Is There A Mould Pandemic In The UK?

CONTENTS
- What is mould?
- Where do you find it in the UK?
- What’s the scale of the problem?
- The health risks of mould
- We are mould specialists
- Get in touch
Take a look at any local news website in the UK today, and chances are high you’ll find a shocking story about mould in a family home.
Mould is a very common issue in the UK and has attracted the attention of the Housing Ombudsman, who has just released an eye-opening report into the issue.
It not only looks and smells unpleasant, but it also poses a health risk to your family, workers or tenants. So it’s essential that you tackle it quickly and thoroughly.
At ICE Cleaning, we’re mould experts! So read on to find out more about this (literally) growing problem, and how our mould cleaning service can rid your building of it for the long term.
What is mould?
Mould is a kind of fungus that spreads through airborne spores. There are thousands of different types, of which several can flourish on damp building materials.
Building mould is usually black, but can also be grey, white, or green. If you spot it in your property, there will also be invisible spores in the air. So even scrubbing it off thoroughly won’t solve the problem for good – you’ll need to contact a mould specialist.
Where do you find it in the UK?
So is there a mould pandemic? After the couple of years we’ve all had, that’s the last thing we need!
Mould tends to grow in damp and cold places, such as around bathtubs, on window frames, behind or on furniture - anywhere where moisture can build up.
That dampness could originate from condensation, perhaps caused by cooking or drying laundry; leaks or floods; or rising damp, among other sources.
Ventilating properties can help reduce moisture build-up in some areas, but many buildings have forgotten corners, a long-standing damp problem, or have suffered leaks in the past.
What’s the scale of the problem?
So, is there a mould pandemic?
Mould is certainly a widespread problem. According to the government’s annual English Housing Survey 2019-20, some 2% of homes have a condensation or mould issue, defined as “extensive patches of mould growth on walls and ceilings and/or mildew on soft furnishings”.
Many more homes are classified as damp, which puts them at risk of developing mould: 7% of privately rented homes, 4% of social rented homes, as well as 2% of owner-occupied dwellings.
This situation prompted the Housing Ombudsman to launch an investigation into damp and mould in the rental housing sector in early 2021. The report, published in November 2021, called for a “zero tolerance” approach to the problem.
Ombudsman Richard Blakeway said: “There are many and varying root causes that lead to damp and mould in the cases we investigate; but the impact on the resident is a thread that runs between them.
“You can see the distress, disruption, even embarrassment, felt by the resident. You can see the evident concern about their health and well-being, especially mental health; the impact on any children.”
The health risks of mould
So what are those health risks, and how serious are they?
Under the government’s official Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), mould is classified as a Category A hazard. That puts it in the same bracket as asbestos, meaning that property owners should take prompt action.
The guidance lists the possible health effects as:
- Issues with breathing
- Fungal infections
- Anxiety and depression as a result of illnesses like asthma
The NHS notes that the people most at risk include: babies and children, elderly adults, and people with skin or respiratory conditions. That’s a huge proportion of the population.
A serious fungal condition, aspergillosis, is also caused by mould. It’s rare in healthy people, but can affect people with lung diseases; those with weakened immune systems; people who’ve previously been affected by tuberculosis (TB); and those who are on artificial ventilation, e.g. from Covid-19.
So if you spot mould, you should protect your health and that of your family, tenants, employees or customers by calling us at ICE Cleaning for our mould cleaning service.
We are mould specialists
If you spot mould in your home, you might be tempted to tackle it yourself, armed with nothing more than a scrubbing brush and a bottle of bleach.
However, bear in mind that you also need to target the source of the problem: the damp. Otherwise, those airborne spores will simply settle again, and your mould will be back.
Plus, breathing in mould spores or touching mould while you’re cleaning could be harmful for your health. It’s something that should only be undertaken with the correct products and equipment.
First, the good news: unlike other pandemics we won’t mention, there are already mould specialist treatments that are guaranteed to be 100% effective. Our new solution ICE SHIELD® can help keep your property mould-free for two years – we’ll explain what it is below.
At ICE Cleaning, we offer mould remediation services. We have teams nationwide who can be at your commercial or domestic property to tackle your mould issue, and a customer service team who are available to contact 24/7.
Our mould specialists will take samples from the air and surfaces for testing in a lab, to ensure that we identify the correct treatment. All the products we use in the process are also non-toxic and non-abrasive.
We also use our ICE SHIELD® solution to form a protective barrier across all touchpoints and surfaces. It uses fogging technology, and is scientifically proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.
Get in touch
If you would like to book a mould remediation service with us, you can contact us on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk.

Speak with me today,
I’m here to help
By asking you a few questions either via phone or email I can immediately provide a realistic estimation of the cost.
You’re in good company. We’ve cleaned for the following commercial clients… View all
4 months ago
Sub contracted via Thames Water to clean up after a sewage spill on a commercial property. Exceptional service with good communication before and…
4 months ago
Fantastic service from beginning to end. With the return of our workforce back to the office, it was essential that we found a solution that allayed…
4 months ago
Great service and very thorough job to clean mould from our bathroom. Would use again
4 months ago
Great service, very reliable and very professional. Would highly recommend. Thanks again for all of your help.
4 months ago
Great experience with this company. Good communication and very professional.
4 months ago
Fantastic service provided by ICE Cleaning Solutions. Prompt and speedy to remedy our drainage problem and they resolved the issue within 1 hour. We…
4 months ago
After being messed around by my Water provider. ICE Cleaning were extremely efficient and pro-active in sorting out our issue. The service was…
4 months ago
Great service in much needed time. Andy from ICE Cleaning with his colleague did great job to clear mess of sewer waste. All foul water drained back…
4 months ago
Once the clean up was organised ICE Cleaning services were very efficient and did a good job and telephone staff Jo was very helpful.
4 months ago
I am very pleased with the cleaning service from this company. My job was a difficult one - I had sewage flooding from a blocked shared pipe and it…
4 months ago
ICE Cleaning came to clean up after a sewage leak. The service was fast and efficient, and ICE Cleaning communicated well throughout.
4 months ago
Had a mould problem in the bathroom and ICE Cleaning took care of it in a very efficient, professional and caring manner. The 2 technicians even gave…
4 months ago
ICE Cleaning were contracted to clean my fathers headstone. He passed away 21 years ago and we hadn’t had the headstone professionally cleaned…
4 months ago
Operatives were polite, thorough and a credit to their company. Excellent result. Left site clean and tidy.
4 months ago
ICE Cleaning came to clear up a sewage overflow caused by a blockage in a drain shared by 5 properties. The job was ordered by Thames Water who are…
We’re fully accredited
We place best practise, professional expertise and health and safety at the core of our business. We’re fully compliant with all legal obligations. You can view a list of our accreditations below, or visit our Health & Safety page for more information.






