Private tenants are being encouraged by a local council to report damp and mould issues to their landlords.

Shropshire council says private tenants should ask their landlords to investigate the reasons why mould has occurred. 

And the council says this could be due to a number of factors such as a build-up of condensation on cold surfaces and walls, caused by how the property is used, such as a lack of heating or ventilation, or by repairs issues.

The council is even telling tenants to take photographs of the mould while the issue is investigated.

A spokesperson says: “As a council we are committed to ensuring that rented accommodation is free from serious hazards and, now winter is here, damp and mould can be a real problem.

“Tenants must not suffer in silence from mould and should ask their landlords to work to investigate why there is mould in a property. This could be due to a number of factors, but cannot be ignored or put down purely to the tenant’s/tenants’ lifestyle.

“If, after contacting your landlord, there has been no improvement, then contact our housing enforcement team for advice on what to do next. 

“We work closely with social landlords with properties in Shropshire, and they share our aim to address damp and mould. Please report issues to them and they will help.

“We know most landlords are responsible, and are willing to comply with their obligations to ensure tenants have warm homes that are not cold and damp, which will help to improve their health and wellbeing. 

“Landlords, irrespective of whether they own a single home or multiple homes, should adopt a proactive approach to the identification and tackling of damp and mould.

“They should understand the condition of their homes and adopt a preventative approach when dealing with damp and mould: improving ventilation, energy efficiency and addressing any defects before damp and mould becomes an issue, and before a complaint is made to the council.”

The council even tells landlords how they should respond, saying: “After receiving a report from their tenant a landlord should respond sensitively and assess the issue with urgency to identify the severity of the damp and mould and potential risks to tenants.”

It says landlords should also ensure tenants are informed about the steps that will be taken to remove mould and address any underlying issues and the timeframes for the work.

It advises the landlords to remove the mould, to address the health risk to tenants, using a qualified professional where appropriate; and then to identify and tackle the underlying causes of damp and mould, including building deficiencies, inadequate ventilation and condensation. 

“Simply removing surface mould will not prevent the damp and mould from reappearing” it says in a statement.