Guide
How to Write a Mould Remediation Method Statement
A method statement tells everyone on site exactly how the remediation work will be carried out: step by step, safely, and to a professional standard. Here's what yours should include.
23 February 2026
If you work in mould remediation, you'll be familiar with the request: “Can you send over your method statement?” It's one of the first things housing associations, property managers, and insurance loss adjusters ask for. And rightly so: a method statement is the document that describes exactly how you plan to carry out the work, what equipment you'll use, and how you'll protect everyone involved.
While a risk assessment identifies what could go wrong, a method statement explains how you'll do the job safely and effectively. Together, they form the RAMS documentation that professional clients expect before any remediation begins.
What Is a Method Statement?
A method statement, sometimes called a safe system of work or a work procedure, is a step-by-step description of how a task will be completed safely. In mould remediation, it covers everything from initial site setup through to final verification and handover.
Unlike a risk assessment, which focuses on hazards and control measures, a method statement is procedural. It answers the question: “In what order do you do the work, and how do you do each step?”
Why it matters
Under CDM Regulations 2015, principal contractors must ensure that suitable method statements are in place for high-risk activities. Mould remediation involving biocides, confined spaces, or vulnerable occupants typically qualifies. Even outside CDM scope, housing associations and local authorities routinely require method statements as part of contractor approval.
Key Sections Every Method Statement Should Include
1. Project Information
Set the context for the work
Start with the basics: property address, client name, date of works, contract or job reference number, and the name and contact details of the site supervisor. This seems obvious, but a surprising number of method statements are submitted without clear project identification.
If the property is occupied, note this here. Occupied properties require additional precautions around containment, communication with residents, and access scheduling that should be reflected throughout the document.
2. Scope of Works
Define what the work involves
Describe precisely what remediation work will be carried out. This should be specific to the site, not a generic paragraph that could apply to any property. Include which rooms or areas are affected, the approximate extent of mould contamination, the type of surfaces involved (plaster, timber, soft furnishings, etc.), and the remediation approach for each.
If the scope includes any work beyond removing the mould itself, such as removing damaged plasterboard, treating timber, or clearing contaminated soft furnishings, state this clearly. Scope creep is a common source of disputes, and a well-defined method statement protects both contractor and client.
3. Equipment and Materials
List everything you'll need on site
A complete equipment list demonstrates preparation and professionalism. Include:
- PPE required for each phase of work (RPE type, gloves, coveralls, eye protection)
- Containment materials (polythene sheeting, tape, zip doors)
- Air filtration devices (AFDs): specify type and HEPA rating
- Biocides and treatment products, including brand names and dilution ratios
- Cleaning tools (HEPA vacuum, microfibre cloths, scrapers)
- Waste disposal bags and labels
Being specific matters. “HEPA vacuum” is better than “vacuum cleaner.” “FFP3 half-mask respirator” is better than “face mask.” Precision shows the client you know what the job requires.
4. Step-by-Step Work Procedure
The core of your method statement
This is the most important section. Describe every phase of the remediation in sequence. A typical mould remediation method statement should cover these stages:
Stage 1: Site Preparation
Remove or protect contents and furnishings. Isolate the work area with polythene containment. Set up negative air pressure using HEPA-filtered AFDs. Post warning signage. Brief occupants (if property is occupied) on restricted access areas.
Stage 2: Source Moisture Assessment
Before removing any mould, confirm the moisture source has been identified and, ideally, resolved. Document current moisture readings. Remediation without addressing the source will lead to recurrence.
Stage 3: Removing the Mould
Detail the removal technique for each surface type. HEPA vacuum affected surfaces first to reduce spore release. Apply biocide according to manufacturer instructions. Allow appropriate dwell time. For porous materials that cannot be cleaned (plasterboard, insulation), describe the removal and disposal process.
Stage 4: Treatment and Drying
Apply antifungal treatment to cleaned surfaces. Detail the drying protocol, including dehumidifier placement and target relative humidity levels. Specify monitoring frequency and duration.
Stage 5: Verification and Clearance
Describe how you'll confirm the remediation was successful: visual inspection, moisture readings, and (where specified) post-remediation air sampling. Detail the clearance criteria the site must meet before containment is removed.
Stage 6: Handover
Remove containment, clean the area, and dispose of waste. Provide the client with completion documentation, post-remediation photographs, moisture readings, and any recommendations for preventing recurrence.
5. Health and Safety Considerations
Cross-reference your risk assessment
Your method statement should reference the accompanying risk assessment but also include key safety information directly. This ensures anyone reading the method statement alone can understand the safety requirements:
- PPE requirements for each stage (not just “PPE required”: state exactly what)
- COSHH data for all biocides and chemicals used
- Emergency procedures (first aid, spill response, evacuation route)
- Waste classification and disposal procedures
- Welfare facilities (rest area, washing facilities, clean changing area)
6. Sign-Off and Approval
Document who's responsible
Include signature blocks for the person who prepared the method statement, the site supervisor, and (where required) the client's representative. Date the document and include a version number. Method statements should be living documents: if site conditions change, the method statement should be updated and re-signed before work continues.
Common Mistakes in Mould Remediation Method Statements
- Generic templates used without adaptation: A method statement that reads identically for every job isn't a method statement, it's a liability. Every site has different conditions, access constraints, contamination levels, and occupancy situations. Your method statement must reflect the specific project.
- Vague procedural steps: “Clean affected areas” tells nobody anything useful. What cleaning method? What product? What concentration? How long? Specificity is what separates a professional document from a tick-box exercise.
- No mention of containment: Mould remediation without containment risks cross-contamination to unaffected areas. If your method statement doesn't describe containment setup, it has a fundamental gap.
- Missing verification stage: How do you know the remediation worked? A method statement that stops at “apply biocide and leave to dry” is incomplete. Include your clearance criteria and verification process.
- No consideration of occupants: If the property is occupied during remediation, your method statement should address resident communication, temporary relocation (if needed), containment between occupied and work areas, and access restrictions.
Method Statement vs. Risk Assessment: Know the Difference
These two documents work together but serve different purposes. Understanding the distinction helps you write better versions of both.
Risk Assessment
- Identifies hazards
- Evaluates who is at risk
- Determines likelihood and severity
- Specifies control measures
- Focuses on what could go wrong
Method Statement
- Describes the work procedure
- Lists equipment and materials
- Provides step-by-step instructions
- Assigns responsibilities
- Focuses on how the work gets done
In practice, clients expect both documents together as your RAMS pack. Some contractors combine them into a single document; others keep them separate. Either approach works, as long as both elements are thorough and site-specific.
Making Your Method Statements Stand Out
In a competitive market, the quality of your documentation reflects the quality of your work. When a housing association receives three quotes for mould remediation, the contractor with a clear, site-specific method statement has an immediate advantage over those submitting generic paperwork.
Good method statements also protect you. If a dispute arises about the scope of work, the quality of remediation, or a health and safety incident, your method statement is key evidence of what was planned and agreed. A vague or generic document won't help you in that situation.
With Awaab's Law now in effect and housing providers under increasing scrutiny, the demand for professional, well-documented mould remediation is only growing. Contractors who can demonstrate competence through their documentation, not just their on-site work, will be the ones winning and retaining these contracts.