Mouldy Britain: The UK’s Cities Facing Mould Issues the Most

Spring is upon us, and while many Brits will be looking forward to the warmer weather, the shift in climate also brings a sharp increase in mould finding its way into our homes. The rising humidity, paired with the unpredictable weather, heightens the risk of dampness and mould in our homes.

To gain a deeper insight into this, Eurocell used Google Keyword Planner to analyse mould-related search trends across the UK’s most populated cities, revealing how often people search for information on mould.

According to our data last year, Croydon came out on top with the most complaints about mould, but which city is now facing the biggest mould crisis?

What are the main causes of mould? 

Excess moisture in the environment is the main cause of mould, enabling mould spores to grow, most commonly happening when there is poor ventilation, leading to condensation. 

Common causes of mould can be from damp windows, leaking pipes, and poor ventilation and can escalate within humid areas of the homes such as bathrooms, kitchens or even bedrooms.

Mould exposure can lead to multiple health complications such as asthma, sinus infections and, for those with weakened immune systems, skin irritation and headaches. It’s not just health complications you have to worry about but also how mould can cause cosmetic and structural damage to your home, which can cost hundreds or even thousands to repair.

Croydon came out on top for having the most related mould searches with nearly 8% of the population on average searching ‘how to get rid of mould’. 

The Greater London town is not unfamiliar with mould issues, with Croydon Council spending more than £6.4m on mould-related repairs in 2024. Similarly, last year’s research revealed Croydon Council received the second-highest number of complaints in the country, with up to 578 residents making a claim in 2023. 

The cities Norwich and Bournemouth were both revealed to have up to 6.5% of searches, which can amount to just over 600 residents on average per month researching mould-related issues throughout the year.

Coastal towns and cities may find themselves particularly vulnerable to mould build-up as the damper climate produces ideal conditions for growth.

Brent in London has the fewest number of mould searches per population, with the borough recording just over 4,000 searches from a population of 330,000.

Just under 2% of Birmingham’s population searches for solutions to mould, suggesting that the city has fewer mould cases than other large cities in the UK. This difference between larger and smaller locations highlights that residents in smaller areas have far greater concerns about mould issues.

 What is being done to tackle mould problems? 

Many people in England are living in homes with damp and mould, with government estimates ranging from 962,000 to 6.5M affected people. 

Following the introduction of Awaab’s Law, which is intended to directly tackle damp and mould problems, several new initiatives were introduced by the government, including: 

• Mandatory action for landlords - social housing landlords are now to promptly investigate and rectify damp problems as soon as they’re reported.
• Increased powers for the Housing Ombudsman - The law gives more power to the Housing Ombudsman, allowing them to more effectively oversee compliance from landlords.
• Inclusion in Tenancy Agreements - the new rules are embedded in tenancy contracts, empowering tenants to legally demand decent living conditions.

If you’ve spotted mould and rent your property, it’s important to report the issue and any damage that it has caused. If your landlord hasn’t sorted the issues within a sufficient time, proceed to contact your local authority. The Housing Ombudsman have a great guide on how to best report issues to your landlord and what their responsibilities are afterwards. 

 Dealing with mould during Spring

With spring’s arrival, mould has become a more common issue, with warmer temperatures and increased humidity creating the perfect environment for it to grow. Lingering dampness from wetter winter months also means that mould growth is more likely.

Making a conscious effort to ventilate rooms with high moisture levels, such as kitchens and bathrooms, is a good preventative measure. Roof windows are a popular option as the humid air can easily pass through, reducing condensation, humidity, and airborne mould spores, which mitigates the risk of mould.

Some older-style window frames may be more prone to attracting mould due to outdated ventilation technology, but most modern UPVC windows come with trickle vents that allow for constant airflow into a room. 

If you do spot mould in your home, you can try to tackle it yourself with a biocide mould cleaner. A few sprays and a wipe should remove the mould, and a couple of coats of paint should stop the mould from regrowing in the same place. 

Helen Godsiff, brand manager at Eurocell, said:

“The research highlights that mould is still very much a prevalent issue in people’s minds within the last

year, especially across the bigger cities where there may not be much access to ventilated areas.

“Mould can collect easily in bathrooms, kitchens, and behind your curtains in the bedrooms where

condensation can build up. With the weather flitting between warmer and cold temperatures, mould

growth may increase, especially in poorly ventilated areas.

“As we head into Spring, open windows more frequently on milder days to improve air circulation and

check any window seals to see if there has been any winter damage which may allow moisture to enter. 

Regular vigilance and simple preventative measures can make a difference in keeping homes mould-free.

“Taking action early, especially during seasonal transitions, helps protect both your property and your

health from the damaging effects of mould.”

ABOUT EUROCELL

Eurocell creates sustainable building solutions for the trade of today, the homes of tomorrow and the environment of the future.

With its headquarters in Alfreton, Derbyshire, Eurocell is at the forefront of the UK's PVC-U industry, leading the way in the manufacture, distribution, and recycling of PVC-U windows, doors, conservatories, rooflights, roofing and roofline systems. 

Alongside these, the home improvement specialist offers the widest range of products for home renovations and new build projects under a single brand with more than 10,000 products including garden rooms, extensions, decking, fencing and more. 

It operates a network of more than 200 trade branches across the UK, where it serves over 40,000 tradespeople. Eurocell distributes its products through a vast network of window fabricators, housebuilder partners and specifiers, as well as to installers and direct to homeowners. 

Eurocell’s commitment to providing quality sustainable solutions sets it apart, with the largest PVC-U recycling operation in the UK. It operates a closed-loop recycling system, collecting, reprocessing, and utilising waste to create new products. In 2022 alone, Eurocell incorporated 16,700 tonnes of recycled PVC-U in its operations, with windows containing approximately 30% recycled content.

Eurocell celebrates 50 years of supporting home improvement projects in 2024 and employs more than 2000 people in the UK. For more details, visit www.eurocell.co.uk, or follow their social media channels - Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. 

Eurocell is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

Methodology

To create this data, Eurocell analysed the search term ‘how to get rid of mould’ (Jan 24-Dec 24) using Google Keyword Planner against the most populated UK cities using WorldoMeters. 

We then took the average monthly searches and divided them by population to reveal a percentage of searches per month.

Data correct as of March 2025.