How common is damp in UK rental homes?

According to the English Housing Survey 2024-25, 10% of private rented dwellings in England had a damp problem, the highest of any tenure, compared with 7% of social rented homes and 4% of owner-occupied homes. Across all tenures, 5% of English dwellings (1.4 million homes) had damp.

Is damp and mould in housing getting worse?

Prevalence has risen. The English Housing Survey shows damp in 5% of homes in 2024, up on 2022, with statistically significant rises in the social rented and owner-occupied sectors. Complaint outcomes are mixed: the Housing Ombudsman upheld 62% of complaints overall in 2025-26, down from 71%, but damp and mould complaints were still upheld more than 75% of the time.

What is the most common type of damp in English homes?

Severe condensation, affecting around 3% of dwellings, compared with roughly 2% for penetrating damp and 1% for rising damp (English Housing Survey 2024-25). Condensation is also the type most commonly behind mould in rented properties.

How many private rented homes have damp?

With around 4.6 million private rented households in England and 10% of private rented dwellings recording a damp problem, roughly 460,000 homes are estimated to be affected. That's a MouldPros estimate, and it excludes the larger share of renters who report living with cold, damp or mould in survey research.

How many complaints about damp and mould does the Housing Ombudsman receive?

Damp and mould accounted for 34% of repairs complaints in the Ombudsman's 2025-26 review, and more than 75% of those were upheld. The Ombudsman made 8,783 determinations across all complaint types that year.

UK Damp & Mould Statistics 2026: Latest Official Data

Quick answer: In England, 1.4 million homes (5%) had a damp problem in 2024, and the private rented sector was worst affected at 10% of dwellings, according to the English Housing Survey 2024-25. The Housing Ombudsman's 2025-26 annual review found damp and mould made up 34% of repairs complaints, with an upheld rate above 75%. Last updated October 2026.

How common is damp in English homes?

The English Housing Survey 2024-25, the government's main survey of housing conditions, found:

5% of all dwellings (1.4 million homes) had a problem with damp in 2024, an increase on 2022.
Private rented sector: 10% of dwellings, the highest of any tenure.
Social rented sector: 7%, with 8% of local authority homes and 6% of housing association homes affected.
Owner-occupied homes: 4%, the lowest of any tenure.

Using roughly 4.6 million private rented households in England, a 10% rate suggests around 460,000 private rented homes with a damp problem (a MouldPros calculation, not an official figure). Survey research by Citizens Advice has found that almost half of private renters report living with cold, damp or mould, which is a broader measure of lived experience than the physical inspection standard used by the housing survey.

What types of damp are most common?

The English Housing Survey 2024-25 breaks damp down by cause: severe condensation affects around 3% of dwellings, penetrating damp around 2% and rising damp around 1%. Condensation is the type most closely associated with visible mould, and it's usually driven by inadequate ventilation, heating and insulation rather than structural failure. That makes it the most preventable. See our guide to PIV vs MVHR vs extractor fans.

Complaints and enforcement: Housing Ombudsman data

Damp and mould is one of the biggest areas of the Housing Ombudsman's casework in social housing. Its 2025-26 annual review reported:

Damp and mould made up 34% of repairs complaints, and the upheld rate for them exceeded 75%.
62% of all complaints were upheld overall, down from 71% in 2024-25, a sign that landlord complaint handling is improving from a poor starting point.
8,783 determinations were made, with £4.8 million of compensation ordered.

Earlier Ombudsman reporting showed the maladministration rate for damp and mould cases climbing sharply over several years. The latest review suggests overall complaint outcomes are improving, but damp and mould still draws more upheld findings than the average complaint.

Awaab's Law: the legal timeframes driving demand

Awaab's Law came into force for social housing in England on 27 October 2025. Social landlords must investigate and make safe emergency hazards within 24 hours, investigate significant damp and mould hazards within 10 working days, give tenants a written summary within 3 working days of the investigation concluding, and complete safety works within 5 working days. The law expands to further hazards from 30 November 2026 and to nearly all HHSRS hazards by 2027. Extension to the private rented sector is legislated for in the Renters' Rights Act 2025, with the commencement date still to be confirmed. See our Awaab's Law guide for private landlords and our responsibility guide.

Health context

The NHS advises that damp and mould can cause or worsen respiratory problems, infections, allergies and asthma, with babies, children, older people and people with existing conditions most at risk. The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 from prolonged mould exposure in his Rochdale home is the reason the law carries his name. See is black mould dangerous?

What it costs to fix

For a sense of the cost of tackling the problem, see our guides on mould removal costs and damp survey costs.

Sources

English Housing Survey 2024 to 2025: headline findings on housing quality and energy efficiency (GOV.UK)
Housing Ombudsman: Annual Complaints Review 2025-26
Housing Ombudsman: damp and mould severe maladministration report, October 2025
Awaab's Law: guidance for social landlords, timeframes for repairs (GOV.UK)
Citizens Advice: almost half of private renters living in homes with cold, damp or mould

UK Damp and Mould Statistics 2026: Prevalence, Complaints and Enforcement Data