Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council have jointly renewed a social media campaign to inform landlords and tenants about the risk of leaving damp and mould in homes untreated, and the necessity of taking action.
The councils have linked up with health professionals to share the Healthy Homes campaign via GP surgeries and at health centres.
It also includes advertising the campaign on bus stops in the region and provides discounted damp and drone surveys for landlords to help identify property defects.
More than 26 local letting agents have signed up to the campaign, encouraging tenants to report issues in the first instance to the agent.
This enables investigations to prevent damp and mould in properties, and signposts landlords to the councils’ and government’s damp and mould guidance.
The campaign highlights how damp and mould can risk residents’ health and cause skin conditions, immune system issues or breathing problems.
Whilst issues may occur that are beyond the control of tenants, residents are encouraged to keep their properties well ventilated, opening windows or utilising extractor fans when cooking or showering.
Condensation should be wiped down promptly, preferably just with soap and water, and clothes should be dried outside if possible or in a condensing dryer or tumble dryer vented to the outside.
Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for economic renewal, housing and organisational development, said: “People across our part of the world deserve to live in homes free of damp and mould.
“Whilst there are steps that tenants can take themselves to try to prevent issues occurring in the first place, there are sometimes going to be damp and mould issues that will need to be sorted by their landlords.
“We do have a good number of local letting agents who have signed up to the campaign, but we are looking for more to come forward, to ensure that all private tenants can be reassured that mould and damp problems will be dealt with properly.”
Councillor Lyn Healing, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet member for public protection, said: “Damp and mould can cause serious health problems if left untreated, and we urge landlords and tenants to report and fix issues as soon as possible.
“We are dedicated to working with letting agents, landlords, and tenants to ensure the provision of healthy and safe homes across our region and I strongly encourage more to sign up to the initiative.”
The Healthy Homes initiative is funded by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
More information on how to counter damp and mould can be found via Condensation, damp and mould advice for the private sector | Hull.