Damp and mouldy dwellings

This section presents statistics about people living in damp and mouldy dwellings in Aotearoa New Zealand. Damp and mouldy dwelling raises the risk of respiratory illness and negatively impacts health and wellbeing.

Damp and mouldy homes linked to poor physical and mental health

Damp and mouldy living conditions are linked to a range of health issues, particularly children and vulnerable groups. Living in these conditions increases the risk of respiratory illnesses, such as cough, wheeze, and asthma ([3], [2]). They also associated with poor mental health outcomes, including stress, anxiety, and depression [1].

One in five New Zealanders live in damp dwellings

In 2023, 20.6% (logical bound 18.8–27.6) of New Zealanders (859,137 people) lived in dwellings that
were damp (sometimes or always), including 2.8% of people (117,045) living in dwellings considered
severely damp (always damp).

The percentage of people living in damp dwellings has decreased by 3.5 percentage points from the
previous census year, dropping from 24.1% (22.2–30.2) in 2018.

Children and young adults have the highest rates of living in damp dwellings

Children and young adults experienced notably higher rates of living in dwellings that were damp either sometimes or always.
In 2023, 26.0% (23.2–33.7) of children aged 0–14 years lived in damp dwellings. This represents a decrease from 30.4% (27.6–36.8) in 2018, a decline of 4.4 percentage points over five years.

The 15–29 years age group had the highest percentage of people living in damp dwellings in 2023, at 26.2%
(23.3–34.3). This represents a 3.6 percentage point decrease from 2018, when 29.8% (26.6–37.4) of people in this age group lived in damp dwellings. 

Nearly one in six New Zealanders lived in mouldy dwellings

In 2023, 16.5% (logical bound 15.2–23.3) of New Zealanders (693,894 people) lived in houses affected by
mould larger than a sheet of A4-paper, whether always or sometimes present. This represents a 3.1
percentage points drop from 2018, when 19.6% (18.3–25.3) of the population lived in similar conditions.
In 2023, 4.3% of the population (180,453 people) lived in houses where such mould was always present.

Children and young adults remain most exposed to mould in New Zealand homes in 2023

Children aged 0–14 years and young adults continue to experience higher rates of exposure to mould in
their homes.
In 2023, 21.1% (19.1–28.7) of children aged 0–14 years lived in dwellings where mould larger than a sheet
of A4-paper was always or sometimes present. This represents a decline of 4 percentage points from 25.1%
(21.1–31.1) in 2018.
Similarly, the percentage of young adults (aged 15–29 years) living in dwellings affected by mould dropped
by 3.2 percentage points, from 24.2% (21.0–31.0) in 2018 to 21.0% (18.9–28.6) in 2023.