For many years, families have come to AFF with concerns about damp and mouldy SFA.
In 2012, we decided to set up our own AFF Mould Database for families to record their SFA address so that we could start to build up a picture of the issue; we now have over 1,000 addresses on the database and through sharing this with DIO and Amey we have helped them to pinpoint ‘hotspot areas’.
As a result, DIO have committed £6 million over two years to upgrade and refurb those houses/estates worst affected.
DIO and Amey also agreed a revised three-stage process for responding to reports of mould and damp, following discussion with the Families Federations:
Amey are to keep families informed at all stages of the process.
The new process means that a report of serious damp or mould will be inspected by a specialist contractor who will have access to damp meters and other technology for establishing the cause of the issue, and which will be recorded on a common survey form.
For an infographic on the process, click here.
This progress wouldn’t have been possible without families coming to AFF with the evidence, so please continue to register on the AFF mould database.
If you find that this process isn’t being followed, please log an official complaint with Amey and let AFF know at housing@aff.org.uk
Back to topHave you ever wondered what causes mould? Mould needs moisture to grow and there are two underlying reasons why moisture/damp might appear in a house – structural reasons and condensation.
Structural issues are related to the fabric of the building which means water or moisture is getting into the property. Examples of the types of problems that occur include:
Condensation is caused by something happening inside the house, such as:
So, how do you tell whether the mould in your home is caused by a structural issue or from excessive condensation? Mould due to structural issues tends to appear in the following places:
In the house
In the basement
Mould from condensation tends to be seen in the following areas:
In bathrooms
In bedrooms
In the basement
In Britain, condensation is mainly a winter problem when warm moist air is generated in areas like kitchens and bathrooms and then travels to colder parts of the house.
The moisture in the air comes from a number of sources within the house. Water vapour is produced in relatively large quantities from normal day to day activities – a five-person household generates about 10 kg of water into the air every day (before any heating) with the biggest sources being:
Condensation issues can often be effectively dealt with by your family. The ‘Your Service family accommodation – Dealing with damp and mould‘ shows what you can do to reduce condensation and tackle mould in the home.
However, in cases where mould is caused by structural or ventilation issues (such as insufficient extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens), families should contact the Amey Customer Helpdesk as these causes will need to be dealt with by Amey.
Whatever the cause of the mould, the first time you notice it call the Amey Customer Helpdesk (0800 707 6000) and ask for someone to come and look at it. A Technical Officer (TO) will attend with a damp meter to assess whether the mould is caused by structural or general condensation issues.
Following the assessment, there are three possible actions:
There is a lot that you can do as a family to reduce condensation and mould; however, if you have an on-going situation with mould and you feel that it has not been addressed properly up until now (e.g. the area has been treated and painted over but it keeps coming back), please call the Amey Customer Helpdesk and ask for a TO visit to reassess the situation for you.
You should also call the Helpdesk whenever you see the mould re-appearing so they can build up a record of the incidence of mould in your home. It would also really help Amey to know if this is a common problem on the street/estate as this could indicate a wider issue.
AFF would like to know the addresses of ALL SFA and SSFA which area affected by mould – please click to register your SFA/SSFA on our database.
Back to topFor many years during the winter period, families approached AFF about mould in their SFA and the way it was dealt with by DIO and MHS.
In 2012, AFF decided to launch its Mould database in order to gather as much information about how many SFA experience mould and damp problems.
The residents of Elm Hill enthusiastically got behind this project and 10 houses were recorded on our database. AFF approached DIO, who agreed to carry out intrusive structural checks on sample properties to ascertain the condition of the properties and to see if remedial works were required.
The investigations revealed that the properties were suffering from water ingress through poor roofs and cold bridging, resulting in damp and mould in upstairs rooms; so not a “lifestyle” issue after all!
As a result of the investigations, regional DIO staff were successful in bidding for funding to resolve the roofing problems (which will hopefully cure the mould issues which families in these houses have put up with for many years) and permission was granted for the houses in Elm Hill to be re-roofed.
As an added bonus funding was also found to improve other aspects of what were very tired houses so not only should these SFA now be mould free but families will see a marked improvement in some internal aspects of their houses such as new kitchens or bathrooms and new boilers.
“AFF - just a thank you for all that you do!!”
“What an awesome organisation”
“Thank you so much Army Families Federation!”
Find out more