Shropshire council wants tenants to make sure their landlords become aware of any damp and mould problems in their ‘homes’.

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The local authority says private renters should call on landlords to investigate causes of damp and mould issues have appeared in the property.

The council says these problems are probably caused by a number of reasons such as a condensation build-up on walls and cold surfaces, lack of ventilation or heating, and even problems caused by repairs.

The council is even advising  tenants it is in their best interest as a ‘failsafe’ to take photos of the mold issues whilst the landlord is investigating the problem.

A spokesperson says: “As a council we are committed to ensuring that rented accommodation is free from serious hazards and, now winter is here, damp and mould can be a real problem.

“Tenants must not suffer in silence from mould and should ask their landlords to work to investigate why there is mould in a property. This could be due to a number of factors, but cannot be ignored or put down purely to the tenant’s/tenants’ lifestyle.

“If, after contacting your landlord, there has been no improvement, then contact our housing enforcement team for advice on what to do next.

“We work closely with social landlords with properties in Shropshire, and they share our aim to address damp and mould. Please report issues to them and they will help.

“We know most landlords are responsible, and are willing to comply with their obligations to ensure tenants have warm homes that are not cold and damp, which will help to improve their health and wellbeing.

“Landlords, irrespective of whether they own a single home or multiple homes, should adopt a proactive approach to the identification and tackling of damp and mould.

“They should understand the condition of their homes and adopt a preventative approach when dealing with damp and mould: improving ventilation, energy efficiency and addressing any defects before damp and mould becomes an issue, and before a complaint is made to the council.”

The council has also told landlords how they must rectify the issue when their tenants report the problem, which says: “After receiving a report from their tenant a landlord should respond sensitively and assess the issue with urgency to identify the severity of the damp and mould and potential risks to tenants.”

It also tells landlords to make sure to let their tenants know what actions they will take to get rid of the damp and mould and how long it will take to remedy the problem.

The authority also wants landlords to use qualified tradespeople to remove the mould where necessary and to tackle the root causes.