Call us
Blog Post

What is Dry Rot, and is it in your home?

Kayleigh Withington • Dec 16, 2022

Many homes have dry rot, and you may not even realise.

So, what is dry rot, can we prevent it, and what should you/your landlord do about it? 

What is Dry Rot?


Dry rot is essentially a wood decay caused by fungi which can ruin wooden structures outside and inside of your home. Scientifically, dry rot (also called brown rot) occurs when the fungi breaks down components of the wood which give the wood the strength it needs.


Once dry rot occurs and spreads, it makes the wood weak and brittle, causing structural problems. Dry rot usually happens after a period of damp.


How do you identify Dry Rot?


  • Check for fungus - Fungus looks like cotton wool and may have water droplets if the surrounding areas are humid, moist, or damp. It may also have a flat, skin like growth (resembles a mushroom) on the wood.
  • The wood may start to sink or shrink.
  • The wood may become dark, and cracks begin to show in the wood structure.


What prevents Dry Rot?


  • Painting – Any wood that is being used outdoors, make sure it is primed on all sides before painting.
  • Plumbing – The most common cause of dry rot is water, which in most households is caused by leaks. Check underneath cabinets /vanities around toilets, sinks etc. in your home.
  • Ventilation – Having your home well ventilated will prevent condensation, which can be the first cause of water seeping into your wood, which then can become the start of dry rot. Make sure your bathrooms, kitchen and attic are properly ventilated, eliminating any moisture from the air in your home.
  • Landscaping – Check outside pipes, guttering, are not in a position to get into the woodwork of your home, for example hitting windows. Install gutters to direct rainwater away from your home’s wall/foundation. If you have any decking, make sure it is properly sealed and if possible, built on a slight slope so water will shed easily.
  • Roofing – Make sure your roof is up to standards. Having your roof checked at least once a year should identify and prevent any potential mould, water damage or dry rot.
  • Dehumidifiers – Buy a dehumidifier and place in all rooms of your house.


How does Dry Rot spread?


Dry rot is a fungus that produces spores, which spread in the air germinating any other wood it lays on. However, in order for those spores to grow, they need moisture, food(wood), warmth and oxygen.


If Dry Rot cannot be stopped from spreading, the wood it lands on will weaken to the point it could literally disintegrate.

How do you fix Dry Rot?


Most amounts of dry rot can be repaired; however, it is not recommended if the wood is providing structural stability in your home. If Dry Rot has affected anything like beams, flooring, joints, they should be replaced by a professional, not ‘repaired’.


Although, it is important to remember when you are either fixing or replacing the affected wood, that you eliminate the possibility of it coming back, i.e., locate, then eliminate, the moisture source.


It is recommended that a professional is used to remove/fix dry rot, as you run a risk of not getting all the affected wood and allowing the fungus to spread deeper into the structure of your home. All the sources should be thoroughly cleaned.

If you find Dry Rot in your rented home


Landlords have a responsibility to ensure their tenants have a safe living space, as the state of a rental property will have major effects on both mental and physical health. If you are renting your home, it is important you alert your landlord as soon as possible, not only for your own safety but for the future safety of the property.


If you are living in a rented property, your landlord has requirements by law to provide a suitable, safe and habitable property which means keeping your home in a state of repair.


The main responsibilities for the landlord are;


  • Installations at the property (water, gas, sanitation, heating, and electricity etc.)
  • Structure of the property (drains, gutters, pipes, walls, flooring etc.)


Issues in your home are considered ‘disrepair’, Dry Rot is one of them. If you feel your property may be in a state of disrepair, report this to your landlord. Read our guide if you are unsure on how to start.


If you have raised your concerns to your council or housing association landlord and they have failed to carry out said repairs, within 2-3 months, you may be able to start a Housing Disrepair Claim. If you are a social housing tenant, our Housing Disrepair experts are more than happy to answer your questions and review your situation.

Is your landlord ignoring your Dry Rot complaints?


Our team take on tenants of social housing properties (council home or housing association property). We aim to get your repairs fixed and issue a claim for compensation for the stress/inconvenience caused in a settlement.


