Mould or damp — Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)

Direct answer

Mould is a health matter as well as a repair. Report it to the landlord in writing with photos and ask for the cause to be found — a leak, missing insulation, no ventilation — not just for the wall to be repainted. If nothing happens, Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) (0818 303 037) decides rent reduction and orders repairs; HSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspection (hse.ie) can inspect and declare the home unfit for habitation, which forces the landlord's hand. Threshold (1800 454 454) advises on what you can deduct and how much rent you can withhold.

Call firstResidential Tenancies Board (RTB)

Report toHSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspection

If that failsThreshold

🗣️ What to say

"Since [date] there is mould in the [room] at [address], photos attached. It affects our health [symptoms if any]. Please have the cause investigated and repaired by [deadline]. Until then I reduce the rent by [%] from [date]."

🪜 Step by step

Photograph and date itWide shots and close-ups, a ruler for scale, the humidity reading if you have a cheap meter. Repeat weekly.
Ventilate and heatDocument that you do — landlords blame "lifestyle" first. Airing twice a day and heating to 18–20 °C removes that argument.
Report in writingAsk for the cause to be found. A repaint without fixing the cause is not a repair.
Inspection: HSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspectionThe municipal or environmental health inspection visits, measures, and can order works or declare the home unfit.
Tenancy body: Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)Rent reduction backdated to the report, and an order to repair.

📇 All contacts

Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)Dispute resolution for deposits, free adjudicationWhen the landlord has not returned it within a reasonable time📞 0818 303 037 🔗 www.rtb.ie

HSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspectionUnfit housing, mould, pests, noise, food hygieneWhen health is at risk at home🔗 www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/environ

ThresholdFree housing advice charityBefore you write, and for the wording📞 1800 454 454 🔗 www.threshold.ie

Your city or county councilNuisances, roads, waste, lost property, environmental complaintsFor anything the council handles🔗 www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/1a5c8-local-authorities

❓ Frequently asked

Is mould really the landlord's problem?

Mould caused by the building (cold bridges, leaks, broken ventilation) is. Mould caused only by never ventilating is the tenant's. The inspection decides which.

Can I leave without notice?

If the home is unfit for habitation and the landlord will not act, most countries allow termination without notice — get the inspection report first.

Can I claim for damaged belongings?

Yes, if the cause was the building and the landlord was notified. Keep receipts and photos; contents insurance may pay first and recover from the landlord.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

“mould in rental landlord responsibility Ireland”
“damp flat rent reduction”
“report mould housing inspection”
“unfit for habitation tenant rights”
“mould health landlord”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

Your tools for Ireland

Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Energy · IrelandElectricity & gasThe rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Ireland, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.

🦠 There is mould or damp in my rental — who do I report it to?