| AdminHistory | Dampness was an issue from the moment Corporation houses were first occupied in 1966. Dampness and condensation was caused by a number of factors including: poor design, construction and layout of the houses; tenants' reluctance to use heating properly given economic factors; and a lack of understanding of the causes of condensation and mould growth, especially from those families which had not occupied dwellings with central heating before. The issue of condensation gave rise to legal proceedings against one of the construction company, John Laing Construction Ltd, that had built certain areas of the town and sponsored certain construction techniques.
In response to the abnormal levels of dampness, condensation and mould found in the two, a task team was set up. In the most serious cases, this task team visited tenants, advised on how to minimise the problem through day to day activities, and initiated physical alterations to the property, such as the laying of damp proof courses. |