Black spots around a window, a corner, or behind furniture. Mould in a rented home almost always points to a building problem, and here is how to get it treated at the source, not just wiped away.
Free to use · Guidance and tools, not legal advice
Last updated 9 July 2026
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Mould in a rented home in Ireland almost always points to a building problem underneath, so wiping it away without fixing the cause only buys a few weeks before it returns. The dark patches you see around windows, in corners, on ceilings or behind wardrobes are the visible end of cold surfaces, trapped moisture, poor ventilation or a hidden leak.
Naming the likely cause in your report makes it far harder to dismiss as your fault. Because the minimum standards for rented accommodation require a home to be free from damp and kept in sound repair, treating persistent mould is usually your landlord’s job once the building cause is identified.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. For advice on your own tenancy, contact Threshold or Citizens Information. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 112 first.
Your plan
STEP 1
Wide shots of each affected room and close-ups of the mould, with the date. Note any damaged clothes or furniture.
STEP 2
Send a calm first report asking for an inspection and a plan to treat the cause, not just the surface.
STEP 3
Allow five to seven days for a reply. If it is spreading or affecting health, ask for a quicker response.
STEP 4
No action? A formal request, then your local authority housing standards section and Threshold.
Once your landlord agrees to act
A proper job does more than paint over the problem. A genuine repair starts by finding the source, whether that is a leak, cold bridging or a ventilation gap, then cleans and treats the affected areas so existing spores are removed, not just hidden under fresh paint.
Where ventilation is the issue, that might mean a working extractor fan or trickle vents. Where cold walls are the cause, insulation or heating improvements may be needed. After the work, take fresh photos and watch the same spots for thirty days to be sure it does not return.
Common questions
Your landlord is responsible for keeping the property to the minimum standards for rented accommodation, which include being free from damp and kept in good structural repair. Where mould is caused by a building fault such as a leak, poor ventilation or missing insulation, putting it right is the landlord’s job. Your job is to report it clearly, give access, and ventilate day to day.
Landlords sometimes say mould is down to how a tenant lives, such as drying clothes indoors. Lifestyle can add moisture, but persistent mould almost always has a building cause underneath, like cold walls, a leak or a broken extractor fan. That is exactly why an inspection matters, and why your dated photos and notes are so useful.
Mould can affect breathing, especially for children, older people and anyone with asthma or allergies. It should never be ignored, and if someone’s health is affected you should mention that in your report and speak to a GP. The mould and damp checker will tell you whether to treat your situation as routine or urgent.
Painting over mould without fixing the cause hides it for a few weeks, then it returns. A proper repair finds the source, whether that is a leak, ventilation or cold bridging, treats the affected surfaces, and stops it recurring. If it comes back, that is a sign the root cause was never addressed, and the resolution should be reopened.
For a first friendly report, five to seven days for a reply is reasonable. If there is no response or plan, a formal request with a ten to fourteen day window is the next step. Where health is affected or it is spreading fast, shorter timescales are fair, and you can escalate sooner.
No. Keep paying your rent. Withholding rent without advice can put your tenancy at risk and weakens your position. Keep the pressure on through written requests and the proper escalation routes, and get advice from Threshold before considering any formal step.
Keep going
Guide
Mould and damp go hand in hand. Deal with the damp that causes it too.
Guide
If your first report goes nowhere, here is who to bring in next.
Tool
Write your mould report to the landlord in two minutes.
Guide
What to record so your mould case holds up.
Every home should be safe to live in
Mould in a rented home in Ireland gets fixed once it is on the record. Generate your first report now, free and private, and start the clock on getting it sorted.