Lung health charity urges political parties to commit to action on cold and damp housing in Wales

With most of the political parties in Wales backing action to tackle unhealthy and poorly insulated homes in their manifestos, Asthma + Lung UK Cymru are calling for a strong post-election cross party consensus to ensure that new legislation is swiftly implemented to help improve housing standards.

Released on 30th April 2026

Cold and damp housing is dangerous to those with lung conditions, exacerbating symptoms in those who already have asthma or COPD, increasing the likelihood of an asthma attack or flare up1. Studies have also shown that long term exposure to mould can bring on the development of asthma in previously healthy people, particularly children, as well as other lung conditions such as aspergillosis, a condition caused by breathing in aspergillus mould2. 

Asthma + Lung UK Cymru is calling on the new Welsh Government to act decisively to prevent lung conditions linked to poor housing by learning from Awaab’s Law, which sets strict deadlines for addressing hazards like damp and mould in England.

To improve poor housing and to make homes warm and free from damp and mould, the charity is also calling for:

• To expand and clarify warm homes schemes, with the prioritisation of air source heat pumps, adequate insulation and appropriate ventilation to ensure safe indoor air and the minimisation of seasonal triggers in the home.

• Adopt and implement legislation to ensure mould- and damp-free social housing.

In Asthma + Lung UK’s most recent annual survey, a third of people with lung conditions in the UK (33%) said that mould and fungi were triggers for them, causing symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and breathlessness.3

In the same survey, even before the recent spike in oil prices due to the war in the Middle East, nearly 17% of people with lung conditions said they couldn’t afford to keep their homes adequately warm.4

Bec Miller, Policy and Public Affairs Officer for Asthma + Lung UK Cymru said:

“Cold, damp and poorly insulated homes exacerbates lung conditions, making homes a dangerous place for the most vulnerable in our society.

“As the election manifestos have been released, we are pleased to see the majority of parties in Wales make commitments to extend warm homes schemes and improve energy efficiency. Some have also said they will take steps to tackle damp and mould which are extremely dangerous to lung health.

“We are therefore looking forward to working with new MSs to ensure the swift introduction of new legislation so everyone feels safe and warm in their homes and are not left fighting for breath.” 

REFERENCE

  1. UK Government. (2024, August 15). Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home here.
  2. Childhood Asthma and Mould in Homes—A Meta-Analysis; National Library of Medicine website. Accessed February 25 2026 here.
  3. Figures from Asthma + Lung UK’s annual Life with a Lung Condition survey in the UK. 9387 people were asked if mould and fungi triggered their lung condition. The survey ran from January – March 2025:

Moulds and fungi trigger my lung condition

         Number   Percentage

Yes      3105     33%

No        6282     67%

Total     9387     100%

4. Figures from Asthma + Lung UK’s annual Life with a Lung Condition survey in the UK.  9387    people were asked if they could afford to heat their homes adequately. The survey ran from January – March 2025:

Can you afford heating to keep the house adequately warm         

          Number Percentage

Yes      7828     83%

No        1559     17%

Total     9387     100%