Damp and mould, traced back to the cause
Wiping mould off a wall buys a few weeks. The job is finding out why the wall is wet, fixing that, treating the surface and writing down what was done and when.
Where the water is coming from
Mould needs moisture, so the first question on any visit is where the moisture comes from. In most buildings it is one of a short list of faults, and more than one can be at work in the same room.
- Leaks from pipes, wastes, showers and failed sealant
- Gutters and downpipes spilling water down an outside wall
- Slipped tiles, flashing and roof leaks that show up as ceiling stains
- Cracked render and missing pointing
- Extractor fans that have stopped pulling air
- Blocked air bricks and trickle vents painted shut
- Condensation in rooms that cannot get rid of the moisture made in them
Once the cause is dealt with we treat the affected surface, make good any plaster that has failed and redecorate. If a room is damp because of how it has to be used, we will say so and talk through what would help.
23 jobs in supported housing
Damp and mould was part of 23 jobs we invoiced to IKE Supported Housing over two years, in homes people live in. Many of those tenants are adults with autism, learning disabilities or mental ill health, so a visit has to be arranged around the person living there as much as the wall.
Impress have always treated our tenants and support staff with the utmost respect and, over the years, have built up excellent relationships with them.
That is where our damp and mould history is. For other kinds of building, we would work the same way.
Dates matter more than they used to
Every visit ends with the date, what we found, what we did and photographs from before and after. You get that without having to ask for it, in a form you can file or forward.
Awaab’s Law has applied to social landlords in England since 27 October 2025. Where a significant damp and mould hazard is reported, the landlord must investigate within 10 working days, give the tenant a written summary within 3 working days of finishing that investigation, and carry out relevant safety work within 5 working days of it concluding. Emergency hazards have to be investigated and made safe within 24 hours.
Those duties stay with the landlord, and this is a plain summary rather than legal advice. What we can give you is an attendance date and a written, photographed account of the work to put against them.
Catching it while it is small
Our free monthly damp and mould checklist takes a room at a time and prints on one sheet, with no sign up. Whoever looks after the building can use it to spot the early signs and show whether something has spread since last month.
Damp proofing or a specialist survey
We do not do damp proofing, which means no injected damp courses, tanking, membranes or timber treatment. If a building needs that, or a damp survey from a qualified surveyor, or the cause looks structural, we will report it back to you and say who we would ring. We do not disturb anything suspected of containing asbestos. If we come across it, we stop and tell you.
Where we work
We take on damp and mould repairs across County Durham, Teesside and Tyne and Wear, working from our base in Newton Aycliffe. See the towns we cover, or find out how we work.
What people ask first
Can you come while the room is occupied?
Yes, that is how we are used to working. Tell us who lives there and what would make the visit easier for them, and we will plan around it.
Will it come back?
It can, if the cause is only partly dealt with or the room still cannot get rid of moisture. That is why we write down the cause we found and tell you if we think something else needs doing.
Do you cover private landlords and commercial buildings too?
Yes. The work is the same in a rented home, a care home or an office.
Tell us where to start
Ring Wayne Cator, our Managing Director, or send us the details and we will come back to you.