Mould surveys.
Breaking the mould for a healthier building.
Mould spores are known allergens. Microscopic spores often become airborne at the slightest disturbance, and when inhaled by humans, have been attributed to being a trigger for asthma, dust allergies, hay fever, and in extreme cases can cause death.
Take a positive step to eliminate mould.
During growth, fungal colonies can produce gases known as ‘volites’. These are musty mildew-like odours, that you may associate with damp rooms. Exposure to these gases have been associated with a number of symptoms from headaches to nausea and fatigue.
Unfortunately, mould in a rented property was recently cited as the cause of death of a young child by one UK Coroner, indicating the potential seriousness if left unmanaged in a building.
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) requires properties to be free of hazards such as damp
and mould, with excess amounts present in a property potentially amounting to a category 1 hazard, where tenants can take legal action against their landlord for breaches of this statutory duty.

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), employers are required to make an assessment of the risk to health from the work activity, to introduce and maintain control measures and to inform, instruct and train employees about the risk and precautions to be taken. If the risk assessment shows that there is a substantial risk from mould, actions needs to be taken to minimise this risk as far as reasonably practicable.

Your responsibilities
In relation to rental properties, landlords have duties to provide good living conditions for tenants, but on the other hand the tenants also have responsibilities to maintain the properties to a good standard.
Legally, rising damp or penetrative damp caused by structural leakage is the landlord’s responsibility to put right. Under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, it is the landlord’s responsibility to resolve mould issues caused by structural faults. However, when interior condensation is caused by the tenant, this shifts the responsibility.
How we can help
Determining the cause of mould in a property can be complex and so a survey should be undertaken.
Churchill’s Environmental Services team can provide full mould and damp survey reports for each of your properties, and help ensure that you meet the required standards as a responsible landlord or property manager.
Our specialist assessors will:
• Carry out full room by room internal property inspection for damp and mould
• Use the latest thermal imaging technology to show cold spots and areas susceptible to damp
• Carry out moisture/humidity tests to establish hidden or unseen problems
• Survey ventilation within the property
• Detail all areas of concern with photographic evidence
• Provide details of all necessary remedial actions
• Where issues are identified with the structure of the property, a further survey may be recommended.
Determining the cause of mould in a property can be complex process. Call our HelpPoint line today to arrange a survey and put a STOP to mould.
HelpPoint 0845 345 1576