UK damp & mould statistics (2026)
The scale of damp and mould in UK housing, the rise in complaints, and the legislation now driving action. Figures are sourced and free to cite with a link to this page.
homes in England estimated to have damp problems
Source: English Housing Survey
dwellings are pre-1919 stock, which is disproportionately likely to suffer damp
Source: English Housing Survey
Housing Ombudsman complaints about damp and mould, with landlords found for severe maladministration
Source: Housing Ombudsman
Awaab's Law damp and mould duties came into force for social housing in England
Source: Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023
Why the numbers matter
Damp and mould are no longer treated as a lifestyle issue or a maintenance backlog item. With around 900,000 homes in England affected, complaints to the Housing Ombudsman climbing, and the oldest housing stock most at risk, the problem is both widespread and concentrated in the homes least able to deal with it. The response has been a wave of regulation that puts hard duties on landlords.
For the full analysis, read our state of the UK damp and mould crisis piece.
The legislation timeline
- 2020
Awaab Ishak dies from prolonged exposure to mould in social housing; the 2022 inquest makes damp and mould a national issue.
- 27 October 2025
Awaab's Law damp and mould duties begin for social landlords in England: statutory deadlines to investigate and make safe.
- April 2026
Renters' Rights Act extends the Awaab's Law framework into the private rented sector for damp and mould.
- April 2026 (social) / October 2026 (PRS)
The revised Decent Homes Standard treats damp and mould as an explicit failure criterion with objective thresholds.
Using these figures
You are welcome to cite these statistics in your own reporting, tenders or training, with a link back to this page. For the tools that put compliance into practice, see the free Awaab's Law deadline calculator and the Awaab's Law compliance module.