Lincoln Damp and Mould: Uphill, Downhill and the Flood-Prone Lower Town

Lincoln is really two places: a historic hilltop core with medieval and Georgian buildings, and a lower town with extensive Victorian terraced housing. The flood figures explain why it matters. Across the local authority, 6.2% of properties are at medium or high risk of river or sea flooding, more than three times the England figure of 1.9%, and 9.7% are at risk from surface water, against 5.9%.

Lincoln in numbers

• Private rented households: 27.2% (England 20.5%); social rented: 21.1% (England 17.1%)
• Terraced homes: 29.6% (England 23.0%); flats: 19.0% (England 21.4%)
• Homes with no central heating: 1.2% (England 1.5%)
• Overcrowded households: 3.9% (England 4.4%)
• River or sea flood risk: 6.2% (England 1.9%); surface-water risk: 9.7% (England 5.9%)
• Rainfall: about 615 mm a year at Waddington, roughly four miles away

Why does the lower town have a different risk?

The lower town's flatter, lower-lying terraces face a higher risk of groundwater-related rising damp than properties on the historic hill. Combined with the flood figures, a landlord with a Victorian terrace in the lower town should assume that moisture from the ground is a live possibility, and look at the damp-proof course, sub-floor ventilation and external ground levels before blaming tenants.

A dry climate that misleads

At about 615 mm a year, the nearest rainfall record is modest, which can lead landlords to underestimate damp. In Lincoln, the water is more likely to come from the ground, drains and river system than from the sky, so a dry-looking year is no guarantee against damp floors and wet lower walls.

Uphill: medieval and Georgian buildings

On the hill, many buildings are old, solid-walled and possibly listed or in a conservation area. Use breathable, lime-based repairs rather than cement or waterproof coatings, check what consents a repair needs, and ventilate well. Heritage status limits options, not the duty to provide a home free from serious damp.

Terraced and rented

With 27.2% of households renting privately and 29.6% of homes terraced, a lot of Lincoln's rented homes are exactly the kind that attract both flood and damp questions. Keeping dated inspection records is the most effective defence a landlord has if a tenant raises a complaint.

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.

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 Lincoln damp and mould page.