Communal areas

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

Mould around a window or outside corner

Record the exact location and pattern. Ask whether glazing, window seals, external defects, heating and cold surfaces need checking together. A photograph identifies the affected area but does not establish why it is happening.

A problem behind furniture

Ask the inspection to include accessible areas around and behind furnishings, with help where moving them would be unsafe. A cold wall and limited airflow are questions to investigate, not grounds for automatically blaming the resident.

A room that stays cold or becomes too hot

Describe when the room is uncomfortable, whether it is usable for sleeping and whether the heating or window controls work. Request investigation of the building and services, alongside any support needed to use them.

A patch beneath the roof or next to a bathroom

Include adjoining spaces and earlier leaks in the history. Do not assume that every bedroom patch is condensation; the position of the roof, pipework or neighbouring accommodation may matter.

Sources and further reading ↓

02 / Ask useful questions

What to check or ask

Ask the resident where the problem starts and whether it has returned after cleaning, painting or repairs. Keep their description alongside the inspection record.
Check whether the heating, ventilation and windows can actually be used. Report broken controls, inaccessible fittings, noise or security barriers rather than assuming everything is available.
Ask the surveyor to explain the evidence for the suspected moisture source and any cold surface or building defect. Record alternatives that have not yet been ruled out.
Agree how sleeping arrangements, appointments and communications will be managed while work is needed. Do not make a diary or a monitoring period a condition of receiving help.

You can report a concern without proving its cause. Do not wait for a sensor or a complete evidence file before seeking help.

Reporting and resident help

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Room temperature and relative humidity

Useful for

Time-series readings can help describe night-time and daytime conditions. Record the position of the device, the period covered and any gaps; avoid a spot dominated by a radiator, direct sun or a draught.

What it cannot establish

These are air measurements at a particular location. They do not measure mould species, diagnose illness or prove the condition of a colder wall.

Surface-temperature assessment

Useful for

A competent assessor can compare an affected surface with the room conditions and inspect the construction. Thermal images may help locate differences that warrant further investigation.

What it cannot establish

An image is not a moisture or mould test. Interpretation depends on conditions and the construction; a colour alone does not identify the defect.

CO₂ where ventilation is a question

Useful for

In an occupied room, a suitable CO₂ monitor may help explore ventilation patterns. Use manufacturer instructions and record enough context to interpret the readings.

What it cannot establish

CO₂ is not carbon monoxide. A CO₂ monitor is neither a CO alarm nor a comprehensive air-quality, mould or occupancy assessment.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Ask what has changed physically, rather than accepting a fresh finish as the whole repair.

Include the resident’s account at follow-up: can the room be used, have the marks returned, and are heating and ventilation usable?

Escalate continuing or worsening problems through the landlord’s repairs and complaints routes. Use the nation guidance for the applicable process.

Look at the connected areas

Roof & loft Bathroom Living room

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

The resident’s description of the effect on sleeping and use of the room.Dates and locations of recurring marks, with safe photographs where available.Inspection findings about building condition, heating and ventilation.Any monitoring period, device location and missing readings.Agreed repair, follow-up and a way to report recurrence.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

Where in the bedroom is the problem?
How is sleep or use of the room affected?
What has been reported or repaired before?
What access or communication support would help?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

UK GovernmentUnderstanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home ↗
England guidance. Technical sections on sources of moisture, inspection, ventilation and follow-up; not a UK-wide repair timetable.
Royal Institution of Chartered SurveyorsDamp and mould: consumer guide ↗
Professional-body advice on moisture sources and building investigation. Not legislation.
Health and Safety ExecutiveUsing CO₂ monitors ↗
Workplace guidance used only for measurement principles and limitations. Its workplace figures are not presented as domestic legal limits.
Housing OmbudsmanDamp and mould learning resource ↗
England: resident impact and landlord learning. Technical monitoring is not a substitute for responding to reports.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

Moisture that remains after bathing

Ask whether the extract system works as intended, including its duct route and discharge point. A fan, its controls, the air path into the room and the way it is maintained should be considered together.

