Almost 85% of tenants suffering from damp and mould in their homes have not had a positive experience with their landlord, with the majority turning to social media to try to fix the problem.
A report by home safety experts Aico claims that many households end up spending money on sprays, paints, or DIY fixes that don’t solve the problem.
Fewer than half of renters surveyed turned to their landlord for advice after discovering damp and mould with most using social media or internet searches and over 40% asking friends or family members.
Awaab’s Law, which comes into effect for the social housing sector on October 27, requires landlords to fix reported health hazards like damp and mould within strict legal timeframes. The law, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died from prolonged exposure to mould in his home, aims to ensure tenants can hold landlords accountable through the courts if their homes remain unsafe.
The author of the Aico report, Sam Collier, says: “We know damp and mould is a major issue for millions of people up and down the country, and our research shows that people are willing to work with their landlords to resolve these problems, but many are afraid to report them in the first place because they simply don’t know where they stand.
“… We’ve been encouraged by the positive engagement we’ve had from landlords who are serious about tackling damp and mould. Many are already working closely with residents, putting measures in place to address issues proactively and ensure homes are safe, healthy environments.
“Over the past year we’ve also supported landlords in preparing for the introduction of Awaab’s Law, helping them strengthen processes, adopt new technology, and build the frameworks needed to meet the requirements. We recently launched the HomeLINK Case Management system, a tool that helps landlords track and manage cases, analyse data, record actions and communicate with residents.
“It’s reassuring to see a real commitment across the sector to drive up standards and protect residents. But what this report shows is that much more still needs to be done to tackle the issue affecting millions of households across the UK.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today