More than 3,000 council homes in Perth and Kinross have suffered from damp in little over five years.
The scale of the problem is “a matter of considerable concern”, MSP Liz Smith told The Courier.
Figures obtained through the Freedom of Information (FOI) rules revealed the rising number of work orders for damp council homes each year since 2009/10.
Ms Smith described the situation as “a worry”.
She went on: “No one should be living in sub-standard accommodation which is suffering from damp and condensation. Dampness and mould can have a serious impact on people’s health and medical conditions and it is unacceptable that people are living in such environments.
“It is vital that Perth and Kinross Council undertake a regular inspection programme and respond to concerns and complaints from tenants at the earliest opportunity,” she added.
In response, a spokesman said the local authority has been introducing a “range of measures” to reduce the risk of dampness and condensation.
“The council owns and manages over 7,400 properties and each year a small percentage of our tenants contact us to report dampness and condensation within their homes,” she said.
“When we receive reports from tenants of dampness, we investigate these and the vast majority are due to condensation as a result of some tenants who don’t properly ventilate their homes, such as when drying clothes and cooking.
“Some tenants also fail to use their heating system and we have cases of poor use of ventilation equipment.”
She said the council works closely with tenants, providing face-to-face advice and practical assistance.
“In addition, our tenants’ guide also provides tenants with practical advice on how to prevent and resolve condensation problems,” she went on.
“If we do find that homes have an issue with penetrating or rising damp, we arrange for specialist work to be undertaken, such as chemical damp treatment and anti-fungal treatment.
“We would encourage any tenant experiencing issues or seeking advice on this matter to contact us and we will provide whatever support and assistance is required.”