Wolverhampton homes growing mould because heating too expensive

City of Wolverhampton Council has heard how more residents in privately-rented houses are facing mould and damp

Published 10th Oct 2024

The cost-of-living crisis is being blamed for more people in Wolverhampton facing mould and damp in their homes.

It concerns privately-rented accommodation the most.

City of Wolverhampton Council has ramped up the risk rating for its housing regulator after what the authority describes as a significant increase in complaints last winter.

They suggest that people cannot afford to put on their heating, which has resulted in homes experiencing more mould and damp.

The council has received very serious complaints on the matter.

Some families have found their children falling ill from the mould and damp, requiring high dependency care.

According to research published by the government in February 2023, across Britain the NHS spends £1.4bn each year treating conditions related to cold or damp housing.

The risk register says: “The cost-of-living crisis has deepened over the past year with the private rented sector hit the worst, private rents have increased dramatically.

“It is anticipated that the number of poorer families unable to heat their homes and so increase the risk of mould will also increase dramatically." they said.