Creating Safer, Healthier Living Environments
Damp, mould and condensation are far more than cosmetic problems, they can harm indoor air quality, impact residents’ health and lead to costly structural damage if ignored. Addressing these issues quickly and correctly is essential for maintaining safe, comfortable and compliant homes.
Aran’s specialist team works closely with councils and social landlords to help identify, manage and eliminate damp-related problems. We support housing providers in meeting the latest regulatory requirements, ensuring properties are safe, healthy and fully compliant. Our goal is simple: to give every tenant a warmer, drier and safer place to live.
Causes of Damp, Mould and Condensation
Understanding what’s driving damp, mould and condensation is the first step in preventing it. Some of the most common causes our team encounters include:
Condensation
Often the result of everyday activities and poor air circulation, condensation forms when warm, moist air meets cold surfaces. Contributing factors include insufficient ventilation, drying clothes indoors, inadequate or inconsistent heating, and blocked or poorly maintained extractor fans. Over time, this trapped moisture creates ideal conditions for mould growth.
Rising Damp
This occurs when moisture from the ground travels up through walls and floors due to a damaged, missing or ineffective damp-proof course (DPC). Rising damp often shows as tide marks, peeling paint or crumbling plaster near the base of walls.
Penetrating Damp
Caused by water entering the property from the outside, penetrating damp can result from leaking roofs, damaged gutters, cracked masonry or defective pointing. It typically appears as isolated patches of damp that worsen in wet weather.
By identifying the underlying cause correctly, the right remedial solution can be put in place to stop the problem from returning.
Risks to Health
Babies, children and the elderly, along with people with respiratory illnesses or weak immune systems are most at risk from the effects of damp and mould, which include:
Respiratory Problems: Damp and mould release spores and allergens that can cause coughing, wheezing, sinus infections, and shortness of breath. They can also worsen asthma and bronchitis.
Allergic Reactions: Symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes, skin rashes, and eczema flare-ups.
Severe Illness: Prolonged exposure can lead to chronic respiratory infections, permanent lung damage, and, in rare cases, neurological issues from toxic mould (e.g., black mould).
Mental Health Impact: Living in damp conditions can increase stress, anxiety, and depression due to poor living conditions and health concerns.
Awaab's Law
The amendment to the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill to introduce Awaab’s Law (effective October 2025), places greater responsibility upon Social Landlords to act when there is damp, mould and condensation a property.
The law is named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old who died in 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by extensive damp and mould in his family's social home, which drew attention to inadequate responses to tenant complaints.
Landlords must address all emergency hazards within 24 hours and damp and mould hazards presenting a significant risk within set, fixed timescales, and have 10 working days to investigate and report back on other hazards.
Structural and Property Damage
Damp isn’t just an inconvenience, it can gradually weaken the very fabric of your home. Excess moisture can penetrate walls, ceilings and floors, leading to timber rot, plaster deterioration and long-term structural decay.
Condensation also plays a significant role in property damage. Over time, it can cause window frames to swell or rot, spoil décor and furnishings, and reduce the effectiveness of insulation materials, making your home harder and more expensive to heat.
If left untreated, persistent moisture can escalate into serious and costly repair work. Early identification and intervention are essential to protect your property and prevent avoidable damage.
Our Remediation Services
Aran offers comprehensive support to help residents resolve damp, mould and condensation issues quickly and effectively. Our approach focuses on repairing the source of the problem, improving home performance and preventing future reoccurrence.
Repair: Our first step is to identify and fix any defects contributing to damp or mould. This may include repairing leaks, replacing damaged guttering or downpipes, sealing cracks in walls, addressing faulty roofing or restoring ineffective damp-proof courses. By tackling these root causes early, we ensure the home is structurally sound and protected against ongoing moisture intrusion.
Insulate: Improving insulation helps stabilise indoor temperatures and reduces the cold surfaces where condensation forms. We provide measures such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and other upgrades that keep homes warmer, healthier and more energy efficient.
Remediation Services Cont'd
Ventilate: Effective airflow is vital for reducing excess moisture. Aran can install or upgrade extractor fans, positive input ventilation (PIV) systems and passive vents to ensure adequate circulation and remove humid air before it becomes a problem.
Heat: Maintaining consistent warmth is key to preventing condensation. We help residents access heating improvements and energy-efficiency measures that make it easier to keep homes warm and dry without increasing energy costs.
Maintenance: We carry out ongoing checks and remedial work to ensure the property remains protected. This includes clearing blocked vents, repairing minor defects, ensuring rainwater goods function correctly and identifying areas that may require attention in future.
Advice & Maintenance
Aran believes that long-term protection from damp, mould and condensation comes from a combination of quality installation and confident, well-informed residents. That’s why we provide clear, practical guidance at every stage.
We explain simple day-to-day habits that help reduce moisture, such as effective ventilation, avoiding clothes drying in unventilated spaces, and maintaining consistent heating to prevent cold spots where condensation can form. We also help residents understand how to monitor early warning signs so issues can be addressed before they escalate.
Advice & Maintenance Cont'd
In many homes, a single retrofit measure can make a significant difference, often improving a property’s EPC rating from a D to a C. When enhancements are installed, Aran ensures residents feel confident using their new systems. Our team will demonstrate how everything works, answer any questions and provide clear instructions to make sure the benefits are maximised.
All relevant paperwork, warranty information and documentation are left with the householder for future reference. And we don’t stop there - Aran provides ongoing advice on how to maintain new measures, ensuring they continue to perform efficiently, protect the home and support healthier living for years to come.