Water at bath, shower or basin edges

Ask whether seals, waste connections, supply pipes or drainage need investigation. Photograph the visible location if safe, but do not reproduce a leak or continue using a visibly unsafe fitting just to demonstrate it.

Damage to the room below

Ask that the inspection follows the possible water route beyond the bathroom. The visible damage downstairs may require its own assessment and repair even after an upstairs fault has been addressed.

Repeated painting or surface treatment

Ask what cause was identified and what changed beyond the surface finish. Keep the dates of earlier work so the next visit can consider recurrence rather than start the history again.

Sources and further reading ↓

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Temperature and humidity trends

Useful for

A suitable sensor can show the rise and recovery in room humidity around normal use. Compare similar periods before and after work and record where the sensor is installed.

What it cannot establish

Direct splash, steam plumes and sensor response time affect readings. There is no single recovery time in this guide that certifies a bathroom as safe.

Fan status and measured extract

Useful for

A status signal may record an on/off event. A competent person can assess actual extract performance and the duct arrangement, which answers a different question.

What it cannot establish

“Fan on” is not proof that moist air reaches outside. Do not treat an electrical activity signal as an airflow measurement.

Leak detection

Useful for

A detector in a suitable, safely accessible location can flag water reaching its sensing point. Record who receives an alert and how the device will be maintained.

What it cannot establish

It may miss water below a floor, behind a panel or on a different route. No alarm does not rule out a concealed leak.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Ask what was tested after the work, not only whether an operative attended.

Check that the room and any affected neighbouring space were both included in the outcome.

Keep reporting recurrence or deterioration. Monitoring can run alongside appropriate investigation; it should not be used to delay help.

Look at the connected areas

Roof & loft Kitchen Bedroom

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

Report and recurrence dates, including use of the room at those times.Inspection findings on extract, plumbing and seals, with limitations recorded.Any damage in the adjoining or lower room.Repair specification and checks actually carried out.Resident feedback and an agreed follow-up after normal use.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

Where is water, damp or mould visible?
Does it follow bathing, other water use or rain?
Is the fan usable, and are any controls faulty?
Is another room, ceiling or electrical fitting affected?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

UK GovernmentUnderstanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home ↗
England guidance. Technical sections on sources of moisture, inspection, ventilation and follow-up; not a UK-wide repair timetable.
Royal Institution of Chartered SurveyorsDamp and mould: consumer guide ↗
Professional-body advice on moisture sources and building investigation. Not legislation.
Electrical Safety FirstFlood Damage and Electrical Safety ↗
Electrical safety charity advice on water-damaged installations and professional assessment.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

Water below a sink or appliance

Note where water first becomes visible and any normal-use pattern already observed. Ask a plumber to inspect supply, waste and appliance connections as appropriate; do not create a test leak yourself.

A wet or swollen cupboard that persists

Ask whether the affected cabinet, wall and floor were assessed after the source was repaired. A tidy surface can hide damage, while an old stain alone does not establish continuing wetness.

Steam and condensation around cooking

Ask what ventilation is provided and where the air goes. A recirculating cooker hood is different from extraction to outside; the arrangement should be assessed as a system.

A repeated leak or unexplained water use

Bring earlier job references into the inspection. Ask whether the first repair addressed the source or only the place where water was seen, and whether concealed pipework or another property needs investigation.

Sources and further reading ↓

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Point leak sensor

Useful for

A sensor under an identified potential leak point can provide an early indication of water reaching it. Choose a location that can be checked and maintained without unsafe access.

What it cannot establish

It does not cover every cupboard or pipe. A dry alert state cannot confirm that the surrounding floor or wall has dried.

Water-flow information

Useful for

Where a suitable meter or system already exists, time-stamped flow patterns may support an investigation of unusual use. Record what supply the meter actually measures.

What it cannot establish

Flow may be legitimate use and a meter does not locate a leak. Shared supplies and missing readings can complicate the picture.

Temperature, humidity and ventilation records

Useful for

Room trends and an inspection of the extract arrangement can add context to reports of cooking moisture. Use the same device position when comparing periods.

