A property care expert has urged landlords to act now - as the clock ticks down towards a major law change.

“Awaab’s Law” places a legal duty on social landlords to investigate and fix damp and mould hazards within strict timescales.

It kicks in from October 27, the date at which all emergency hazards must be investigated immediately and fixed within 24 hours.

Broader obligations are also set to be imposed in following years, including fixing hazards relating to excess cold and excess heat.

George Edwards of Timberwise, one of the UK’s leading experts on this issue, warned that landlords could potentially face legal action from their tenants if they fail to act.
He said: “The task is huge, as one in ten social rented homes is estimated to fall below the official definition of a decent home.

“The crucial concern for property owners is that they can no longer rely on tenants to flag issues after they’ve already become dangerous.

“The law will require them to move to proactive prevention of potential issues with regular inspections and early hazard detection - they can no longer rely on tenants to report issues that have become dangerous.”

Awaab’s Law was introduced in the wake of Awaab Ishak’s death.

The two-year-old boy died in December 2020 from a severe respiratory illness which a coroner ruled was caused by prolonged exposure to black mould in his home caused by condensation.

Despite the shocking nature of the case it is highly unlikely to be an isolated incident.

A recent survey found that 60% of UK residents have experienced mould at some point and it is an ongoing issue for 31%.

Health concerns were reported by 22% of those affected and 37% said mould prompted them to leave their home.

The latest official figures indicate that 428,000 social rented properties in England, more than 10% of the total, fall below the definition of a decent home.

Mr Edwards said private landlords will need to follow the example of local authorities. He continued: “Many are now announcing new damp and mould policies within their housing repair services, as these are issues that can no longer be wilfully ignored.
“Social housing organisations and private landlords need to act now if they are to avoid falling foul of this new law and potentially face action and compensation claims from tenants.”

“The best way to stop condensation from being created is by being mindful of your behaviour in the property, but when it becomes unavoidable, the best condensation control is always ventilation,” said Mr Edwards.

“If you think you have a property that could be an issue, it would be worth contacting experts who can advise you on the best methods to remedy any issues and prevent them re-occurring.”

Here Mr Edwards outlines some of the common problem areas to consider when inspecting a property for issues:
Poor Pointing on brickwork - can lead to penetrating damp setting into exterior facing walls.
Bad or Blocked vents - poor ventilation can lead to the onset of condensation based damp.
Improperly Installed Roofing - a small leak in a roof can expose timber to the potential of dry and wet rot.
Poor Insulation - check loft spaces, as it can lead to condensation within cavity walls below the boards.
Bad Guttering - this could lead to penetrating damp, ruining your brickwork and interior features like wallpaper and plasterboard.

For more information and free advice, visit www.timberwise.co.uk.