Sunderland Damp and Mould: Ex-Council Homes Let Privately and Shipyard Terraces

Sunderland's rented homes sit in two quite different groups. Social housing is 26.6% of households, almost double the private rented share of 14.8%, but the private sector is far from trivial: it includes a significant stock of former council homes now let privately, plus Victorian terraces built near the city's old shipyards. The figures below cover the whole Sunderland local authority area.

Sunderland in numbers

• Private rented households: 14.8% (England 20.5%); social rented: 26.6% (England 17.1%)
• Terraced homes: 29.1% (England 23.0%); flats: 12.0% (England 21.4%)
• Homes with no central heating: 0.7% (England 1.5%)
• Overcrowded households: 2.3% (England 4.4%)
• River or sea flood risk: 0.2% (England 1.9%); surface-water risk: 4.0% (England 5.9%)
• Rainfall: about 608 mm a year at Tynemouth, roughly eight miles away

Ex-council homes in private hands

Former council houses were built to a standard of their time, and some may have limited insulation or original heating and ventilation. A landlord who buys one as an investment should survey it with the same scrutiny as any older property: look at loft and wall insulation, the heating system, extraction in kitchens and bathrooms, and any signs of past damp that were painted over.

Victorian terraces near the old shipyards

At 29.1%, terraced homes are well above the England share of 23.0%. Solid-wall terraces are cold surfaces for condensation, and old gutters, chimneys and pointing are the usual routes for penetrating damp. Regular inspection and quick repairs matter more than any one-off treatment.

How the council is looking for problems

Sunderland City Council has described a risk-based approach to identifying homes where damp and mould is more likely, and the use of smart humidity sensors to spot problems earlier. For a landlord, the practical message is that problems can come to light without a tenant complaint, so it is better to check properties proactively.

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, which is over a quarter of Sunderland households, with private landlords expected to follow. Our guide to Awaab's Law and the private rented sector explains the current position.

To find a specialist, see our Sunderland damp and mould page, and the council's damp, condensation and mould information.