What it cannot establish

A cooking peak is not automatically a defect. A room monitor is not a gas-leak detector, CO alarm or electrical safety inspection.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Confirm that stopping the water source and repairing affected materials are both included where necessary.

Ask for the outcome of the relevant professional checks before affected equipment is put back into service.

At follow-up, consider normal use and whether the resident has regained the facilities they lost.

Look at the connected areas

Bathroom Storage & utility Plant & utilities

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

The fitting or appliance location and what was visible, without unsafe investigation.Report dates, prior work and any recurrence pattern.Damage to cabinets, floors, walls or the room below.Plumbing/ventilation findings and professional safety advice.Repair details, restoration work and follow-up arrangements.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

Which cupboard, fitting or appliance area is affected?
Is water reaching anything electrical?
Are essential kitchen facilities unusable?
What earlier repairs or reports should the contractor know about?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

Royal Institution of Chartered SurveyorsDamp and mould: consumer guide ↗
Professional-body advice on moisture sources and building investigation. Not legislation.
UK GovernmentUnderstanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home ↗
England guidance. Technical sections on sources of moisture, inspection, ventilation and follow-up; not a UK-wide repair timetable.
Electrical Safety FirstFlood Damage and Electrical Safety ↗
Electrical safety charity advice on water-damaged installations and professional assessment.
Health and Safety ExecutiveDomestic gas: frequently asked questions ↗
Great Britain guidance on competent gas work, unsafe appliances, ventilation and carbon monoxide. This guide does not reproduce its legal timetables.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

The heating is on but the room stays cold

Ask how heat reaches this room, whether controls work and whether the building loses excessive heat through a defect. A boiler status or a warm pipe is not a record of the conditions where someone sits.

The room becomes too hot

Describe time of day, sunlight, window use and whether cooler space is available. Ask about shading, ventilation, controls and any heat from building services. Opening windows may not help when the air outside is hotter.

Damp around walls or windows

Record which wall or reveal is affected and whether the pattern relates to weather or an adjacent space. A room-centre sensor does not settle the condition of the coldest surface.

Stuffy air or an unusable ventilation arrangement

Explain practical barriers such as broken windows, noisy equipment, outdoor pollution or security concerns. Ask for a workable ventilation plan rather than instructions that the household cannot follow.

Sources and further reading ↓

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Room temperature over time

Useful for

A suitable logger can show the timing and duration of warm or cold periods. Record its location and avoid direct sunlight, a radiator or a cold draught dominating the result.

What it cannot establish

The reading represents that position and period. This guide does not set a universal legal safe-temperature threshold.

CO₂ as ventilation context

Useful for

A correctly used monitor may help explore ventilation while the room is occupied. Interpret patterns with the ventilation arrangement and changing use of the room.

What it cannot establish

A low result does not prove clean air, absence of mould or absence of CO. Do not use it to identify residents or infer blame.

Heating and weather context

Useful for

Equipment records, room readings and outside conditions can be aligned to help formulate a service or building inspection question.

What it cannot establish

Energy use and boiler running signals do not establish comfort or the cause of heat loss. Monitoring is supplementary to the household’s report.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Check delivery to the room as well as the condition of the heating equipment.

Review the household’s experience after the change; do not use a single reading to close a recurring concern.

Keep a clear route for reporting continuing problems, with the relevant nation’s guidance available for duties and deadlines.

Look at the connected areas

Bedroom Plant & utilities Outside the home

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

Resident account of the timing and effect of cold, heat or stuffiness.Whether heating, windows and ventilation controls are usable.Inspection findings about building condition and heat delivery.Monitoring location, date range and gaps where readings are used.Actions taken and feedback on whether the room is usable again.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

When is the room too cold, too hot or difficult to use?
Which controls or windows are not working or cannot be used safely?
Who needs additional help during the problem?
What has already been tried or repaired?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

