What to do now
Official repair path: NSW Fair Trading, Getting repairs done. Minimum standards (fit for habitation): Minimum standards for rental properties. Tenant-facing mould factsheet: Tenants' Union of NSW, Mould. Keep paying rent. If Fair Trading or talks fail, NCAT residential fee is $64, or $16 with a concession card (as at 1 July 2026).
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Document it today. Photos and short video of the mould and any leaks, damp patches, or blocked ventilation. Note when you first saw it and what rooms are affected.
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Notify the landlord or agent in writing. Email is fine. Say what needs fixing, attach photos, and give a clear deadline (for example 7 or 14 days). Keep a copy. The Tenants' Union sample repairs letter is a useful template.
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Limit further damage where you can. Ventilate when the weather allows, use exhaust fans when cooking or showering, and move belongings away from mouldy surfaces. NSW Health guidance summarised by the Tenants' Union covers cleaning mild surface mould with mild detergent (or diluted vinegar or bleach) and drying the surface fully. Do not stop paying rent.
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If they miss the deadline, escalate:
- Lodge a complaint with NSW Fair Trading (13 32 20, Mon to Fri 8:30am to 5pm). Fair Trading can investigate habitability issues and may issue a rectification order with a completion date.
- Or apply to NCAT for orders that the landlord do the repairs, pay compensation for proven loss, pay rent into the Tribunal until work is done, and/or reduce rent for the period of disrepair.
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NCAT clocks. For repair, compensation, and rent-into-Tribunal orders, apply within 3 months of the landlord missing your repair deadline. For a rent-reduction order covering the period of disrepair, apply before the tenancy ends.
Worked example
Sam finds black mould on a bedroom wall after heavy rain and a long-running roof stain. Sam photographs the wall and the ceiling stain, emails the agent the same day with a 14-day deadline, and moves clothes out of that wardrobe. The agent does not reply. On day 15 Sam lodges a Fair Trading complaint. Fair Trading investigates and issues a rectification order for the roof leak and mould remediation. If that had stalled, Sam could have applied to NCAT within 3 months of the missed deadline (fee $64, or $16 with a concession card).
Who is responsible for mould
Under section 52 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW), landlords must provide premises that are reasonably clean and fit for habitation. Fit for habitation includes the seven minimum standards Fair Trading lists: structurally sound, adequate lighting, adequate ventilation, electricity or gas with enough outlets, adequate plumbing and drainage, hot and cold water for drinking and washing, and bathroom facilities that allow privacy. Structurally sound includes floors, ceilings, walls and supporting structures not being subject to significant dampness, and a roof, ceilings and windows sealed so water cannot get in.
Under section 63, landlords must maintain premises in a reasonable state of repair having regard to age, rent and prospective life of the premises, except where the disrepair was caused by the tenant's breach.
Tenants must keep the premises reasonably clean, notify damage or disrepair as soon as practicable, and take reasonable steps to limit further loss. Disputes often turn on whether mould was already there at move-in, or whether it comes from a structural leak or poor ventilation (usually the landlord's side) versus tenant use alone. Note mould and dampness on the condition report at the start of the tenancy if you can, with photos.
Urgent vs ordinary mould repairs
Most mould is treated as an ordinary (non-urgent) repair: notify in writing and give a reasonable time. If the underlying problem is an urgent repair under section 62 (for example a serious roof leak, flooding, or a burst water service that is causing the damp), use the urgent-repair path in our NSW urgent repairs guide: notify first, then licensed trades and reimbursement up to $1,000 within 14 days if the landlord cannot be reached or will not act.
Rent reduction and temporary move-out
You and the landlord can agree a rent reduction in writing while the problem continues. There is no fixed formula. If you need to stay elsewhere while works happen, put the rent reduction, the dates, and who is responsible for belongings in writing before you leave. If talks fail, NCAT can order a rent reduction for the period of disrepair (apply before the tenancy ends).
Where to get help
NSW Fair Trading: 13 32 20 (Mon to Fri, 8:30am to 5pm)
Getting repairs done · Minimum standards
NCAT: ncat.nsw.gov.au or 1300 006 228
Apply online · Fees
Tenants' Union of NSW: Mould factsheet · advice line 1800 251 101 (outside Sydney metro) or (02) 8117 3700 (Sydney metro)