Dealing with condensation in your rented home

Condensation can lead to damp and mould. This can be a health risk, especially for people who are very young, elderly or unwell. Your landlord must investigate damp and mould and do repairs they are legally responsible for.

Your landlord should not blame you for condensation caused by everyday activities like cooking, washing up or showering.

There are steps you can take to reduce condensation in your home.

When your landlord is responsible for problems with condensation

It’s your landlord’s responsibility if the condensation problem is being caused by:

• a repair issue - for example a broken pipe or a badly-fitted window frame

• lack of ventilation - for example if there’s no extractor fan or windows cannot be opened

• lack of a heating system - for example if your boiler is not working

• poor insulation

Contact your landlord and ask them to fix the problem. They must organise an inspection to find the root cause of the problem.

Check our advice on identifying and reporting damp and mould.

How to reduce condensation, damp and mould

Condensation can be caused by day-to-day activities. Some condensation is normal, and you cannot get rid of it completely.

Condensation is reduced when your home has:

• enough air flow

• enough heat

• less moisture

To help prevent damp and mould, try to:

• heat your home during cold weather

• keep rooms ventilated - for example by opening windows for a few minutes each day, especially after cooking or showering

• leave space between furniture and walls - this allows air to flow

• put lids on your pans when cooking and use the extractor fan if you have one

• use a tumble-dryer or hang clothes outside

You could also buy a dehumidifier, or ask your landlord to provide one. A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air, reducing condensation. This can be especially useful if you need to dry clothes indoors.

Removing condensation and mould

You can wipe down condensation that forms on a window to prevent it from leading to mould.

If you clean mould that has already formed, make sure to wear protection and take steps to stop mould spores from spreading.

Check Which?’s guide on removing mould.

Keeping your home warm enough

Condensation can get worse when it's cold outside, but heating your home helps to reduce it.

It is your responsibility to keep your home at a reasonable temperature to reduce condensation.

If you are heating your home but it is still too cold, explain to your landlord that it is causing problems with condensation, damp and mould.

They might be able to make energy efficiency improvements such as installing:

• insulation in walls or lofts

• a more energy-efficient boiler

• double or triple-glazed windows

Check making your home more energy efficient and saving money on energy bills.

If heating your home is too expensive, try getting help to pay your energy bills.

If your landlord blames you for causing damp and mould

You should be able to do everyday activities in your home. If they create too much condensation, there is a problem that needs to be fixed.

Your landlord should not blame you for damp and mould without investigating the cause.

Tell your landlord:

• the condensation is causing damp and mould

• what you have done to reduce condensation in your home

• what you want them to do

• that an investigation is needed to find the source of the problem

Use our letter template to help you. Copy and paste the sample text and personalise it with your details. Delete any parts that do not apply to you. Attach photos, videos or other relevant evidence.

Get an independent inspection

If your landlord is still blaming you for condensation, damp or mould, you could consider getting an independent inspection.

If you rent from a private landlord or housing association, you could ask your council’s environmental health team to do an inspection.

Check our advice on contacting environmental health.

You can also get legal advice to help you pay for an independent inspection from a private company. They can tell you the cause and what is required to fix it.

Complain about your landlord

If your landlord is still refusing to investigate or is still blaming you, you can make a complaint.

Check our advice on:

• council complaints

• housing association complaints

• private landlord complaints

• letting agent complaints

Taking legal action

You may be able to take legal action if your landlord is not doing repairs they are responsible for.

If you rent privately

If you rent from a private landlord or letting agent you could apply to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) to force your landlord to do repairs. It is free to apply to the tribunal. You do not need to use a solicitor unless you want to.

Check our advice on going to the tribunal for repair problems.

If you rent from the council or a housing association

You could take the council or housing association to court to force them to deal with the problem.

You will need help from a solicitor to do this.

Check our advice on going to court for repair problems.

Discrimination when reporting condensation

If you think your landlord is not investigating condensation because they are making assumptions about characteristics like your race or religion, this could be discrimination.

For example, it is discrimination if your landlord assumes your condensation problem is caused by activities such as ritual bathing.

If you or a family member have severe health issues then a landlord refusing to investigate could also be discrimination.

Get help to work out if you have experienced unlawful discrimination from the Equality Advisory and Support Service.