UK Health Security AgencyBeat the heat: staying safe in hot weather ↗
England public-health advice. Used for safe ventilation, shading and overheating context, not statutory temperature thresholds.
UK GovernmentUnderstanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home ↗
England guidance. Technical sections on sources of moisture, inspection, ventilation and follow-up; not a UK-wide repair timetable.
Health and Safety ExecutiveUsing CO₂ monitors ↗
Workplace guidance used only for measurement principles and limitations. Its workplace figures are not presented as domestic legal limits.
Health and Safety ExecutiveDomestic gas: frequently asked questions ↗
Great Britain guidance on competent gas work, unsafe appliances, ventilation and carbon monoxide. This guide does not reproduce its legal timetables.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

Rain getting through the roof

Ask whether roof coverings, flashings around chimneys, valleys, roof windows and rainwater drainage have been inspected. A patch that follows rain helps target the investigation, but water can travel before it appears indoors; the defect may not be directly above the stain.

Condensation within the loft

Moist indoor air can reach colder roof surfaces through openings around a hatch, cables or pipes. Ask the surveyor to distinguish this from rain penetration and to consider the roof’s particular ventilation and underlay design. The two problems can coexist.

Ventilation and insulation working against each other

Ask whether recent insulation, boarding, storage or alterations have affected intended airflow. Simply adding vents or moving insulation is not a universal fix: a competent person should check the roof construction and any fire, electrical and ventilation constraints.

Damage below the original defect

Stopping a leak does not settle the condition of wet insulation, timber or ceiling finishes. Ask which materials were affected, what needs drying or replacement, and whether a separate structural or electrical assessment is required.

Sources and further reading ↓

02 / Ask useful questions

What to check or ask

Describe the exact ceiling or wall affected, when the mark first appeared and whether it changes after rain, wind or cold nights. Ground-level photographs are enough to make a report.
Ask for a roof inspection that identifies the location and likely water route, not just a work order reading “roof checked”. Request a clear explanation of what was and was not accessible.
Ask whether loft hatch sealing, bathroom duct routes, roof ventilation and previous insulation work need checking together. Do not open up ceilings or disturb unknown materials yourself.
Agree who is arranging access, which specialist will attend, how the indoor damage will be addressed and what happens if the problem returns before the follow-up.

You can report a concern without proving its cause. Do not wait for a sensor or a complete evidence file before seeking help.

Reporting and resident help

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Loft temperature and humidity

Useful for

A suitable logger can show how the loft changes during cold periods. Comparing time-aligned readings from the room below may help a surveyor decide what to investigate. Record the sensor location and its operating limits.

What it cannot establish

Air readings do not establish timber moisture, structural condition or the source of a leak. A cold loft is not assessed using living-room comfort expectations.

Leak or contact-moisture detection

Useful for

A detector placed by a competent installer at an identified potential water path may flag water reaching that point. A timber or building-moisture assessment is a different measurement.

What it cannot establish

One dry detector cannot clear the whole roof. Water may miss it; a battery, connection or placement fault can also explain silence.

Weather and inspection records

Useful for

Put the dates of rain, wind and reported staining beside dated inspection photographs and repair records. This gives the contractor a more useful history than an isolated screenshot.

What it cannot establish

The nearest weather station may not describe exposure at this roof. Timing can support a question; it cannot prove which detail has failed.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Separate making the area safe from investigating the defect, repairing it and checking the affected materials afterwards. Ask for each stage to have an owner.

Agree a follow-up appropriate to the identified cause. For a weather-related problem, ask how the next relevant wet period will be considered; do not postpone urgent work to wait for rain.

Report any recurrence straight away. A closed work order or one dry visit should not prevent a new investigation.

Look at the connected areas

Bedroom Bathroom Outside the home

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

Location of staining and dated photographs taken from a safe position.First report, recurrence dates and any previous roof job references.Roof/loft inspection findings, including inaccessible areas and proposed further checks.Specified repair, affected materials, contractor and completion record.Follow-up date, resident feedback and what will trigger another visit.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

Which upstairs room or ceiling is affected?
Is there active water, a bulge, loose material or nearby electrical equipment?
When does the mark change, and what earlier work has been done?
What safe access and specialist investigation are needed?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

