Response times for damp and mould reports are now tightly defined, and the record of what you did matters as much as the work itself.
This guide sets out a sequence that satisfies the investigation duty and produces the evidence pack at the same time.
Triage on the day of report
- Record the report with date, time, rooms affected and any health concerns raised
- Ask for photographs from the resident before attending
- Flag vulnerability, infants or respiratory conditions for priority attendance
- Book the investigation visit and confirm it to the resident in writing
The investigation visit
- Surface and ambient temperature, relative humidity and moisture readings per affected room
- Airflow test on every mechanical extract, recorded in litres per second
- Thermal imaging where cold bridging or hidden saturation is suspected
- External inspection above and around the affected area for fabric defects
- Photographs of every reading, defect and affected surface
Deciding the cause
- Condensation — cold surfaces, seasonal pattern, poor or failed ventilation
- Penetrating damp — external defect directly above or behind the affected area
- Plumbing leak — localised, worsening, unrelated to season or occupancy
- Construction moisture or rising damp — confirm before specifying any injection work
Remedial sequence
- Make safe and treat visible mould so the resident sees action immediately
- Correct the moisture source: fabric repair, leak repair or ventilation upgrade
- Dry the structure and confirm with readings before closing anything up
- Insulate cold bridges where condensation was the cause
- Redecorate last, and reinspect at the next heating season
Communication and records
- Written summary to the resident explaining the cause and the plan
- Target dates for each stage, with updates if they move
- Post works reinspection recorded against the original report
We carry out the investigation visit, the evidence pack and the remedial works as one instruction, so nothing falls between contractors.