Damp and Mould in Social Housing – Learning the Lessons

Social housing tenants deserve homes that are safe and of a decent standard. However, the tragic death of toddler Awaab Ishak demonstrates the very serious harm that can come from living with untreated damp and mould. In December 2022, all large social housing landlords were asked to set out the extent of damp and mould in the homes they manage and how they are tackling this issue.

In December 2022, all large social housing landlords were asked to set out the extent of damp and mould in the homes they manage and how they are tackling this issue.

According to the report, there are lessons to be learned about tackling damp and mould effectively. The report sets out the features of better and weaker responses to damp and mould issues. Boards, councillors, and management teams are encouraged to read the report carefully and ask themselves challenging questions about how they could make improvements to what they currently do.

As well as tackling damp and mould issues, it is vitally important that landlords look at how they manage the condition and quality of their tenants’ homes in the round. How landlords ensure the safety of their tenants against the full range of requirements will continue to be a key focus of regulations as new inspections are carried out from April 2024.

It is crucial that landlords deliver an effective response to complaints of damp and mould and wider issues of poor conditions of tenants’ homes. Landlords must ensure that they address issues of damp and mould appropriately and make improvements in how they handle damp and mould cases.

Read the full report here