Landlords · Last reviewed June 2026
Who pays for mould — landlord or tenant?
Quick Answer
It depends on the cause. The landlord is responsible when mould results from building defects: leaking gutters, failed pointing, rising damp or inadequate ventilation provision. The tenant bears responsibility when lifestyle is the cause, such as drying clothes indoors with windows shut and extractors unused. Around 80% of the damp surveys LWR carries out in Lincoln find a mix of lifestyle and ventilation issues fixable with small remedial works.
Under Awaab's Law, the landlord must investigate any reported damp or mould hazard within set timeframes regardless of suspected cause — 'tenant lifestyle' is not a reason to ignore a complaint, and an unanswered complaint is the legal risk.
A professional survey settles the cause question with moisture readings and thermal imaging, and gives both parties a written, dated report — which is exactly the audit trail the law expects.
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