Apparently, “house burping” is having a bit of a comeback. Not in some obscure housing policy briefing, but in Ideal Home the interiors magazine in 2024 and their advice?

Open your windows for 10 to 15 minutes a day, even in winter, to stop moisture from turning your home into a petri dish.

Sounds a little daft. Sounds expensive. Especially with energy prices going up (again). But then you realise: nearly a million homes in England now suffer from damp. In the private rented sector, it’s 1 in 9.

This isn’t about design preferences or chasing a bit of fresh air. It’s about health. It’s about safety. And it’s about the kind of slow, silent damage that creeps through plaster, into lungs, and quietly turns tenancies into disputes.

For tenants

No, it’s not your job to install ventilation. But you do need to use what’s there. Moisture comes from everyday life: boiling pasta, drying clothes, breathing. And if it doesn’t leave the building, it clings to cold walls and settles behind your furniture like it’s found a tenancy agreement of its own.

If your extractor fan sounds like a dying mosquito and your windows haven’t been opened since August, it’s time to take the plunge. Crack them open. Let the house burp! You don’t have to suffer through sub-zero gusts – short bursts are enough. Mould doesn’t care if you’re cosy. It’s thriving while you're bingeing Netflix. And if you do see mould?

Report it. Document it. Take photos.

If you're in social housing, Awaab’s Law is now in force (27th October 2025), and it's structure and accountability means:

Landlords must investigate reports of damp or mould within 10 working days
Tenants must receive a written summary of findings within 3 working days of that investigation
If a serious hazard is confirmed, repairs must start within 5 working days
If it’s an emergency hazard, action must begin within 24 hours
Full repair completion must be within a “reasonable timeframe” based on severity

It’s not perfect, but it’s a legal framework – something social tenants haven’t had before when it comes to mould, and something the private sector should start paying attention to.

For agents

When you’re organising midterm inspections, don’t just tick a checklist. Look up. Look behind furniture. Check for moisture on cold walls, black spotting near windows, and silence in extractor vents.

If you're using third-party, professional inventory providers, make sure they are asking the right questions and including the answers in their reports:

Are extractor fans working and in use?
Are trickle vents open or blocked?
Are windows showing signs of condensation buildup?
Is furniture placed tight against exterior walls?
Are there visible signs of mould, black spotting, or flaking paint?
Is laundry being dried indoors without ventilation?
Has the tenant raised any concerns about damp, musty smells, or cold spots?

These aren’t lifestyle judgments, they are early warning signs. And if you’re not capturing them, you’re not managing the risk.

For landlords

Let’s skip the “tenant lifestyle” excuse, shall we? If a property can’t breathe, that’s on you. Poor ventilation, broken fans, insulation gaps, they all contribute to the problem. And if you think the new laws won’t touch the private rented sector, think again. The Renters’ Rights Act now here, and while the sector waits for further clarity over a multitude of legislative changes, the pressure to improve is very real.

Awaab’s Law will force social landlords to fix damp quickly. The private sector may not be on the same legal footing yet, but the expectations are already shifting. Regulators are paying attention. So are tenants. So is the press.

Let the house burp!

For tenants: Because the sooner you air it out, the less likely you’ll be living with it – on the walls, in the wardrobe, or on your deposit record.

For letting agents: It’s a line in a welcome pack, or a line in a complaint you’ll be fielding six weeks later. Your choice.

For landlords: It’s cheaper than enforcement notices, repair works, and a tribunal explaining why you didn’t act sooner.

For inventory professionals: And make sure your reports do more than describe the décor – capture the risks before they escalate.