Exeter Damp and Mould: Student Lets, Georgian Terraces and Cob Walls

Exeter combines a Georgian core, a large university-driven student rental market and Devon's wet climate. Nearly a quarter of households, 24.9%, rent privately, against 20.5% in England, and 31.3% of homes are terraced. Overcrowding is well below the national rate, so the damp story here is less about crowded homes and more about older buildings and how they are heated and maintained.

Exeter in numbers

• Private rented households: 24.9% (England 20.5%); social rented: 16.6% (England 17.1%)
• Terraced homes: 31.3% (England 23.0%); flats: 25.2% (England 21.4%)
• Homes with no central heating: 2.2% (England 1.5%)
• Overcrowded households: 2.5% (England 4.4%)
• River or sea flood risk: 1.9% (England 1.9%); surface-water risk: 4.3% (England 5.9%)
• Rainfall: about 829 mm a year at Exeter Airport, roughly five miles away

Student lets and the cost of heating

Exeter's student market sustains demand for older housing that is sometimes poorly maintained. At 2.2%, the share of homes without central heating is above the England figure, and tenants watching their bills may heat only one room. That leaves the rest of the house cold enough for condensation, so a fixed heating system that reaches every habitable room is as much a damp measure as an amenity.

Cob and stone are not brick

Devon's traditional cob and stone construction, found in some older properties, behaves very differently from brick. Cob is compacted earth and straw, and it relies on being able to dry out. Cement render, impermeable paint or a sealed internal lining can trap moisture and weaken the wall. If a property has cob or rubble stone walls, a survey from someone experienced in traditional construction should come before any treatment, and repairs should use breathable materials.

Pre-let checks for older Exeter properties

1. Check gutters, downpipes and roof edges, given around 829 mm of rain a year.
2. Confirm the wall construction before choosing any damp treatment.
3. Test extractor fans and fit humidity-controlled ones where needed.
4. Make sure heating reaches every bedroom and living room.
5. Give the tenants written ventilation and heating guidance before the term begins.

What landlords must do

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 requires a rented home to be fit to live in, and the council can assess damp and mould under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System where a tenant's report has not been dealt with.

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 covers the current position.

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