your wellbeing and how you feel about your home. It can cause long-term physical health problems and negatively affect your mental health.

There have been several news stories in recent years about the impacts of damp and mould in a property, including the terribly sad passing of Awaab Ishak, aged two, who passed away from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould at his Rochdale home.

In 2024, this simply cannot go on. More work must be done to help tenants in private rental properties find the help they need to be free of damp and mould issues in their homes. Lives should not be lost to something that can and should easily be identified and then rectified.

The Government has recently updated guidance outlining what tenants and landlords should do if there are damp and mould problems within a property, but at the Forest of Dean District Council we want to do more. We want to be proactive in helping residents in the area find the root cause of the problem and fixing it.

As part of the recently announced Healthy Homes project, specially trained officers at the council can provide advice and ensure the correct action is taken to help rid these types of problems from the property. It’s important to note that we’re not limiting this guidance solely to tenants, and we welcome landlords getting in touch who are also struggling with this type of issue at a property.

One of the most common causes of damp is due to condensation and there are some simple actions that can be taken to help remedy the problem. This includes wiping away any condensation daily, improving the ventilation in your home, and ensuring that you keep your home well heated. Landlords may wish to make structural improvements to the property, such as upgrading windows, increasing insulation, and installing externally venting mechanical extraction in rooms which create a lot of moisture such as kitchens and bathrooms.

If this doesn’t resolve the problem, then it is best to seek advice and have the matter investigated further. That is where the Forest of Dean District Council can help.

If you are a landlord, or a tenant looking for further assistance to rid your home of damp and mould, please contact the Councils Environmental Health Team by email [email protected] or by phone 01594 812258.

Let us help to keep your home healthy.