New protections for social housing tenants now in place

New rules to protect social housing residents from damp, mould and emergency hazards have been introduced.

Under the new law, landlords must investigate significant damp and mould within 10 working days of it being reported and make the properties safe in five working days.

Landlords must also fix emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of being notified.

In addition, they’ll have to share the findings to tenants in writing within three working days of inspection.   

If homes can’t be made safe within the required timeframes, alternative accommodation must be offered.

Landlords who don’t follow the rules could face court action, where they can be forced to pay compensation and legal costs, or issued with enforcement orders.

Honouring a little boy’s memory

The new law has been named Awaab’s Law, in memory of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died from a respiratory condition caused by mould in social housing.

“Everyone deserves a safe and decent home to live in and Awaab Ishak is a powerful reminder of how this can sadly be a matter of life or death,” said housing secretary Steve Reed.

“Awaab’s family has fought hard for change and their work to protect millions of tenants’ lives will live on as a legacy to their son.”

What are the risks of living in damp homes?

Damp and mould can lead to many health issues, including a higher risk of:

• respiratory problems and infections
• allergies
• asthma
• heart attacks, heart disease or strokes

What to do if you live in a cold, damp house

Although your landlord is responsible for looking after your home, there are still steps you can take to prevent mould and damp from appearing or stop it getting worse. 

Improve ventilation

Firstly, a proper airflow is key to preventing damp and mould. 

Open windows for at least 10-15 minutes every day, particularly after activities that produce moisture, such as showering and cooking.

If it’s too cold to leave the windows open, think about installing trickle vents or using an affordable window fan to keep air circulating.

Use a dehumidifier

A budget-friendly disposable dehumidifier can help you remove excess moisture from the air.

Think about where you dry clothes

If you can, hang your washing outside or use a vented tumble dryer.

Otherwise, place a dehumidifier near your drying rack, or place clothes near a sunny window.

Deal with small leaks 

Check for leaks around windows, doors or pipes, and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping. 

Wipe condensation on windows

If you have condensation on your windows, wipe surfaces daily and think about using insulating film on glass to reduce temperature differences that cause condensation.

Clean and treat mould early

If mould has already appeared, deal with it early before it spreads.

One cheap way to tackle it is with a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts water, or use a mould remover from a shop. 

Meanwhile, wipe down walls and surfaces that are prone to dampness regularly and repaint affected areas with anti-mould paint.

Tell your landlord

Finally, make sure your landlord knows about the problem, and if you have a serious issue with damp and mould, make sure you’re taking photos and videos to back up your case.