Royal Institution of Chartered SurveyorsDamp and mould: consumer guide ↗
Professional-body advice on moisture sources and building investigation. Not legislation.
NHBC · hosted by Your Housing GroupCondensation in your roof space — PDF ↗
NHBC homeowner leaflet, February 2023, pages 2–3. Technical background on air leakage, cold roof spaces and ventilation; roof design needs individual assessment.
Health and Safety ExecutiveRoof work ↗
Great Britain: safe access and competent roof work. This is not a DIY roof inspection guide.
Electrical Safety FirstFlood Damage and Electrical Safety ↗
Electrical safety charity advice on water-damaged installations and professional assessment.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

Poor lighting or a damaged walking surface

Describe the exact step, landing or floor area and when lighting fails. Ask for the repair to consider the way the space is used, including mobility or visual needs.

A door that sticks, will not secure or will not close

Record what the door does without disabling the closer or wedging it. Ask the responsible person to assess the door, frame and hardware as appropriate; a sensor cannot test the whole assembly.

An obstructed route

Report where the obstruction is and whether a person can get through safely. Follow the landlord’s arrangements rather than moving other people’s items into a different escape route.

Reports that never reach the right team

A hallway defect can become an access problem for the household. Ask for a named contact and a repair reference so the resident is not repeatedly passed between repairs, estate and support teams.

Sources and further reading ↓

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Lighting checks

Useful for

A competent inspection can assess lighting and controls; an appropriately used light sensor may add information about intermittent failures.

What it cannot establish

A light reading does not inspect trip hazards, handrails, steps or the ability of a particular person to use the route.

Door position

Useful for

A suitable contact can indicate open/closed state and recurring faults at the sensing point. Explain its purpose before installing it.

What it cannot establish

“Closed” does not confirm that a fire door seals, latches or has the required integrity. Physical inspection still matters.

Fault reporting button or simple reporting route

Useful for

A clearly explained way to flag an issue can improve the record of when a problem was noticed and who received it.

What it cannot establish

A button press is only useful when a response arrangement exists. Movement data should not be used as a substitute for speaking to residents.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Ask for the repaired item to be checked in its normal use, with any relevant specialist assessment.

Confirm that temporary barriers or restrictions are removed only when appropriate and that residents receive an update.

Use the same repair reference when following up unless a separate incident needs a new report.

Look at the connected areas

Communal areas Living room Outside the home

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

Exact location, safe photographs and the effect on access.First report, repair reference and any earlier recurrence.Temporary arrangements and who is responsible for them.Inspection and repair details, not only attendance.Resident confirmation that the route and controls can be used.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

Which door, step, light or floor area is affected?
Is anyone unable to enter or leave safely?
Is the problem constant or intermittent?
What access or communication needs should the team know about?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

Portsmouth City CouncilKeeping communal areas clear ↗
Council landlord guidance on escape routes and fire doors. Local rules are not presented as universal UK tenancy conditions.
Electrical Safety FirstFlood Damage and Electrical Safety ↗
Electrical safety charity advice on water-damaged installations and professional assessment.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

A wet base or recurring water mark

Record the location and whether plumbing or an appliance is nearby. Ask for the source to be investigated before the cupboard is simply relined or repainted.

A musty smell without obvious mould

Ask whether concealed materials, adjoining rooms or earlier water damage need assessment. Do not peel back finishes or disturb suspect material just to produce a photograph.

Moisture around laundry equipment

Ask what type of dryer and moisture-disposal arrangement is fitted and whether it operates as intended. Different appliances manage moisture differently; the correct installation instructions matter.

Poor access to services

Where a storage area contains valves, controls or equipment, ask who needs safe access and how it will be arranged. Do not convert a plant or riser space into unrestricted storage.

Sources and further reading ↓

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Leak sensing at a defined point

Useful for

A detector may flag water at a known vulnerable location if it can be installed and maintained safely.

What it cannot establish

A detector inside one cupboard cannot clear concealed pipes or the full floor area. Confirm who responds and how faults are noticed.

Temperature and humidity

Useful for

A suitably located sensor can compare the conditions within a problem space with nearby areas, using time-aligned records.

