Preventing damp and mould in Broxtowe

Green Doctor Michael Blackham with a temperature and humidity sensor

During the cold winter months, many households are struggling to keep their homes safe from damp and mould. To support their tenants, Broxtowe Borough Council have teamed up with regional charity Groundwork Five Counties and rolled out a Damp & Repair support service.

The charity has a team of energy experts known as Green Doctors, who visit selected tenants to help prevent damp and mould, save money on their bills, and become more energy efficient.

Michael Blackham, Green Doctor Team Leader at Groundwork Five Counties, explains: “Ventilation is really important as moisture gets trapped inside. This is especially important when cooking, showering, drying clothes, and in the morning after the household wakes up.

“It may feel strange opening the window in the middle of winter but it’s vital to let that moist air out, as otherwise it can become damp and then mould, which is incredibly dangerous to your health.

“Also important to know is that condensation will form on surfaces under 16 degrees. The ideal room temperature is between 18 – 21 degrees. but beware that condensation at these temperatures can still occur if the moisture levels are high enough.

“During home visits we discuss behaviours and give damp prevention tips tailored to their situation, to make sure everyone has the knowledge to look after their home.”

In properties that have visible damp or mould, the Green Doctor installs sensors that track humidity and temperature for two weeks, and use a thermal camera to find cold spots. This information allows them to pinpoint the location and cause, and provide advice to tackle the problem.

Broxtowe Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, Councillor Vanessa Smith, says: “Damp and mould in properties can be a real health hazard to residents. We take our responsibilities as a landlord around this very seriously and so I’m delighted to have teamed up with Groundwork and their Green Doctors to take a proactive approach to prevent it.

“This is just one of the ways we’re stepping up our efforts to get ahead of damp and mould issues within our housing stock and protect our tenants.”

Tenants who are experiencing issues with damp or mould can log these via the dedicated email address damp&mould@broxtowe.gov.uk or by calling 0115 917 7777. Other repair requests can be made via the council website by clicking here.

Green Doctor Michael Blackham using a thermal camera to find cold spots