Damp & Mould: Fix It for Good

In this episode, we dive into how Phoenix Community Housing and Zap Carbon have halved damp and mould reports across 1,300 homes, without overwhelming repairs teams. Hear from John Ball (Phoenix) and Dale Holroyd (Zap Carbon) on shifting from reactive fixes to proactive, data-led strategies. 

Top tips & best practices: 

• Triaging with sensors: Use humidity sensors to identify high-risk homes and prompt early action. 

• Structured workflow: Make data meaningful with clear processes and consistent training. 

• Resident engagement: Build trust through empathy, consistency, and a “golden thread” of communication. 

• Proactive upgrades: Fit extractor fans preemptively and use every home visit to check for mould. 

• Monitor post-repair: Six-week follow-ups help prevent recurrence. 

Key challenges: 

• Shortage of qualified assessors 

• 12-month budget cycles blocking long-term gains 

• Missed appointments driving up costs 

Savings insight: Proactive approaches can reduce repeat visits and slash costs by 25–30% over three years. 

Reference points: 

• Awaab’s Law (coming Oct 2025): GOV.UK 

• Healthy Homes Hub: healthyhomeshub.uk 

• Zap Carbon: zapcarbon.com 

Don’t miss this one—lessons here could change how your organisation tackles damp and mould for good.