What it cannot establish

A cupboard has a different microclimate from the middle of a room. Comparing unlike positions without context may mislead.

Appliance and maintenance records

Useful for

Installation details, service visits and fault records may answer more than adding another sensor. Link them to the resident’s observations.

What it cannot establish

An appliance status does not establish safe installation, clear ducts or the absence of water damage.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Confirm what caused the water or moisture problem and how that cause was addressed.

Check the condition of affected materials as well as the equipment or pipe that was repaired.

Ask the resident whether the smell or damage has returned and whether the space can be used again.

Look at the connected areas

Kitchen Plant & utilities Hallway & entrance

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

The affected cupboard, utility area or service location.Observed water, smell or damage, with dates where known.Relevant appliance, pipework and previous repair information.Access limitations and any professional opening-up findings.Source repair, affected materials and agreed follow-up.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

Which storage or utility space is affected?
Is there visible water, a smell, damaged material or an appliance fault?
Are electrics or services nearby?
What can be reached safely without moving heavy items?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

UK GovernmentUnderstanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home ↗
England guidance. Technical sections on sources of moisture, inspection, ventilation and follow-up; not a UK-wide repair timetable.
Royal Institution of Chartered SurveyorsDamp and mould: consumer guide ↗
Professional-body advice on moisture sources and building investigation. Not legislation.
Electrical Safety FirstFlood Damage and Electrical Safety ↗
Electrical safety charity advice on water-damaged installations and professional assessment.
Health and Safety ExecutiveDomestic gas: frequently asked questions ↗
Great Britain guidance on competent gas work, unsafe appliances, ventilation and carbon monoxide. This guide does not reproduce its legal timetables.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

A route obstructed or difficult to use

Identify the floor and route, and explain who cannot use it. The building manager should address the situation under the building’s arrangements rather than relying on residents to resolve it between themselves.

Fire doors or entrance controls not working

Ask for the door, frame, closer and relevant controls to be assessed by a competent person. A badge-reader log or door contact only records one part of how an entrance behaves.

Water in a shared area

Report the location, affected surfaces and any electrical or slip concern. Ask whether the source and damage extend into a riser, roof, plant room or neighbouring home.

One defect, several contractors

Ask for one named owner of the next action and an update plan for affected residents. A handover should state what remains unresolved, not just that another contractor has been contacted.

Sources and further reading ↓

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Door status or equipment faults

Useful for

Appropriate telemetry can help identify recurring faults and time them against maintenance activity.

What it cannot establish

Signals do not establish fire-door condition or a safe escape route. Use them to support inspections, not replace them.

Environmental or leak monitoring

Useful for

A device at a defined shared location may help describe conditions or flag water arriving at that point.

What it cannot establish

It cannot describe every flat or the whole building. Avoid using a corridor reading to dismiss a report from inside a home.

Resident reports and inspection logs

Useful for

A clear fault-reporting route and regular records can join intermittent observations into an actionable history.

What it cannot establish

Collect only what the task needs and explain who can see it. General tracking of residents is not the purpose of a maintenance tool.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Confirm that the physical fault and any access restrictions have been addressed appropriately.

Keep unresolved parts of a multi-contractor job visible, with an owner and the next communication date.

Invite affected residents to flag recurrence without making them assemble the building’s repair history themselves.

Look at the connected areas

Hallway & entrance Plant & utilities Roof & loft

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

Building, floor, route and item affected.Residents or services affected, recorded proportionately.Temporary arrangements, notifications and accountable contact.Linked inspections, work orders and contractor handovers.Completion check and communication back to affected households.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

Where exactly is the shared-area fault?
Does it affect access, escape, lighting or a safety system?
Which homes or services may be affected?
Who is coordinating the response?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

Portsmouth City CouncilKeeping communal areas clear ↗
Council landlord guidance on escape routes and fire doors. Local rules are not presented as universal UK tenancy conditions.
Electrical Safety FirstFlood Damage and Electrical Safety ↗
Electrical safety charity advice on water-damaged installations and professional assessment.
Housing OmbudsmanDamp and mould learning resource ↗
England: resident impact and landlord learning. Technical monitoring is not a substitute for responding to reports.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

Loss of heating or hot water

Record which homes and services are affected and when the problem began. Ask whether the issue is generation, distribution, controls or a local fitting; do not assume a central “healthy” status clears every home.

