Council to spend millions of pounds to fix damp and mould ahead of Awaab’s Law

Newark and Sherwood District Council plan to spend more than £250,000 to tackle damp and mould in its properties ahead of Awaab’s law.

The law is set to come into effect for social housing landlords in October this year and will force social housing landlords to fix damp and mould with strict timeframes.

According to Nottinghamshire Live, Newark and Sherwood District Council has seen a 500% increase in reports of damp and mould in its council homes.

Reports of damp and mould continue to increase

Newark and Sherwood District Council told Property118 the money would be spent on creating a new team to tackle damp and mould including additional damp and disrepair surveyors and customer service advisors.

Councillor Lee Brazier, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Newark and Sherwood District Council, told Property118: “We take the safety of tenants very seriously and, following a number of tragedies in social housing across the country, the government has intensified the scrutiny on social landlords.

“Awaab’s Law will be phased in from October 2025, introducing strict response times for social landlords, including us,  to address potential hazards in our homes.

“We already respond to reports of damp and mould and have seen an increase in the number of repairs being reported, which could be for a number of reasons.

“To ensure we are able to respond to the specific requirements of Awaab’s Law which comes into force from October 2025, we’re investing approximately £250,000 in creating a new team that will focus on this area. The team includes an additional Damp and Disrepair Surveyor, Trade Operatives, an additional painter and Customer Service Advisor and a Supervisor.”

Providing additional training for our staff

According to Nottinghamshire Live, between April 1 and December 4 last year, a total of 811 repairs were carried out in response to damp, mould, and related issues, while 795 inspections concerning damp and mould were also recorded during that period.

Mr Brazier adds they are training staff to help tenants manage and prevent damp and mould: “Once established, this team will be specialists in damp and mould, targeting these work areas specifically.

With this additional resource, we can respond to the new timescales whilst not taking away hope tenants will notice an improved service and reduced timescales for repairs.

“We are also providing additional training for our staff and information for tenants to ensure they are more aware of managing damp and mould and can identify it quickly. Early identification makes removal easier and reduces risks to tenants’ health.”

Cover the cost of alternative accommodation

Under Awaab’s law, if a social housing landlord becomes aware of a potential hazard in a social home, they must investigate within 10 working days to determine whether a hazard exists.

The new rules will also require social housing landlords to cover the cost of alternative accommodation for tenants if the property cannot be made safe within a specific timeframe.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner also confirmed that tenants will be able to challenge social landlords on failures to meet these new obligations.

She said: “If the property cannot be made safe within the specified timescales for Awaab’s law, then the social landlord must offer to arrange for the residents to stay in suitable alternative accommodation, at the social landlord’s expense, until required repairs are completed.

“Under Awaab’s law, where landlords do not meet their obligations by failing to comply with the new strict timelines for remedying hazards, tenants will be able to challenge them.

“They can seek to have poor housing conditions put right through their landlord’s complaints process, the Housing Ombudsman, and through the courts by bringing a housing disrepair claim.”