04 / HEALTHY HOMES
Damp, mould & ventilation.
Diagnosed properly, fixed for good.
Surveys that find the cause rather than treat the symptom, followed by the ventilation, repairs and treatment that stop it coming back — with the written record that agents, landlords and the coming Awaab’s Law timescales demand.
At a glance
- Survey
- Moisture mapping, humidity and temperature readings, ventilation inspection and a photographed written report
- Causes we find
- Condensation, inadequate extraction, penetrating damp, plumbing leaks, bridged damp-proof courses, cold spots
- Fixes
- dMEV, MEV and PIV systems, extractor upgrades, mould treatment, leak repairs, redecoration
- Follow-up
- Data logging and re-inspection to prove the fix worked
- Delivered by
- ARK React — our damp, mould and ventilation team
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Damp, mould & ventilation: what we do.
Damp & mould survey
A surveyor identifies the type and source of the damp — not just where the mould is — with moisture readings, photographs and a clear recommendation.
Ventilation inspection & report
Extract fans tested for actual airflow, trickle vents and background ventilation checked, and shortfalls against current standards recorded.
Ventilation installation
Continuous-running dMEV fans, whole-house MEV, and positive input ventilation (PIV) units where the property needs them, installed by our electricians.
Mould treatment
Professional treatment of affected areas and anti-mould redecoration, once the cause has been dealt with — not before.
Leak tracing and repair
Where the cause is a leak, our plumbers trace and fix it as part of the same job rather than referring it on.
Monitoring and re-inspection
Humidity and temperature loggers left in place where needed, with a follow-up visit to confirm conditions have stabilised.
HOW IT WORKS
From instruction to paperwork, in four steps.
01
Report the problem
Address, what the tenant has reported and any photos. Urgent cases are prioritised.
02
Survey
A surveyor visits, investigates the cause and talks the tenant through what they have found.
03
Report and quote
A written report with photographs, cause, recommended works and tenant guidance — plus a quote for the works.
04
Works and follow-up
Ventilation, repairs or treatment carried out once authorised, with a re-inspection to confirm the result.
THE RULES
Why the paperwork matters
Renters’ Rights Act 2025; Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025; Housing Act 2004; Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018; Building Regulations Approved Document F. Summary correct at October 2026.
- Awaab’s Law. Fixed timescales to investigate and fix damp and mould hazards have applied to social landlords since October 2025. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 extends them to private landlords once regulations are made — the date is not yet set, but the direction is.
- It is already a hazard. Damp and mould is a hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, and a home that is not free of serious hazards can breach the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
- Evidence is your defence. A dated survey, a clear diagnosis and a record of works show that the landlord has acted — which is what a council, an ombudsman or a court will ask for.
- Ventilation standards. Extract ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms is governed by Approved Document F; many older installations fall short of it in practice, even where a fan is fitted.
WHY ARK
What you get from us that you might not elsewhere.
Cause first
Most mould in rented homes is condensation driven by inadequate ventilation, but not all of it. Our surveyors distinguish between condensation, leaks and penetrating damp, because the right fix is different for each.
Diagnose and fix with one team
Surveyors, electricians and plumbers in the same company means the ventilation unit, the leak and the redecoration are all one job — and one report.
Written for the landlord and the tenant
Our reports are structured so an agent can send them straight to the landlord, with a separate guidance sheet for the tenant on using the heating and ventilation well.
QUESTIONS WE’RE ASKED
Frequently asked questions.
Is it the tenant’s fault?
Rarely the whole story. Lifestyle factors contribute, but a home with adequate heating, insulation and working extraction should cope with normal living. The survey establishes what the property itself needs before anyone is blamed.
What is the difference between dMEV, MEV and PIV?
dMEV is a quiet, continuously running extract fan in a kitchen or bathroom. MEV is a central unit extracting from several wet rooms through ducting. PIV sits in the loft and gently pushes filtered air into the home, diluting humid air. Which suits depends on the property, and the survey says which.
Will a dehumidifier solve it?
It treats the symptom. Dehumidifiers help short-term but cost the tenant to run and do nothing about the source. Properly specified ventilation runs for pennies and works around the clock.
How quickly can you survey?
Urgent cases — young children, respiratory conditions, extensive mould — are prioritised. Routine surveys are usually booked within days rather than weeks.
What does the report contain?
Cause and category of damp, moisture readings, photographs, the ventilation assessment, recommended works with a quote, and tenant guidance. It is written to be forwarded.
Do you treat the mould as well?
Yes, but after the cause is addressed. Treating and painting first simply hides the problem until it returns.
SEND US A JOB
Got a property that needs this?
Send us the address and what needs doing, and our bookings team will take it from there. One property or a portfolio, the process is the same.