Recurring alarms or shutdowns

Keep the fault codes and maintenance history where available. Ask what caused a repeat fault rather than using a sequence of resets as the outcome.

Water around equipment

Ask for the source and any effect on electrical equipment, finishes or adjacent spaces to be assessed. A leak stopped in the plant room may leave damage elsewhere.

Ventilation that is powered but ineffective

Ask whether fans, filters, duct routes, controls and air delivery have been inspected appropriately. The physical system and the experience in the served rooms need to be considered together.

Sources and further reading ↓

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Equipment status and fault codes

Useful for

Existing controls may record running state, alarms and shutdown times. Align these with maintenance visits and resident reports.

What it cannot establish

A running signal does not measure comfort, water safety or successful service delivery.

Professional temperature, flow or pressure measurements

Useful for

Competently installed instrumentation can answer a defined service question and help the engineer test a repair.

What it cannot establish

An arbitrary sensor or setting is not a commissioning procedure. Hot-water hygiene and scald protection need professional assessment together.

Room conditions and leak detection

Useful for

Readings in an affected living space can complement plant records; a detector can flag water at a specified point.

What it cannot establish

Neither replaces gas/electrical safety work. CO₂ and general air-quality sensors must not be treated as carbon monoxide alarms.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Keep safety restrictions in place until the responsible specialist authorises restoration.

Check the restored service at the affected home or room as well as at the equipment.

Record what remains outstanding and arrange a follow-up where recurrence or knock-on damage needs attention.

Look at the connected areas

Living room Kitchen Communal areas

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

Affected service, start time and homes that have reported it.Fault codes and earlier related maintenance where available.Specialist findings and any safety restrictions.Repair and test results, including delivery to affected homes.Resident update, interim arrangements and recurrence route.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

Which service has failed, and since when?
Which rooms or homes are affected?
Is there water, a gas smell, an alarm or an immediate danger?
What earlier faults or work references are available?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

Health and Safety ExecutiveDomestic gas: frequently asked questions ↗
Great Britain guidance on competent gas work, unsafe appliances, ventilation and carbon monoxide. This guide does not reproduce its legal timetables.
Electrical Safety FirstFlood Damage and Electrical Safety ↗
Electrical safety charity advice on water-damaged installations and professional assessment.
UK GovernmentUnderstanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home ↗
England guidance. Technical sections on sources of moisture, inspection, ventilation and follow-up; not a UK-wide repair timetable.
Health and Safety ExecutiveScalding and burning ↗
Health and social care settings: balancing hot-water scald precautions with water hygiene. Used as safety context, not a universal domestic temperature rule.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

01 / Understand the problem

What might be happening here?

Different causes can look similar. These are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of your property.

Overflowing gutters or downpipes

From a safe ground-level position, note where water escapes and the indoor area affected. Ask whether the rainwater route was inspected as well as the visible joint or patch.

Damp beside windows or on an outside wall

Ask about seals, pointing, render and the construction detail at the affected area. Rain, wind and location can guide the inspection, but they do not identify the failed component by themselves.

Low-level damp or standing water

Ask the surveyor to consider drainage, ground levels, service leaks and any suspended-floor ventilation. A low patch should not be labelled rising damp without an appropriate investigation.

Work that changes how the building behaves

Include the history of replacement windows, insulation, paving or extensions. Ask whether the alteration affected ventilation or moisture paths rather than assuming a new product is automatically the solution.

Sources and further reading ↓

03 / Make readings useful

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Start with the question. Record where a device is installed, whether it is working and the period its readings cover.

Weather context

Useful for

Rainfall, temperature and wind records can help organise the history of a recurring report. Record whether the information is local or from a more distant station.

What it cannot establish

Weather timing is not a diagnosis. A station does not capture every wall’s exposure or prove that a particular repair worked.

