There has been a sharp rise in complaints about dampness and mould in homes made to the council.

Reports that specifically mention mould or condensation, across all housing tenures, have jumped by 83% in two years.

For the first seven months of 2024, there have been 119 mould or condensation complaints to the council’s environmental health department.

If the complaints continue at the same rate, it would reach 204.

In 2022, there were 111 complaints for the whole year.

The council attributes the rise, in part, to an increased awareness of dampness and mould, rather than an actual increase in the problem.

Media reporting is said to have played a part in making people more conscious of dampness and mould as an issue.

The Glasgow Times has highlighted a number of cases of tenants enduring living in damp and mouldy homes.

(Image: Alex Gordon)

Last week we reported on the ongoing plight of Alex Gordon, a pensioner in the Southside involved in a long-running dispute with Wheatley Homes Glasgow.

He was advised by a sheriff he could raise a court action for his bid to be moved to another home.

Wheatley Homes Glasgow said it has removed the mould but two different inspection reports produced different results.

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 Across the city, there was also an increase in complaints mentioning water ingress or dampness

In 2022 there were 1181 complaints for the whole year.

For the first seven months of 2024, it has reached 821 complaints.

If that were to continue it would hit 1407.

A report to councillors detailed the extent of complaints about dampness and mould in homes across the city.

George Gillespie, director of neighbourhoods, said: The number of requests mentioning condensation and/or mould as an issue has increased in the past two years.

“Residents are more likely to report these issues now due to heightened media awareness and the reporting of high-profile cases in recent years which have outlined the dangers and health risks of dampness and mould.

“Albeit most of these complaints are not critical, it is acknowledged that these can still have a negative impact on a person’s health and wellbeing.”

READ NEXT: Glasgow refugee family lives with damp and mould

The council, while it does not own any homes, has powers to take action in the worst cases,

Mr Gillespie continued: “Environmental Health will investigate each service request and take formal action where required in terms of Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, where a statutory nuisance exists or is likely to occur/recur, or undertake emergency remedial works, such as repairing a burst pipe that has caused flooding, under Section 87(3) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

“Environmental Health frequently carry out the necessary repair works in default, where owners have failed to do so within the prescribed timescale and where the costs are not prohibitive. In most cases, officers will provide advice and guidance to residents where there is no obvious cause for condensation dampness within the home.”