Is mould my fault for not ventilating, or my landlord's responsibility?

Short answer

Usually the landlord’s responsibility, at least in part. Rising and penetrating damp are structural and always theirs to fix. Even condensation mould — the type landlords blame on “lifestyle” — is their problem if the property lacks adequate heating, ventilation or insulation, such as a broken extractor fan.

"You need to open the windows more" is the standard landlord response to mould — and it is often overstated. Who is responsible depends on the type of damp, and in practice most cases have a structural element the landlord must address.

The three types of damp, and who fixes them

Rising damp — moisture rising through walls or floors from a failed damp-proof course. Structural: almost always the landlord's responsibility.
Penetrating damp — water getting in through defects such as damaged gutters, failed pointing or leaking pipes. Structural: the landlord's responsibility under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
Condensation — moisture from cooking, showering and breathing condensing on cold surfaces and feeding black mould. This is the disputed category — but if the extractor fan is broken, the insulation is inadequate, or the heating system cannot keep living areas at 18°C, those are structural failings the landlord must fix under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System treats serious damp and mould as a Category 1 hazard — the most serious kind — and mould spores can cause or worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions, especially in children and older people. If your health has been affected, record it with your GP; it significantly strengthens any complaint or claim.

How to put the responsibility where it belongs

Photograph every affected area, note when it started, and report it to your landlord in writing as a formal housing hazard, asking for a written response within 14 days.
If ignored or blamed on you, ask the council's environmental health team to inspect — inspectors often find against landlords, and can serve enforcement notices.
In social housing, Awaab's Law timescales apply directly: investigation within 10 working days and safety work within 5 working days of the investigation concluding. The extension of these fixed timescales to private rentals is expected but not yet in force.
For harm suffered — health, ruined belongings, unusable rooms — consider a housing disrepair compensation claim.

Read the full guide: Mould and Damp: What Tenants Can DoCovers eligibility, the process, deadlines, and next steps in depth.

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