Outdoor temperature and humidity

Useful for

A suitably sheltered, weather-rated installation can provide context for indoor readings. Follow the manufacturer’s siting instructions.

What it cannot establish

Direct sun, rain and poor siting can distort readings. Indoor and outdoor relative humidity percentages alone do not describe the same amount of moisture.

Inspection and drainage observations

Useful for

Dated professional inspection records, repair details and safe photographs may provide more value than continuous sensors for a visible external defect.

What it cannot establish

A camera view is not a full structural survey. Environmental sensors do not inspect a gutter, drain, cavity or foundation.

04 / Check the outcome

After the repair

Confirm that the identified entry route or drainage defect has been addressed rather than simply covering the indoor mark.

Ask how affected interior materials and neighbouring areas will be checked.

Report recurrence promptly and keep the original repair reference so the next inspection can use the history.

Look at the connected areas

Roof & loft Bedroom Living room

05 / Take something useful away

Your evidence checklist

Tick the records you already have. Unticked items are prompts—not a reason to delay reporting.

Indoor location connected to the external concern.Safe observations and dates, including the weather where relevant.External inspection findings and any access limitations.Previous alterations or repairs to the same detail.Planned work, assessment of indoor damage and follow-up.

0 of 5 records marked available

Useful details to put in your report

Which outside feature and indoor room seem affected?
What was seen from a safe position, and when?
Are there loose materials, flooding or other immediate hazards?
Has nearby building work or a previous repair changed anything?

Your notes (optional)

Notes stay in this page; they are not sent to us or your landlord. Download or copy them before leaving. Avoid including names, addresses or sensitive information.

Read further

Sources behind this guide

Knowledge Centre practical guidance, informed by the sources below. Technical advice is not the same as legislation; each source’s scope is shown.

Royal Institution of Chartered SurveyorsDamp and mould: consumer guide ↗
Professional-body advice on moisture sources and building investigation. Not legislation.
Health and Safety ExecutiveRoof work ↗
Great Britain: safe access and competent roof work. This is not a DIY roof inspection guide.
UK GovernmentUnderstanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home ↗
England guidance. Technical sections on sources of moisture, inspection, ventilation and follow-up; not a UK-wide repair timetable.
Electrical Safety FirstFlood Damage and Electrical Safety ↗
Electrical safety charity advice on water-damaged installations and professional assessment.

Guide sources checked 27 September 2026.

Where shall we look?

Bedroom

Bathroom

Kitchen

Living room

Roof & loft

Hallway & entrance

Storage & utility

Plant & utilities

Outside the home

What might be happening here?

Mould around a window or outside corner

A problem behind furniture

A room that stays cold or becomes too hot

A patch beneath the roof or next to a bathroom

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Room temperature and relative humidity

Useful for

What it cannot establish

Surface-temperature assessment

Useful for

What it cannot establish

CO₂ where ventilation is a question

Useful for

What it cannot establish

After the repair

Look at the connected areas

Your evidence checklist

Sources behind this guide

What might be happening here?

Moisture that remains after bathing

Water at bath, shower or basin edges

Damage to the room below

Repeated painting or surface treatment

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Temperature and humidity trends

Useful for

What it cannot establish

Fan status and measured extract

Useful for

What it cannot establish

Leak detection

Useful for

What it cannot establish

After the repair

Look at the connected areas

Your evidence checklist

Sources behind this guide

What might be happening here?

Water below a sink or appliance

A wet or swollen cupboard that persists

Steam and condensation around cooking

A repeated leak or unexplained water use

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Point leak sensor

Useful for

What it cannot establish

Water-flow information

Useful for

What it cannot establish

Temperature, humidity and ventilation records

Useful for

What it cannot establish

After the repair

Look at the connected areas

Your evidence checklist

Sources behind this guide

What might be happening here?

The heating is on but the room stays cold

The room becomes too hot

Damp around walls or windows

Stuffy air or an unusable ventilation arrangement

What monitoring can—and cannot—tell you

Room temperature over time

Useful for

What it cannot establish

CO₂ as ventilation context

Useful for

What it cannot establish