An alarming new study has revealed the parts of the UK with the highest numbers of residents affected by deadly house mould.
Topping the list were homes in the North West, with nearly four times the incidences of severe mould and damp, compared to the least affected area—the East Midlands.
London was a close second, with more than 6,000 complaints of severe mould and damp made by both private and social housing residents in 2024.
The research, which analysed freedom of information requests made to local councils, also revealed a staggering rise in recurring mould and damp over the last year across the UK.
Between 2023 and 2024, reported cases of unresolved problems more than doubled to 13,781.
In total, local councils in Britain received 25,134 complaints about mould and damp in 2024, marking a 35.06 per cent increase from the previous year.
The number of homes local councils deemed uninhabitable after complaints from residents rose by 103.28 per cent, from 61 cases in 2023 to 124 in 2024.
In response to the lack of progress in tackling Britain’s ‘mould epidemic’, experts have called for the health impacts to be taken more seriously.
Inhaling mould spores can trigger allergies, asthma attacks, respiratory infections that cause lung disease and, in severe cases, death.
Those most at risk of the health impacts of mould are those most at risk in society: babies, children, and older people.
In December 2020, two year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale home.
He lived in a one-bedroom flat with his father and stepmother.
The family reported the mould problem to the housing association that provided the flat—Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH)—three years before the little boy’s death, but was advised to ‘paint over it’.
In June 2020, Awaab’s father hit the landlords with a legal claim over the recurring mould, but repairs had to wait until the case was settled.
Awaab was taken to Rochdale Urgent Care Centre on 19 December that year with shortness of breath, and died a few days later.
Speaking of the new findings, Dr Alexis Missick, a GP working with online prescription service UK Meds, which collected the data, said: ‘Mould is more than just an eyesore, it can be extremely harmful, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions like asthma.
‘Prolonged exposure to damp and mould can lead to persistent coughing, wheezing, and skin irritation. In more severe cases, it can cause long-term damage to lung health.
Two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from a respiratory condition caused by black mould at his home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, in 2020
‘With complaints rising so sharply, it’s clear that action is needed at both local and national levels.
‘We urge councils, landlords, and tenants to prioritise early prevention, proper ventilation, and swift intervention where mould is discovered.’
The study analysed data from freedom of information requests to councils about mould and damp complaints in both private and social housing.
The researchers found a stark difference between regions regarding the number of complaints, as well as the number of unresolved cases.
The culprit behind mould is too much moisture and in buildings this can be caused by several factors.
This includes leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames, and condensation.
Mould and damp are commonly found in old buildings, but a newly built home may be damp if the water used in the plaster on the walls is still drying out.
This latest study follows several high profile cases in which mould resulted in life-threatening complications.
Shocking images reveal the extent of the black mould spores in the flat where tragic Awaab Ishak lived. The toilet was leaking because of defective plumbing and continuously discharging.
Matthew Langsworth, 32, has developed a potentially deadly infection after inhaling mould spores that were ‘hidden’ in his home
In January this year, reports surfaced of a 32 year-old man who developed a life-threatening blood infection caused by mould, after living in a fungus-infected property where spores were ‘covered up’ with paint.
Matthew Langsworth, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire became so breathless ‘he could barely walk’.
The condition called invasive aspergillosis can be caused by inhaling fungal spores which consequently spread from the lungs to the blood and other areas of the body.
Last year, it triggered a collapsed lung which resulted in potentially-deadly sepsis.
He said he spent a decade flagging black mould in the bathroom, kitchen and bedroom to his landlord, which he claims was ‘redecorated over’.
Mr Langsworth claimed that doctors suspect mould exposure is behind his health issues.
He said he’s faced with the choice of ‘dying or being homeless’—as the flat, which is subsidised by the local council, is deemed ‘fit for living’ by officials.
The social housing provider in his case, Stonewater, claimed they replaced the ‘entirety of his bathroom and kitchen’ following a leak in 2023 and more recently installed new flooring.
They said a survey done in January this year, found mould on the shower curtain, the bathroom sink waste overflow and in the washing machine powder drawer
They also discovered that the extractor fan in the bathroom wasn’t working, but claim that had not been reported to them previously.
