Damp and mould need a practical response that protects the people living in a home. For landlords and managing agents, treating a report as a maintenance task with an owner, an action plan and a follow-up date is a better starting point than debating blame.
What the current guidance says
The government's England guidance, updated on 1 April 2026, calls for an urgent assessment of severity and risks. It says landlords should address underlying causes promptly and must not wait for medical evidence before acting. Residents should know what will happen and when.
Photographs and a record of the affected areas can help the investigation before removal. Qualified help may be appropriate. The guidance also recommends checking at least six weeks after remedial work to establish whether the problem has returned. Cleaning a visible patch alone does not establish that its cause has been resolved.
[Read the government's damp and mould guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/damp-and-mould-understanding-and-addressing-the-health-risks-for-rented-housing-providers/understanding-and-addressing-the-health-risks-of-damp-and-mould-in-the-home--2).
Give every report a clear next step
Our suggested management record has five headings: date reported, room affected, person responsible, next appointment and review date. Keep the resident's account alongside the contractor's findings rather than replacing one with the other.
For example, an entry saying “bathroom treated” leaves unanswered whether an inspection happened, what work was completed and who will check the result. A clearer entry links the inspection report, agreed work and a specific follow-up appointment. This is a suggested record-keeping approach, not a prescribed legal form.
What tenants can do
GOV.UK advises tenants to report repairs or mould to their landlord, immediately where health could be affected. It says rent should continue to be paid while repairs are awaited. If work is not done, the council's environmental health team can help. Responsibilities for structure, heating and other installations cannot simply be passed to tenants by asking them to fix everything themselves.
[Check repair responsibilities and escalation routes](https://www.gov.uk/private-renting/repairs).
Keep correspondence together and ask for the next step in writing. This guide concerns England and is general information. A particular property may need professional inspection and individual housing advice; a photograph alone cannot diagnose the cause.