Damp and mould in Kensington and Chelsea
Mould in a period home rarely has one obvious cause. Get the readings that show what's behind yours.
- Independent: no obligation to use anyone we recommend
- A written report: your readings, the cause and what to do next
- Non-invasive: no drilling and no lifting floors
Independent
No building or ventilation work to sell you.
Qualified
IICRC water damage restoration and Dewpoint Professional mould remediation.
Evidence-based
Readings, photos and thermal images where taken, in a written report.
All of London
Anywhere inside the M25, from a west London base.
In short
Simply Filtered carries out independent mould surveys across Kensington, Chelsea and Notting Hill. Duncan Ridley measures humidity, dew point and surface temperatures to establish where condensation forms in your home and why. Leaks and rising damp sit with other specialists, and your report names them if needed.
Sound familiar?
Damp downstairs, and nobody agrees why.
- “Our lower ground floor flat always smells damp, even in summer.”
- “There's mould spreading across the bedroom ceiling of our mansion flat.”
- “One contractor says rising damp, another says condensation.”
Homes in Kensington and Chelsea
- Stucco terraces with lower ground floors
- Many houses here sit behind lightwells, with a floor below street level. Those rooms stay cool, see little sun and gather condensation on the walls nearest the street, and in the corners behind furniture.
- In heavy rain, water can also come back through drains or down lightwell steps. The survey shows whether you're dealing with condensation or water getting in, which need very different fixes.
- Mansion flats
- In the red-brick mansion blocks, steam from bathrooms and kitchens drifts to the nearest cold surface, often a bedroom's outside wall, a window reveal or the ceiling.
- Better extraction that vents outside is a common fix, and it may need the freeholder's agreement, so your report gives everyone the same evidence.
- Mews houses
- Mews cottages open straight onto the street and tend to be compact, with few windows, so moisture from everyday living builds up quickly.
- Improving airflow inside, rather than altering the outside, is usually the place to start, which also suits the conservation rules.
Nearly three quarters of the borough is in conservation areas, so ask Kensington and Chelsea Council before changing windows, vents or anything on the outside of your home.
What gets recorded
No drilling, nothing lifted. Room by room, the survey records:
- How humid your air is
- The dew point: the temperature at which moisture condenses
- Surface temperatures, so cold spots show up
- Airflow from your bathroom and kitchen fans
Image: A written mould survey report
The report you receive
Written up so you can act on it, or share it with a freeholder, landlord or contractor:
- Readings for each of your rooms
- Photographs and, where taken, thermal images
- Where the mould comes from
- A practical plan, usually starting with ventilation
Who carries out your survey
Image: Duncan Ridley of Simply Filtered taking readings on a survey
Duncan Ridley
Founder, Simply Filtered
Duncan carries out every survey and writes every report himself. He spent 18 years as a technical advisor in the heating industry, after a long career in construction and heating systems, and works in structural drying, flood remediation and building fabric diagnostics.
- IICRC
- Water Damage Restoration Technician
- Dewpoint Professional
- Mould Remediation
If the problem isn't condensation
Your report says who should take it from there:
- Leaks
- These need tracing by a leak detection specialist.
- Rising damp
- A damp surveyor can assess it for you.
- Flood or sewer water
- Book a water damage assessment before anything else.
- Mould removal
- Without the cause fixed, mould comes back. Antimicrobial fogging is a final step, not a first one.
From your enquiry to your report.
Send the form
Tell us what's going on. It takes about 2 minutes.
Get your free quote
You get your exact price and what's included. If you're happy to go ahead, we agree a time that suits you.
The visit
Duncan visits at a time that suits you, looks at the mould and takes the readings.
Your report
What's causing the mould and what it will take to deal with it. No obligation to use anyone we recommend.
Questions
Questions from Kensington, Chelsea and Notting Hill
Water came down our lightwell steps in a storm. Is that a mould problem?
Not at first. Flood water needs drying and repair, so start with a water damage assessment. If mould appears once the room has dried, a survey shows whether condensation is the reason.
Our Chelsea flat is in a conservation area. Will fixing the mould mean changes outside?
Not necessarily. Many condensation fixes happen inside: better extraction, heating and airflow. If something visible is recommended, check with the council before you go ahead.
Do you survey mews houses and lower ground floor flats?
Yes, and mansion flats and houses too.
Renting in the borough? Our tenant and landlord pages explain what a report can do.
A clear answer on your mould, in writing.
Call or WhatsApp us for a free, no-obligation quote.
WhatsApp usOr call 07366 199261