Mould is the rental issue that nobody likes talking about and everyone eventually has to deal with. The good news is most mould in homes is preventable — and where it isn't, the right response early stops it becoming an expensive, stressful problem for everyone.
Here's how to handle it as a tenant in NSW.
Why mould happens
Mould needs three things to grow: moisture, a surface to grow on, and time. Take any one away and you stop the cycle. In rental properties, the moisture usually comes from one of four places:
- Daily living — showers, cooking, drying clothes inside
- Poor ventilation — bathrooms without fans, rooms that don't get aired out
- Building issues — leaking roofs, blocked gutters, rising damp, failed waterproofing
- Climate — Hunter region winters can create perfect mould conditions
The first two are within your control as a tenant. The second two are the landlord's responsibility.
Things you can do as a tenant (and should)
Ventilate every day. Even ten minutes of open windows in the morning makes a real difference. Pay particular attention to bedrooms — eight hours of breathing in a closed room is a lot of moisture.
Run the exhaust fan during and after showers. If there isn't one, leave the bathroom door open afterwards and open a window where possible.
Don't dry clothes inside if you can avoid it. A full load of wet washing dries by putting that water into your air. Use a clothesline, balcony, or in worst cases, a vented dryer.
Clean small mould spots quickly. A diluted vinegar solution or specialised mould cleaner will handle early growth. Don't let it spread.
Move furniture away from external walls slightly. Air needs to circulate or condensation builds up where you can't see it.
When it's a building issue
If you've been ventilating, drying clothes outside, and using exhaust fans, and there's still mould — it's almost always a building issue. Common signs:
- Mould reappearing in the same spot after cleaning
- Discolouration spreading on a ceiling or external wall
- Mould following a clear water stain pattern
- Smells of damp without obvious cause
Report it in writing immediately. Email is fine — keep the trail. Include photos. The landlord has an obligation to provide a property fit to live in, and active mould caused by structural issues isn't something tenants should be wearing.
What landlords are responsible for
Landlords need to address building-related causes of mould — leaks, ventilation faults, waterproofing failures. Tenants need to use the property reasonably and report issues promptly. NCAT has been pretty clear that mould caused by tenant lifestyle is the tenant's problem, while mould caused by structural issues is the landlord's.
If you're not getting a response on a reported issue, escalate. Hunter PM tenants can call us directly — we'll chase the trades.