Guides
UK damp & mould guides
Independent help for the question you have now: what the pattern may mean, how to report it, what rights apply, what moves the cost of a repair and what to check before spending money. We do not sell remediation or damp-proofing.
What are you trying to solve?
SELECTED PATH
Start with what you can actually see.
Use the pattern and location to narrow the likely cause before you spend money.
Complete library
Everything is still here when you want the full index.
The intent finder above is the fast route. These indexes keep every guide crawlable and reachable without turning the first screen into a wall of cards.
9 PRACTICAL GUIDESReporting, photographing and separating causes
Rights & Compliance
My landlord is ignoring the mould. What do I do?
How to report mould so it counts, what evidence to keep, the deadlines that apply in England and Scotland, and who to escalate to. Plain English.
Evidence & Reporting
How to report mould to your landlord
How to report damp or mould so the date counts: what to include, a copy-and-paste template, what to attach, and what a proper response looks like.
Evidence & Reporting
How to photograph mould evidence for your landlord or council
How to photograph damp and mould evidence for your landlord, letting agent or council in the UK — the 5 photos to take, what to avoid, and how to date your evidence.
Diagnosis
Condensation or penetrating damp? How to tell the difference
Condensation forms on cold surfaces from inside; penetrating damp comes through the wall from outside. The pattern, timing and location that tell them apart.
Diagnosis
Condensation vs rising damp: how to tell them apart
How to tell condensation, penetrating damp and rising damp apart — the visual signs, common mistakes, and when a specialist visit is actually needed.
Diagnosis
Mould keeps coming back. Why, and what actually stops it
Mould that returns after cleaning has a moisture source nobody fixed. How to tell condensation from a leak, and what to record between episodes.
Diagnosis
Mould around windows: what it means and whose job it is
Why mould starts around windows, how to tell condensation from a failed seal or water getting in, what to photograph, and when it is the landlord's repair.
Diagnosis
Mould on the inside of an external wall: what it means and who fixes it
Why the inside of an outside wall grows mould, how to tell condensation from water getting in, what to photograph, and who must fix it in each UK nation.
Prevention
How to stop mould or mold coming back
How to stop mold or mould coming back in a UK home: identify the moisture source, record the pattern, fix the cause and know when to escalate.
8 PROBLEM GUIDESStart from the visible pattern
Problem guide
Why is there black mould on my walls, and what should I do?
Black spots on your walls? Learn how to tell condensation mould from penetrating damp, what to do first, and when you need a formal evidence report.
Problem guide
Why does condensation mould keep appearing in my bedroom?
Waking up to mould on the wall by your bed? Understand why bedrooms are worst hit, the real ventilation-vs-heating trade-off, and what to change first.
Problem guide
Why is there mould only behind my wardrobe?
Mould only appears behind a wardrobe pushed against an external wall. Here's exactly why, and why the '5cm rule' is more about physics than tidying.
Problem guide
There's a damp patch on my ceiling — is it a leak or condensation?
A brown ring on the ceiling doesn't always mean a leak. Use the shape, edge and timing to tell a plumbing leak, roof defect and condensation apart.
Problem guide
Why is there so much mould in my bathroom?
A black line on bathroom sealant is usually worn sealant. Mould in the ceiling corners usually means the room is not clearing its steam. How to tell which.
Problem guide
How can I tell if it's actually rising damp?
True rising damp is rarer than the damp-proofing industry says. Learn the real signs — tide marks, salts, the 1m rule — and how it's misdiagnosed.
Problem guide
How do I know if it's penetrating damp?
Damp on the inside of an external wall usually starts as a defect on the outside. Match interior clues to exterior causes — pointing, cills, driven rain.
Problem guide
Is my damp caused by a hidden leak?
Damp caused by a leak follows the pipe run, not the weather. Learn how to tell plumbing from appliance from external leaks — and how to trace before you tear out.
6 COST GUIDESWhat moves a quote — and what does not
Cost guide
How much does mould removal cost in the UK?
What mould removal involves, when cleaning is enough and when it is not, what moves the price, and the red flags in remediation quotes.
Cost guide
How much does a damp survey cost in the UK?
What a damp survey costs depends on the type, the property and whether the surveyor is independent. How the three options compare and what drives the fee.
Cost guide
How much does it cost to fix condensation in a UK home?
Extractor fans, PIV units, trickle vents and humidistat controls: what moves the price, what actually works, and what is a sales pitch.
Cost guide
How much does it cost to fix rising damp in the UK?
What fixing rising damp involves, why it is so often misdiagnosed, what moves the price, and the red flags in damp-proofing quotes.
Cost guide
How much does it cost to replace a bathroom extractor in the UK?
Replacing a bathroom extractor fan: like-for-like swap versus a new duct run, humidistat versus basic, and what to ask an installer for in writing.
Cost guide
How much does mould cleaning cost in the UK?
DIY versus professional mould cleaning: when cleaning is pointless because the cause remains, what a professional clean should include and how to compare quotes.
Interactive
UK cost estimator
Think through job type, size, severity, property age and region before asking for written quotes.
Rights and process
When the issue is no longer just the mould.
Use the reference library for tenant rights, landlord obligations, Awaab’s Law and when an independent damp survey is worth paying for.
Reference library
Knowledge Hub
Evidence-led reference guides on rights, duties, causes and costs.
Law guide
Awaab’s Law explained
England and Scotland separated clearly, including the working-day clocks where they apply.
Decision guide
When to book a damp survey
Start with the evidence; pay for an independent surveyor when the structural or legal trigger is real.
Found mould? Don't just photograph it.
Stop The Mould helps you upload the right photos, get a clear first assessment, and organise your evidence, report, messages and follow-up in one place.
Free first checkPrivate by defaultIndependent of remediation sales