If necessary, it may be possible to take your landlord to court, as the court can order necessary repairs to be carried out. However, you can only seek legal representation for a housing disrepair claim if the costs of the works needed exceed £1,000.


If you are unsure, we can look at your situation and give you advice on how best to proceed. In some cases, this would be contacting the Housing Ombudsman or Citizens Advice.


Here at MLA Solicitors, we guarantee to get those repairs fixed, and claim compensation on your behalf for the stress and inconvenience caused with a Housing Disrepair Claim.


Working for Social housing tenants, at no cost – at no point will you be charged, win or lose.


We can arrange either a telephone, video call or in person no obligation conversation. Please call 0800 610 2223 or alternatively, fill in our contact form or reach out on social media and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.


Contact Us

Call us

Is your housing problem discrimination?

by Kayleigh Withington • 14 Dec, 2022
Unfortunately, most social housing tenants will not recognise that the housing problem they are experiencing, is discrimination. It is unlawful to suffer discrimination by your social housing provider because of your characteristic(s). Social housing organisations (your council or housing association) have a duty not to discriminate against you and your housing needs.

Keeping you and your house warm this winter

by Kayleigh Withington • 13 Dec, 2022
Unsurprisingly during this cost of living crisis, gas and electric prices are shooting up whilst the winter days/nights get colder and colder. It’s more important than ever to see how we can improve our home to keep the warmth in and save money where we can.

Why instruct MLA Solicitors for your Housing Disrepair claim?

by Kayleigh Withington • 07 Dec, 2022
Our team is made up with solicitors and paralegals experienced in holding landlords accountable for their actions. Working with social housing tenants, our services are second-to-none. We understand taking legal action against your landlord can be a daunting prospect, and that many tenants are unaware of their rights or are aware, but are worried about stand up for themselves.
Home in state of disrepair

What is Housing Disrepair?

by Kayleigh Withington • 07 Dec, 2022
Housing disrepair is a rented property in need of repair(s), in order to be safe and habitable for the tenant, also said to be ‘in a state of disrepair’. If you are living in a rented property, your landlord has requirements by law to provide a suitable, sae and habitable property which means keeping your home in a state of repair. We invite you to contact our expert housing disrepair team if this is the case.

How to make a formal complaint to your landlord

by Kayleigh Withington • 07 Dec, 2022
Reporting the problem to the right person and in the right way may assist in resolving the issue without the need for making a formal complaint. However, If you are unhappy with the service you are receiving from your social housing provider, you can make a formal complaint. If they go on to ignore your complaints, we can help you legally guarantee repairs and if possible, claim compensation.

The Housing Ombudsman referral guide

by Kayleigh Withington • 06 Dec, 2022
If we have referred you to The Housing Ombudsman as we have been unable to assist at this time, here is a guide to get the help you need.

Housing Disrepair Compensation Guide

by Kayleigh Withington • 29 Nov, 2022
Your landlord has a legal duty to maintain the structure and exterior of the property they rent out. If problems arise after an inspection or are reported by a tenant, the landlord must fix the issue (i.e. carrying out repairs) within a justifiable time frame. The amount of time varies depending on the issue that has been found/reported, for example, some repairs are classed as emergency and should be completed as soon as possible.

What makes a property unhabitable?

by Kayleigh Withington • 18 Nov, 2022
A property may be classed as ‘unhabitable’ for various reasons, including unfurnished and/or needs major repairs to make it habitable. ‘Major repairs’ has various factors, including repairs to the structure of the property e.g., walls, foundation, floors, roof etc. However, they differ in severity, for example replacing a few tiles would not but replacing the whole roof would be.

Mould in your home, what is it and what can be done?

by Kayleigh Withington • 18 Nov, 2022
We are seeing an increasing amount of tenants complaining of mould in their rental property, but what is it and what can be done?

Housing Disrepair: Why are complaints important?  

by Marc Almond • 22 Apr, 2021
Housing Disrepair: Why are complaints important? If you are curious about why complaints are important in a Housing Disrepair Claim, read on. We use your complaints (or “Notification Entries”) to determine how much compensation you may be entitled to. Should you have any questions, please contact us.
Show More
Share by: