Scrubbed With Love, a specialist cleaning company operating across Manchester, Liverpool and the wider North West, is advising landlords, letting agents, property managers and private renters to check commonly overlooked mould-prone areas in their homes before the colder months arrive. The advice is aimed particularly at older terraced properties, houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), student houses, purpose-built flats and short-term lets – property types that tend to be more susceptible to damp and mould due to their construction, ventilation and occupancy patterns.
The advice comes at a time of heightened attention on damp and mould in rental properties across England. Awaab’s Law came into force for social landlords on 27 October 2025, requiring them to address emergency hazards and significant damp and mould hazards within fixed timeframes. Government guidance is clear that damp and mould can pose serious health risks and should be dealt with promptly. In the private rented sector, scrutiny is also increasing. Manchester’s private rented sector has grown substantially and now accounts for around 100,000 properties – approximately 40% of the city’s total housing stock. In Liverpool, the council’s selective licensing scheme covers up to 80% of the private rental sector, and in February 2026 the council announced an expansion of its landlord licensing team, with new staff specifically focused on poor housing conditions including damp and excess cold.
Speaking about the company’s experience, Josie Cookson for Scrubbed With Love said:
“Most people check the bathroom ceiling or the window frame, and those are genuinely important areas. But some of the worst mould problems we encounter start somewhere much quieter – behind a wardrobe that’s been pushed against an external wall for years, inside a poorly ventilated cupboard, or behind appliances that rarely get moved. These are places that don’t get looked at during everyday cleaning, and by the time mould becomes visible elsewhere, it can already be well established. Catching it early in those less obvious spots is almost always easier and less disruptive than dealing with it once it has spread.”
Commonly overlooked mould hotspots in rental homes
Based on its work across properties throughout Manchester, Liverpool and surrounding areas, Scrubbed With Love has identified the areas most commonly missed during routine checks:
• Behind wardrobes and beds placed against external walls
• Inside fitted wardrobes and built-in cupboards, particularly in bedrooms on the ground floor or facing north
• Behind washing machines, fridges and tumble dryers
• Around window reveals and older window frames
• Behind curtains and blinds that are rarely opened
• Bathroom ceilings, grout lines and silicone seals around baths and showers
• Extractor fan covers and ventilation grilles
• Under sinks and around visible pipework
• Cold corners in bedrooms and box rooms
• Behind sofas in living rooms in older terraced properties and ground-floor flats
• Around poorly sealed loft hatches
• Inside storage areas in HMOs and student houses, particularly those used by multiple occupants
Practical steps for renters, landlords and property managers
Scrubbed With Love recommends the following practical steps ahead of the autumn and winter months:
• Move large furniture slightly away from cold external walls where possible to allow air to circulate
• Check rooms that feel noticeably colder or carry a persistent musty smell, as these can indicate underlying damp
• Look behind furniture during end-of-tenancy checks, not just at visible surfaces
• Do not simply paint over mould – this does not address the underlying cause and can allow the problem to continue unseen
• Improve ventilation where safe and practical, particularly in bathrooms, kitchens and utility areas (positive input ventilation works great!)
• Record any mould issues with photographs and dates, whether you are a tenant or a landlord
• Landlords and property managers should treat recurring mould as a property condition issue, not a one-off cleaning matter, and investigate the underlying cause
• Seek specialist advice where mould is widespread, keeps returning, or may be linked to a leak, structural issue or ventilation defect
The spokesperson Josie Cookson added:
“We see a clear seasonal pattern in the enquiries we receive. Mould that has been quietly developing over summer tends to become more visible and more problematic once the heating comes on and condensation increases. A straightforward check in October can prevent a much bigger issue in January. Tenants and landlords who take the time to look at the less obvious areas of a property are far better placed to deal with anything early.”
Scrubbed With Love provides mould removal, deep cleaning, end-of-tenancy cleaning and specialist property cleaning services across Manchester, Liverpool and the surrounding North West region. The company works with private renters, landlords, letting agents, property managers, housing associations and short-term let operators.
Media Contact
Company Name: Scrubbed With Love
Contact Person: Josie Cookson
Email: Send Email
Phone: 0151 305 1195
Address:Unit 15, Gerards Park, College St
City: Saint Helens
State: WA10 1FZ
Country: United Kingdom
Website: https://scrubbedwithlove.co.uk