Guidance on damp and mould: understanding and addressing the health risks in the home

This keynote presented the new government guidance on the health risks of damp and mould for the housing sector in England. This guidance highlights the serious risks that damp and mould can pose to tenants’ health, the legal responsibilities of social and private rented housing providers, the imperative to respond quickly, and the practical steps that should be taken both to address damp and mould and prevent them. Research led by UKHSA found that there was a considerable burden of respiratory illness in England from residential damp and mould. This work has fed into the new consolidated guidance.