Almost a third of UK living in mouldy or damp homes, Warm This Winter campaign group says
Almost a third of people in the UK are living in mouldy or damp homes, according to new research by a campaign group.
A survey by Warm This Winter, a coalition of 50 charities, has found 29% of people experience mould frequently or occasionally.
That statistic includes an estimated 3.4 million people who are pregnant or have young children in the home.
Households in Cardiff, Plymouth and Manchester top the list as being the most likely to suffer.
The data also shows a geographic split, with cities in the west of the UK worst affected.
Warm This Winter’s survey found that 10% of households across the country generally experience mouldy living conditions frequently.
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Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, described the findings as “chilling”.
“[They] underline why we need further urgent action from the government to step in and help households stay warm this winter,” he said.
“Vulnerable households, including young families and expectant mothers, are struggling because of ministers’ failure to provide emergency financial assistance this winter and longer term failures to invest in the permanent solutions to fuel poverty, such as insulation and reform of energy pricing.”
Energy prices are set to rise in January, with the typical annual household bill going up from £1,834 to £1,928, a rise of £94 or 5%.
Mould, which is often caused by damp or cold, can produce spores and toxins which are harmful.
In 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from a respiratory condition caused by “extensive” mould in his home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. In 2022, 27-year-old Luke Brooks, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, died from acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by a type of mould.
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‘We’ve been sick every year’
Heather Leonard, 52, lives in temporary accommodation in Bartley Green, Birmingham, with her two sons aged 15 and 20, one of whom has severe autism.
She says her house is covered in mould and her and her sons all suffer with asthma.
“It’s been so bad,” she says. “Every year, during the wintertime, when you can’t keep your windows open 24 hours a day, the kids and I always end up getting chest infections.
“We’ve been sick every year, because we all three have asthma. We can feel the effect all year round. But during the wintertime it gets particularly difficult.”
Mould pictured in Heather Leonard’s home
Heather says she complained to her provider, Second City Housing, and that someone visited the property three months ago and painted over the mould.
However, she says it has since returned in other places and that she has now been handed a section 21 eviction notice.
Heather describes opening the windows in the property every day, even spraying the mould herself, but says she can’t afford to keep the heating on all the time.
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She says her 15-year-old son, Jamie, has to share her bedroom now as his room was “so overcome with mould”.
“All of the walls and the carpet was so filled with it that all the furniture in there got covered with mould as well,” Heather says. “It had to be thrown away.”
Second City Housing says it has “diligently” sought to co-ordinate with Heather for necessary repairs but “unavailability and scheduling conflicts” have “presented challenges gaining timely access for essential repairs”.
The company also says that “Ms Leonard’s actions or omissions, including citing health and family challenges, have also contributed to the deterioration of the property’s condition”.
The housing provider says it has “actively worked to complete all necessary repairs”, and that the mould has worsened due to “the tenant’s activities” such as failing to report water leaks promptly, inadequate ventilation, and poor maintenance of damp areas.
A statement said: “We remain dedicated to resolving this matter promptly and collaboratively with Ms Leonard to ensure her living conditions meet necessary standards.
“We anticipate a swift resolution and trust that this information provides clarity on our efforts and challenges.”
Energy bills are set to fall from this July and will continue to drop in the autumn and winter, a forecaster has said.
Households will be charged £129 less for a typical annual bill from July as the energy price cap is due to fall, according to energy consultants Cornwall Insight.
From July, an average dual fuel bill will be £1,720 a year, 7% below the current price cap of £1,849 a year.
The price cap limits the cost per unit of energy and is revised every three months by the energy regulator Ofgem.
The official announcement from Ofgem will be made on Friday.
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Bills had already been made more expensive for three three-month periods, or quarters, in a row, in October, January, and April, as wholesale gas prices rose and European stores of the fossil fuel were depleted due to cold weather.
Electricity prices are tied to gas prices.
The UK is also heavily reliant on gas for home heating and uses a significant amount for electricity generation.
Drops when the cap is next changed in October and January will be “modest”, Cornwall Insight said.
Price falls are not a certainty, however, as weather patterns, gas storage rules, the war in Ukraine, and tariffs could all change pricing.
