Damp & Mould in UK Homes — Statistics
Headline figures on damp, mould, Decent Homes non‑decency, HHSRS hazards and the cost of poor housing — each attributed to its source. Useful context for landlords, social housing and surveyors preparing for the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
Last reviewed 2026-07-15. Figures are refreshed on each English Housing Survey / ONS release.
of homes in England have a damp problem (rising, penetrating or condensation) — roughly 1 in 25 dwellings.
Source: EHS
form of damp reported in English homes is condensation and associated mould growth.
Source: EHS
of homes in England fail the Decent Homes Standard; the private rented sector has historically had the highest non-decency rate (around a fifth of PRS homes).
Source: EHS
estimated annual cost to the NHS of treating people affected by poor-quality housing in England (with a much larger wider cost to society).
Source: BRE
of English homes are estimated to contain a Category 1 hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
Source: EHS/DLUHC
households rent privately in England — around 19% of all households — the group most affected by the incoming PRS Decent Homes Standard.
Source: EHS/ONS
Why these numbers matter
Damp and mould is not a fringe issue: the English Housing Survey consistently finds it among the most common housing defects, and it is a prescribed hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. The death of two‑year‑old Awaab Ishak in 2020 from prolonged mould exposure led to Awaab’s Law, which sets statutory timescales for landlords to investigate and fix damp and mould — first in social housing, and now extended to the private rented sector by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (main provisions expected from 2026).
With around 4.6 million households renting privately in England and a non‑decency rate highest in that sector, the compliance exposure is significant — and BRE estimates poor housing already costs the NHS on the order of £1.4 billion a year. Documenting condition properly, on time, is now both a duty and a defence.
International damp & healthy-homes standards
DampApp Pro supports damp and condensation work across the UK, Ireland, North America, Australia, New Zealand, the Gulf, Singapore and India. Each market sets its own standards on moisture, ventilation and rented-housing condition, with a national statistics authority for local figures.
| Market | Damp / moisture-relevant standard | Official data source |
|---|---|---|
| United States | State habitability codes; EPA mould guidance; IPMC | U.S. Census Bureau — American Housing Survey (AHS) |
| Canada | Provincial maintenance standards; CMHC moisture/mould guidance | Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) |
| Ireland | Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 (freedom from damp) | Central Statistics Office (CSO) |
| Australia | State/territory minimum rental standards (ventilation & weatherproofing) | Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) |
| New Zealand | Healthy Homes Standards — moisture ingress, drainage & ventilation (mandatory since 1 July 2025) | Stats NZ; BRANZ House Condition Survey |
| Singapore | BCA Building Control Regulations — natural ventilation (≥5% openable area) | Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat) |
| UAE (Dubai & Abu Dhabi) | Dubai Building Code; mechanical ventilation standards | Dubai Statistics Center; Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Building Code (SBC) — ventilation provisions | General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) |
| Qatar | Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS) | Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) |
| India | National Building Code of India 2016; Model Tenancy Act 2021 | Ministry of Statistics (MoSPI); Census of India |
Standards and statistics differ by jurisdiction and are revised over time — confirm with the relevant national authority before relying on them.
Put the numbers into practice: check condensation risk, ventilation and Awaab’s Law deadlines with the free tools.
Free damp tools →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is damp and mould in UK homes?
In the most recent English Housing Survey, around 4% of homes in England — roughly 1 in 25 — had a damp problem, with condensation and mould the most commonly reported type. Rates are higher in the private and social rented sectors and in older housing stock.
How much does poor housing cost the NHS?
BRE’s "Cost of Poor Housing" research estimates that leaving people in poor-quality homes costs the NHS in the order of £1.4 billion per year in England, with a substantially larger cost to wider society once lost productivity and other impacts are included.
What proportion of homes fail the Decent Homes Standard?
The English Housing Survey has reported around 14–15% of English homes as "non-decent", with the private rented sector showing the highest rate (about a fifth of PRS homes). The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 extends a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector.
Why does this matter for landlords now?
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 applies a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector and extends Awaab’s Law — fixed timescales to investigate and fix damp, mould and other hazards — to private tenancies, with main provisions expected from 2026. Damp and mould is a prescribed HHSRS hazard, so these statistics translate directly into compliance risk.
Sources & verification
Figures are approximate and drawn from published reports; they are revised between releases. Confirm the current values against the latest publication before relying on them in a report.
