Indoor Air Quality and Damp: What Every Midlands Homeowner Should Know
When people think about damp, they tend to think about visible damage — stained walls, peeling wallpaper, rotting skirting boards. What is often underestimated is the impact that uncontrolled moisture has on indoor air quality, and by extension, on the health of the people living in affected properties.
In my work carrying out independent damp and indoor air quality surveys across the Midlands, I’ve seen this connection play out in real homes. This post sets out what that relationship looks like and why it matters.
How Damp Affects Indoor Air Quality
Mould spore release. When mould establishes itself in a damp building — on wall surfaces, behind furniture, on ceiling boards, or within ventilation systems — it produces and releases microscopic spores into the indoor air. These spores are inhaled by occupants. In sensitised individuals, this can trigger respiratory symptoms including coughing, wheezing, and allergic reactions. People with asthma, young children, elderly occupants, and those with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
VOC release from damp materials. Microbial activity in damp building materials can produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — the source of the characteristic musty smell associated with damp properties. These compounds contribute to poor air quality and in some studies have been associated with adverse health effects at elevated concentrations.
Airborne particulates from deteriorating materials. Damp plaster that is breaking down, crumbling mortar, and deteriorated insulation materials can release fine particulates into the air within a property. Where fibrous insulation materials are involved, this can have additional implications.
Combustion products in properties with poor ventilation. Properties that are sealed up tightly without adequate replacement air can experience incomplete combustion from gas appliances, with elevated carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations. While this is distinct from damp, it frequently co-exists in properties where occupants have eliminated draughts without providing mechanical ventilation.
The Awaab’s Law Context
The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 from a respiratory condition linked to extensive mould growth in his social rented home brought national attention to the relationship between damp, mould, and health. The subsequent legislation — Awaab’s Law — introduced mandatory timescales within which social landlords must investigate and remedy damp and mould in residential tenancies.
While Awaab’s Law applies specifically to the social rented sector, its underlying principle — that damp and mould in residential properties is a serious health hazard that warrants urgent action — has broader relevance. Private landlords and homeowners alike should not regard visible mould as simply a cosmetic issue.
What an Indoor Air Quality Survey Involves
An indoor air quality survey goes beyond a standard damp survey to consider the broader environmental conditions within a property. This may include:
- Assessment of ventilation rates and air change frequencies
- Moisture meter readings and relative humidity assessment throughout the property
- Visual inspection for mould growth, including areas not immediately visible
- Thermal imaging to identify cold surfaces at risk of condensation
- Carbon dioxide monitoring as an indicator of ventilation adequacy
- Assessment of potential sources of pollutants
The findings are presented in a written report that sets out measured conditions, identifies risk factors, and makes recommendations for improvement.
Who Commissions IAQ Surveys?
I carry out indoor air quality surveys for a range of clients:
Landlords who want to understand the environmental conditions in a tenanted property and ensure that their obligations are met, particularly in the context of Awaab’s Law.
Tenants who have concerns about the conditions in their home and want independent, evidenced information to support discussions with their landlord.
Homeowners who have health concerns they believe may be related to their property’s environment.
Buyers and sellers carrying out due diligence on properties where damp or air quality may be a material consideration.
If you have concerns about the indoor air quality of a property in the Midlands, I’d be happy to discuss your situation and explain what an independent survey would involve.
Richard Bull MISSE is an independent damp and timber surveyor based in the Midlands.