Syllabus

• Week 1

  Risk associated with moisture excess

  • Welcome to the course

    Get an overview of the course aims and structure, meet the teaching team, and introduce yourself to other learners to share your background and expectations.

  • Why are we learning about CDM?

    Explore why CDM is a serious housing and health issue, how Awaab Ishak’s case changed policy, and reflect on whether damp can ever be seen as a ‘lifestyle’ problem.

  • The issue is moisture imbalance

    Learn what moisture balance means, where indoor moisture comes from, and use a moisture balance calculator to explore how design, use and defects affect conditions in homes.

  • The effect of moisture imbalance

    Discover how excessive moisture damages building materials, reduces insulation performance and creates conditions for dust mites, wood rot and mould growth.

  • Mould and health

    Examine how mould affects physical and mental health, from allergies and infections to stress and depression, and discuss your own experiences of mould and its impacts.

  • Summary

    Review the key ideas from Week 1 on moisture balance, damage and health, and look ahead to how we will diagnose different types of damp and condensation in Week 2.

  • Glossary

    Use this glossary to look up essential terms related to condensation, damp, and mould. Each definition provides a clear explanation and points you to where the concept is introduced in the course.

• Week 2

  Causes of condensation, damp, and mould (CDM)

  • Welcome to Week 2

    Get an overview of Week 2, exploring the causes of condensation, damp and mould, and how building conditions, ventilation, heating and fuel poverty shape moisture problems.

  • Understanding surface condensation

    Learn how surface condensation forms when moist air meets cold surfaces, why buildings with cold spots are at risk, and how insulation, ventilation and humidity interact.

  • Indentifying damp in buildings

    Explore how to recognise damp, understand its causes, and distinguish between condensation, penetrating damp and rising damp to support accurate diagnosis.

  • Mould in buildings

    Understand how mould grows indoors, the environmental and biological factors that influence it, and why moisture control is essential for long-term prevention.

  • Water: the critical factor

    Discover why moisture in materials, not just air humidity, controls mould risk, and how surface conditions, substrates and thermal bridges influence water activity.

  • How fuel poverty contributes to damp and mould

    Examine how cold homes, poor insulation and high energy costs increase condensation and mould risk, and how fuel poverty links to health and housing inequality.

  • Tools for assessing fuel poverty

    Explore how SAP ratings, EPC bands and tools like the Affordable Warmth Matrix help housing providers identify vulnerable homes and plan effective retrofit action.

  • Summary Week 2

    Review the week’s key insights on condensation, moisture behaviour and fuel poverty, and reflect on how these concepts support diagnosing and preventing mould.

• Week 3

  Conquering condensation, damp, and mould: effective mitigation strategies

  • Welcome to Week 3

    Get an overview of this week’s focus on practical responses to condensation, damp, and mould, from soft behaviour-focused measures to hard technical interventions and case studies.

  • Damp and mould: National context and regulation

    Explore how damp and mould moved from “it’s lifestyle” to a legal and regulatory priority, and reflect on what a “zero-tolerance” approach means in real housing contexts.

  • Initial actions

    Look at regulators’ findings, energy advice, and support for residents. Consider how early actions, good data, and tailored guidance can prevent CDM and build trust.

  • Design and fabric solutions

    Examine how insulation, efficient heating and well-designed ventilation work together to control moisture, prevent condensation, and maintain healthy indoor environments.

  • Case study: Peabody’s Thamesmead CDM Strategy

    Study Peabody’s evidence-led strategy at Thamesmead, from risk assessment to tiered interventions, and draw lessons for tackling CDM in complex, hard-to-treat estates.

  • Summary week and final discussion Week 3

    Review the week’s key ideas and interventions, then discuss how you could apply a risk-led, ventilation-aware approach to CDM in the homes and communities you work with.

Who will you learn with?