The short answer
Report it in writing, photograph it with dates, and keep a note of when it appears and after what weather. That record is what separates the three causes and it is what environmental health will ask for.
- Report it in writing and keep a copy. Email is fine and is better than a phone call because it is dated.
- Photograph it regularly, with something in shot for scale.
- Keep a simple log: date, where, what the weather was doing, whether the heating was on.
- If nothing happens, your council's environmental health team can inspect and can require works.
- Damp caused by the building is the landlord's responsibility to fix, which covers most penetrating and rising damp and a good deal of condensation caused by inadequate ventilation or insulation.
What will ruin it
Do not withhold rent to force the issue. It weakens your position and it can put your tenancy at risk. Use the written record and environmental health instead.
Why it works
Almost every dispute about damp in rented housing turns on whether it is a building fault or a lifestyle issue, and the log is the only thing that settles that argument.
Household chemicals can be dangerous in combination. Never mix them, keep the room ventilated, and test anything on a hidden patch first. Full disclaimer.
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