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Bills still high since Ukraine war
Energy costs have remained elevated following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and bills are still “well above” the levels seen at the start of the decade, said Cornwall Insight’s principal consultant, Dr Craig Lowrey.
“Prices are falling, but not by enough for the numerous households struggling under the weight of a cost-of-living crisis.
“As such, there remains a risk that energy will remain unaffordable for many,” he said.
“If prices can go down, they can bounce back up, especially with the unsettled global economic and political landscape we are experiencing. This is not the moment for complacency.”
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The government was called on by Mr Lowrey to explore options such as social tariffs, where vulnerable customers could pay less.
Proposals, including zonal pricing, which would see different regions of the country pay different rates, based on local supply and demand levels, are important but must be balanced with the urgent affordability crisis people are facing now, he said.
The continued growth of domestically produced renewable energy is “a positive step forward” and a cause for optimism as it helps protect against global energy price shocks and improves energy security, Mr Lowrey added.
“That progress needs to continue at pace, not just for the net zero transition, but to help build a more stable and secure energy future for all.”
The UK and the EU have agreed a new trade deal – five years after Brexit kicked in.
Following six months of talks after Sir Keir Starmer promised a fresh deal when he became prime minister last July, the two sides have come to an agreement.
Here are the details:
eGates
British passport holders will be able to use more eGates in Europe to avoid the long border control queues that have become the norm since Brexit in many EU countries.
Pet travel
Pet passports will be brought back so cats and dogs coming from the UK will no longer need pricey animal health certificates for every trip. After Brexit, pet owners had to get a certificate from a vet in the UK then a vet in the EU before returning.
Pets will now be allowed to travel on a pet passport instead of having to have a health certificate every time they travel. Pic: iStock
Red tape on food and drink sales
A new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal has been agreed to reduce red tape currently needed to import and export food and drink between the UK and the EU.
There is no time limit to this part of the deal, which the government says will reduce the burden on businesses and reduce lorry queues at the border.
The “vast majority” of routine checks and certificates for animal and plant products will be removed completely, including between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The government says this could lower food prices and increase choice on supermarket shelves.
Some British foods that have been prevented from being sold in the EU since Brexit will be allowed back in again, including burgers and sausages.
Fishing rights
The current fishing deal agreed in 2020 will continue for 12 years.
There will be no increase in fish quotas.
British fishing rights will continue for 12 years. Pic: PA
EU fishing vessels can fish in UK waters, but they require a valid licence, and there are annual negotiations on access and share of stock.
The UK government has announced a £360m investment into the fishing industry to go towards new technology and equipment to modernise the fleet, train the workforce, help revitalise coastal communities, support tourism and boost seafood exports.
Defence
A new security and defence partnership has been agreed so the UK defence industry can participate in the EU’s plan for a £150bn defence fund called Security Action for Europe (SAFE). This will support thousands of British jobs.
The UK and EU will also enhance cooperation over maritime security and accident reporting.
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Carbon tax
The deal will see closer co-operation on emissions by the UK and the EU, linking their own emissions trading systems.
The UK’s scheme sets a cap on the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions allowed from the power generation sector, energy-intensive industries and aviation, with companies issued allowances that they can trade with each other.
Under the deal, UK businesses will avoid being hit by the EU’s carbon tax, due to come in next year, which would have handed £800m to the EU.
Steel
British steel exports will be protected from new EU rules and tariffs to save UK steel £25m a year.
Further talks:
Youth mobility scheme
The UK and the EU have agreed to more negotiations on a youth mobility scheme to allow people aged 18-30 in the UK and the EU to move freely between countries for a limited period.
The scheme would include visas for young people working, studying, volunteering, travelling and working as au pairs.
Erasmus
The EU and the UK have agreed they should work towards an Erasmus programme, the student exchange programme which was scrapped when Brexit took place.
Catching criminals
The two sides have agreed to enter talks about the UK having access to EU facial images data to help catch dangerous criminals.
Migration
The two sides have agreed to further work on finding solutions to tackle illegal migration, including on returns and a joint commitment to tackle Channel crossings.
Electricity
The UK and the EU said they should explore the UK’s participation in the EU’s internal electricity market, including in its trading platforms.
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