Damp and Mould – What is lurking in the corner?

Damp and mould continue to be pressing issues across the UK’s private and public housing sector, and the potential impact on residents’ health and well-being is well documented.

A survey by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in 2023 indicates that approximately 160,000 social homes in England are affected by notable damp and mould, with 8,000 posing serious health risks. This follows the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020, which led to the introduction of “Awaab’s Law” in 2023 for social housing, mandating that landlords address serious hazards like damp and mould within specified timeframes.

Awaab’s Law came into effect on 27 October this year, addressing damp and mould in social housing, and this has now been extended to the private rental sector following the Renters’ Rights Act of 2025, which will come into force in 1 May 2026.

Once enacted, the Renters’ Rights Act – bringing the biggest changes to tenancy laws in a generation – will provide private renters with stronger legal protections and clearer avenues to ensure their homes are safe and well-maintained.

Landlords must prepare for these changes.

This extension of Awaab’s Law into the private rental sector is part of a broader effort to improve housing conditions and tenant rights.

While the regulations are yet to be fully set out, we already know that private landlords will be legally required to investigate and begin repairs on issues such as damp and mould within set periods, likely to be 14 days for the initial investigation and 7 days to commence work, with emergency repairs mandated within 24 hours. Penalties and fines will apply for non-compliance, and tenants will have the right to take legal action against landlords who fail to comply, with complaints now able to be escalated to the new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman.

What do landlords need to think about?

• Responding promptly to tenant complaints or reports of damp or mould will be paramount to ensuring compliance with the new regulations.
• Ensure experienced, qualified surveyors are appointed to respond to complaints or reports of damp or mould; the surveyor will conduct a comprehensive survey and recommend an action plan. From this, they will develop a clear scope, and select the right specialist contractor to deliver any remedial works, managing the process from end-to-end while keeping clear channels of communication between all parties and minimising disruption wherever possible.
• Landlords must stay on top of the management and maintenance of their assets to minimise the potential for hazards, such as damp and mould, to develop
• Where appropriate, regular roof surveys will be instrumental in identifying areas where water damage may become an issue in future
• Conduct regular (every 3 – 5 years) Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) plans, also known as CapEx plans, to forecast maintenance costs and allocate adequate budget. This enables landlords to proactively manage their properties and financial resources.

At SRVO, our team of professional surveyors are vastly experienced in planning and executing damp and mould remedial projects following detailed surveys. From setting a clear brief to allocating realistic budgets, we focus on risk mitigation, optimising delivery programmes and minimising disruption to ensure our clients are fully compliant.

If you’re preparing for or requesting a damp and mould survey and you’re a social or private landlord, please get in touch. We can provide clear evidence of our findings, cause analysis, along with an action plan of recommendations and next steps including any further specialist surveys needed and full resident communications.

Contact Andrew.Latham@srvoproperty.com for more information