Musty Smell in House
A persistent damp, musty, or earthy smell throughout the house or in specific rooms.
What Is Causing This?
- 1Hidden damp in walls, floors, or subfloor voids
- 2Mould growing behind furniture or inside cupboards
- 3Poor ventilation trapping stale, moist air
How Urgent Is This?
This should be fixed in the coming weeks. Leaving it may allow the problem to worsen and cost more to repair.
What Needs to Be Done
A damp specialist will survey the property with moisture meters and thermal imaging to find the source. Remedies depend on the cause and may involve DPC work, ventilation, or mould treatment.
How Much Will It Cost?
National average estimate
Labour: £577 – £1,887 | Materials: £370 – £1,475
Enter your postcode for a local price estimate
Prices are estimates based on typical UK rates. Actual costs depend on the specific issue, accessibility, and your location. All quotes from tradespeople on Tradesfolk are completely free.
Find a Damp Proofing Specialist
Enter your postcode above to find local damp proofing specialists, or browse all damp proofing specialists.
Find a Damp Proofing SpecialistWant a More Accurate Diagnosis?
Upload a photo of the problem and our AI tool will give you a detailed diagnosis, estimated cost, and connect you with local tradespeople.
Try Snap and FixStill Not Sure? Ask a Tradesperson
Post your question and get free advice from verified professionals who deal with this every day.
Ask a QuestionPlanning Permission Guidance
Some fixes for this problem may require planning permission or building regulations approval. Check if your project needs permission:
How to Prevent This
Ventilate all rooms daily by opening windows. Avoid drying clothes indoors without ventilation. Move furniture away from external walls to allow air circulation.
Related Problems
Damp and discolouration on ground floor walls, typically up to about one metre from the floor, with a tide mark.
Dark mould growing on ceiling, walls, grout, sealant, or around the window in the bathroom.
A property survey has flagged elevated moisture readings in walls, floors, or around windows.
Other Damp Proofing Specialist Problems
Damp and discolouration on ground floor walls, typically up to about one metre from the floor, with a tide mark.
A persistent damp area at the base of an internal wall, often with peeling paint or a musty smell.
A horizontal line of discolouration or salt deposits running along the base of ground floor walls.
Basement walls that are visibly wet, with water seeping through or condensation forming on cold surfaces.