How many UK homes suffer from mould problems? And how much mould is problematic? HouseTest is working with researchers in London to find out.

Xerophilic moulds thrive in dry conditions and are a new threat for those who work to keep historic collections safe. HouseTest are developing a test that will help them do just that.

It is not only mould spores that are harmful to human health, but also the microparticles that mould produces. Because mould microparticles contain DNA, HouseTest’s mould testing technology can detect them.

The UK’s Building Research Establishment (BRE) have released their report on the cost of poor housing in England. The report shows that mitigating the hazards caused by damp and mould in social housing is well within our grasp. Doing the same in privately rented accommodation, however, looks like a distant prospect.

Indoor air pollution doesn’t receive the same attention as its outdoor counterpart, but it might cause as many deaths globally. Mould is an important contributor to that pollution, and effectively measuring mould contamination is an essential part of the solution

qPCR testing rapidly became one of the central tools for tracking the progress of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the PCR technique was not developed specifically for Covid.

The accuracy of the technique means that it has an important role in testing for other kinds of microbial activity, including indoor mould infestations.

Both the advantages and pitfalls of identifying mould species are clear from the UK media’s coverage of social housing

The Regulator of Social Housing has asked social housing providers to give evidence of how they ‘assess the extent of damp and mould’ without setting out how that might be done.

The Better Social Housing Review calls for an audit of the condition of every socially rented property in the UK. HouseTest is ideally placed to contribute.