Causes of damp and condensation

A build-up of moisture in the home can cause a range of problems and can potentially damage the fabric of the building if allowed to continue. And if mould starts to grow, this can even affect the health of the occupants.

‘Damp’ is a general term which covers a range of different issues connected to excess moisture. It is important to establish what the source of the problem is exactly, and its origin.

How moisture gets into properties

Moisture can get into your property due to:

• rain getting in through leaking roofs, blocked or damaged guttering, leaky walls and poorly fitting doors and windows
• leaks from plumbing faults, failed appliances and poorly sealed baths and showers can quickly build up, often where you can’t see them
• ground water rising up through the walls and floor if the damp proof course isn’t working properly
• moisture in the air, which we add all the time just by breathing, as well as from cooking, drying clothes, and from our pets and house plants

If you have rain water getting in, or any internal leaks or signs of rising damp, then it’s important to get the problem sorted out quickly. Moisture in the air can cause problems too if it leads to too much condensation.

Read our Damp and Mould Action Plan (PDF, 185KB) to see how we are tackling the issues surrounding damp, condensation and mould.