Tenant Behaviour, Damp & Mould: Why Data Helps Remove the Blame
Our Director, Kerry Brown, wrote an opinion piece for Scottish Housing News on a topic that housing often finds difficult to discuss: tenant behaviour and damp and mould.
It is a sensitive subject, and rightly so.
No tenant should be blamed for poor housing conditions. Building defects, poor ventilation, cold homes, water ingress and delayed repairs all have to be taken seriously. But avoiding the conversation completely does not help either.
The way a home is lived in can affect moisture levels. Cooking, showering, drying clothes, heating patterns and ventilation all play a part in the indoor environment. That does not mean blame. It means there is a bigger picture to understand.
This is where data can really help. Continuous monitoring can show what is happening over time. It can highlight patterns in humidity, temperature and CO₂, helping housing teams understand whether ventilation, heating, building condition or day-to-day use may be contributing to the problem.
Used properly, that evidence changes the conversation.
It moves it away from assumption and towards understanding. It helps housing providers explain what is happening in the home, what action may be needed and how tenants can be supported.
That is the key point: tenant engagement should never be about blame. It should be about giving people clear information, practical support and a fair route to better outcomes.
Because damp and mould is rarely simple - and lasting solutions need the full picture.
Read the full article here: Kerry Brown: It’s time we talked about tenant behaviour - without the blame | Scottish Housing News
