Chelmsford Damp and Mould: A Victorian Core, New Estates and Low Rainfall

Chelmsford gets a modest 586 mm of rain a year at Writtle, two miles away, and on most measures it is at or below the England figure for damp risk. That makes the building itself the thing to look at: the rental stock combines a Victorian core around the city centre with newer development on the outskirts, and the two fail in different ways.

Chelmsford in numbers (compared with England)

• Private rented households: 15.5% (England 20.5%); social rented: 13.3% (England 17.1%)
• Terraced homes: 18.7% (England 23.0%); flats: 19.2% (England 21.4%)
• Homes with no central heating: 1.2% (England 1.5%)
• Overcrowded households: 2.7% (England 4.4%)
• Properties at medium or high flood risk: rivers and sea 2.0% (England 1.9%); surface water 4.3% (England 5.9%)
• Rainfall: about 586 mm a year at Writtle

If the numbers look benign, why do homes still get damp?

District-wide averages hide individual homes. A low rainfall figure does not stop a blocked gutter or a failed damp-proof course, and low overcrowding does not help a flat with no extraction. Our Chelmsford page cites a 2013 council stock condition assessment that estimated around 15% of private sector housing had a category 1 hazard. That is a dated figure and it covers all hazards, not only damp, but it is a reminder that problems are common even in an area that looks low-risk on paper.

Victorian core versus newer homes

• Victorian stock: look at the damp-proof course, ground levels, roofs, gutters and chimney flashings
• Newer estates: airtight, well-insulated homes rely on working fans and vents, so check extraction and show tenants how to use it

Flood risk

Rivers and sea flood risk is 2.0%, close to the England figure of 1.9%, while surface water risk is below England. The figures cover the whole local authority, so check the Environment Agency's flood map for an individual address.

What landlords must do

Private landlords in England must already meet the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, which requires a home to be fit for habitation throughout the tenancy, and councils can act on damp and mould hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Awaab's Law currently applies to social housing, with private landlords expected to follow.

Our guide to Awaab's Law and the private rented sector explains what to expect.

To find a specialist, see our Chelmsford damp and mould page.