Do I have to deal with damp and mould?

Yes. Damp and mould are a hazard under the housing health and safety rating system, and a property with either may not be fit for human habitation.

Blaming condensation on the tenant’s lifestyle is not a defence on its own. If the property lacks adequate ventilation, insulation or heating, the cause is the building and the fix is yours.

Investigate rather than repaint. Painting over mould without finding the source is the single most common thing that turns a complaint into a claim.

Awaab’s Law already sets strict investigation and repair timescales in social housing, and a version for private renting has been consulted on.