Damp Proofing for Private Landlords and Letting Agents

Rentokil Property Care work closely with private landlords, letting agents and those working in the private rental sector (PRS). We have decades of experience providing expert advice and recommendations for numerous property preservation problems including damp, condensation and mould, helping provide healthy and safe homes for occupants.

Rentokil Property Care surveyors are experts in surveying and will provide you with professional advice that gets to the root cause of the issue, and our technicians have vast experience working with owners, occupants and property managers to deliver a high standard of service.

Trust Rentokil Property Care for expert surveying and workmanship to the highest industry standards, often backed by long term guarantees.

Those working in the private rental sector require an understanding of potential risks and the associated legislation that affects tenants, including new regulations such as Awaab’s Law and the Renters’ Rights Act. These are setting stricter standards for social and private rentals, which makes understanding potential damp and mould problems more important for those managing rental properties.

Condensation is the most common form of damp that affects properties in the UK, and mould growth is an indication of a moisture control issue. Condensation forms when warm moist air comes into contact with a cold surface, and condenses into liquid. In order to prevent condensation problems, Landlords can play a key role by helping tenants understand how their daily habits can cause excess moisture inside a property, ultimately leading to condensation. Making mindful changes to the way moisture is produced can help prevent condensation forming, as well as ensuring there is adequate heating and ventilation.

If the property does not have adequate ventilation, for example extractor fans in bathrooms or kitchens, or there are surfaces or walls susceptible to cold bridging, the landlord may need to address these by carrying out repairs. If left, mould spores will germinate and release more spores into the atmosphere which can aggravate asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions.

When mould is visible, it should be removed as soon as possible, while the underlying problems causing mould growth must also be addressed.

If you are unsure about how to reduce the risk of condensation and mould growth, Rentokil Property Care can provide expert advice and recommendations through our survey process. This will provide you with the best course of action to help increase ventilation, improve the thermal efficiency of the property, and prevent mould growth long term.

While condensation is the most common form of damp landlords will have to deal with, properties can still be susceptible to penetrating damp and rising damp, which can create unpleasant living conditions and may even lead to damage to structural timbers if left unaddressed.

Penetrating damp is often caused by building defects that allow rainwater to penetrate into the fabric of the property, usually through cracks, failed pointing, faulty guttering and roof coverings. Rising damp is caused when a building’s damp proof course becomes defective, is bridged or is missing altogether.

Damp walls are often caused by rising damp or penetrating damp, and over time can lead to the deterioration of plasterwork, musty smells and will make the room feel cold, as the surfaces are no longer able to retain heat.

If your housing stock is suffering from a damp problem and you require professional assistance, Rentokil Property Care are here to help. We can work with you to deliver the highest quality repairs to your property, after fully diagnosing the damp issues.

Often damp and condensation issues are complex and need thorough investigation. This is why our surveyors are experienced and qualified. Our surveyor will arrive at a suitable time, before carrying out an inspection of both the exterior and interior of the property.

Often damp problems are caused by external defects such as blocked drains, damaged guttering or defective roof coverings, as these problems lead to penetrating damp.

Internally our surveyors will use a range of tools and equipment such as thermal imaging cameras in order to support their conclusions, as these will provide evidence of cold spots inside the property that could be leading to damp issues. They will assess the condition of timber, as damp problems can cause issues such as fungal decay and woodworm infestations.

The surveyor will then provide a detailed survey report within three days of the survey, which will include their findings and recommendations, backed by photographs and evidence found on site. The surveyor will also detail if treatments or repairs are required, along with costs for the works.

With Awaab’s Law already enacted, the social housing sector were given clear timeframes in which landlords in England would have to deal with issues such as damp and mould, while reaffirming tenants’ rights to escalate non-compliance directly to the Housing Ombudsman.

These timeframes are set to be extended to the private rental sector, meaning that private landlords, including student accommodation, will have to ensure that damp and mould problems are dealt with promptly, within the allocated time frames.

Awaab’s Law and the Renters’ Rights Act build upon the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS): guidance for landlords and property-related professionals, that has provided guidance for landlords and property-related professionals for decades.

HHSRS makes it clear that all dwellings, including those rented in the private sector, should be free of hazards, and that by tackling these hazards it will make properties safer and healthy to live in.

The Renters’ Rights Act will set up a new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman that will offer “swift, binding resolutions to tenants’ complaints” from 2026. This means that once the Act is passed, damp and mould must not be treated as minor maintenance issues, but as potential health hazards requiring prompt, documented action. For the most severe cases, usually where residents’ health is at risk, immediate remediation or temporary re-housing will be required. In order to avoid this situation happening, landlords will need to conduct regular property checks in order to identify any potential issues, maintain clear communication channels with tenants, and record any remedial work carried out.

Rentokil Property Care has vast experience in dealing with these issues in the social housing sector, so will be able to provide insight and assistance for private landlords, where required. By prioritising prevention over repair, landlords can create safer, healthier homes and demonstrate a real duty of care to their residents.

Our surveyors and technicians work inside people’s homes on a daily basis, and are able to prioritise the well-being of tenants from the initial survey to any remedial repairs being carried out.

Our tenant-focused approach prioritises:

• Clear communication with all stakeholders during the survey process, and throughout the treatment process, if repairs are required.
• Respectful treatment of tenants’ homes
• Minimised disruption to daily life
• Our technicians are equipped with vacuums, floor coverings and dust sheets to protect homes and to keep dust and debris to a minimum. We also provide our technicians with Hilti dust extraction units which help remove airborne dust from the atmosphere around our work and will reduce the amount of dust settling.

We will work closely with you in order to maintain positive relationships with tenants, and prevent any unnecessary delays where possible.

Rentokil Property Care has been working in peoples homes and businesses for over 70 years, correctly identifying property issues and providing long term solutions.

We are experts in property preservation, and can provide you with personalised advice for damp problems affecting your property, or a property you’re thinking of buying.