In short: Damp and mould in an HMO is usually caused by condensation, leaks or rising or penetrating damp, and often by a mix. Fixing it means finding the cause first, then repairing leaks, improving ventilation and heating, treating affected areas and making good. These issues are assessed under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) in England and Wales.
What do damp, mould and HHSRS repairs include?
- Cause-finding survey with moisture readings
- Leak, gutter and roof repairs
- Extraction and continuous ventilation
- Mould treatment and stain-block
- Re-plastering and making good
- Damp-proofing where it is the cause
- Insulation to cold spots
- Photo report of before and after
When do landlords need it?
- Tenant reports of damp or mould
- An HHSRS finding or council letter
- Recurring mould in bathrooms and bedrooms
What rules apply in each UK nation?
The law differs between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and councils publish their own HMO standards on top. These are the points that usually matter for this work.
England
- Councils assess hazards, including damp, mould and fire, under the HHSRS; revised regulations and guidance applied from 23 June 2026.
- Rented homes must currently meet at least EPC E, with a £3,500 spending cap. The government plans EPC C by October 2030, subject to legislation.
- Councils can fine up to £7,000 where a Category 1 hazard is not removed when it reasonably could have been.
Wales
- Councils assess hazards, including damp and mould, under the HHSRS, alongside the fitness for human habitation rules for occupation contracts.
- Rented homes must meet at least EPC E. Whether the planned EPC C standard will apply in Wales has not yet been confirmed.
Scotland
- Awaab’s Law applies to most private tenancies from 6 October 2026: damp and mould reports must be investigated within 10 working days, and repairs to substantial damp or mould must start within 5 working days.
- Check current Scottish Government guidance on energy efficiency standards for private rented homes before planning upgrades.
Northern Ireland
- Licence conditions and council enforcement cover disrepair, damp and mould in licensed HMOs.
- Check current Department for Communities guidance on energy standards for privately rented homes.
All HMO rules for Northern Ireland
How much do damp, mould and HHSRS repairs cost?
| Item | UK typical | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Damp repair, from a single wall to a whole house | £600 – £4,000 | job |
| Mould treatment and making good | £250 – £500 | room |
Typical time on site: 2–10 working days. Your fixed price follows a site visit; use the guide-price tool for a figure for your house.
How the job runs
- Free site visit and measured survey.
- Itemised written quote and programme.
- Works with one point of contact and photo updates.
- Handover with certificates, drawings and photos.
Questions about damp, mould and HHSRS repairs
Is damp always rising damp?
No. In shared houses condensation is the most common cause, because of cooking, showers and drying clothes. We find the cause before recommending any treatment.
Will a mould wash fix it?
Only for a while. Unless the cause is fixed, mould comes back.
What is HHSRS?
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System, the method councils in England and Wales use to assess hazards in homes, including damp and mould.
How quickly should damp be dealt with?
As soon as possible, and quickly where health is at risk. New rules on hazard timescales are coming into the private rented sector; our compliance pages explain what is confirmed.
Related services
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits
- EPC and energy upgrades
- Full HMO refurbishment
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works
- Communal kitchen refits
Where we work
Choose a nation and area for local rules, postcodes and regional prices.
England
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- County Durham
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Wales
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Flintshire
- Gwynedd
- Isle of Anglesey
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Pembrokeshire
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Wrexham
Scotland
- Aberdeen City
- Aberdeenshire
- Angus
- Argyll and Bute
- City of Edinburgh
- Clackmannanshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Dundee City
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Lothian
- East Renfrewshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Glasgow City
- Highland
- Inverclyde
- Midlothian
- Moray
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Orkney Islands
- Perth and Kinross
- Renfrewshire
- Scottish Borders
- Shetland Islands
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- Stirling
- West Dunbartonshire
- West Lothian