This week there have been a number of updates to damp and mould legislation and guidance that directly impact landlords across the PRS and social housing sectors, including new guidelines from the Property Ombudsman and the extension of Awaab’s Law to private rental properties. With 29% of UK properties having some form of damp or mould problem, the issue has long been at the forefront of property management challenges, and here at Resisure we welcome these changes to improve the quality of housing across the UK. Here’s what you may have missed…
New Property Ombudsman Guidance
The Property Ombudsman has recently issued new guidelines aimed at helping agents, landlords, and tenants identify, report, and prevent damp and mould across their rental accommodation.
The Ombudsman also conducted two surveys, which yielded some alarming results that emphasise the need for better awareness and action:
- 83% of letting agents identified condensation caused by tenant activities (such as improper ventilation during cooking or drying laundry indoors) as the top cause of damp and mould issues.
- 23% of agents indicated that landlords aren’t taking the issue seriously enough. This sentiment is underscored by the fact that 81% of unresolved issues were found in properties managed directly by landlords.
As a result of the survey’s findings, the Ombudsman released updated guidelines for tackling damp and mould across rental properties, which you can read here. The new guidelines provide valuable advice for landlords and their tenants, encouraging a two-pronged approach from both owners and occupiers to ensure that damp and mould remain at bay, especially as the UK heads into winter.
Awaab’s Law: Extending Protection to the Private Rented Sector
This week also saw some important updates to extending Awaab’s Law to more tenancies across the UK. Awaab’s Law, a piece of damp and mould legislation passed after the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak due to prolonged exposure to mould, was initially introduced to protect tenants in social housing. However, in a major update, this legislation is now being extended to include private landlords as well, a move confirmed by Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner at the Labour Party Conference.
Rayner, speaking at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, explained:
“I will clamp down on damp and mouldy homes by bringing in Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector this autumn and we’ll extend it to the private rented sector too. We will consult and implement a new Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes, to end the scandal of homes being unfit to live in.”
The introduction of Awaab’s Law to PRS tenancies has been long awaited by those in the property industry, with its proponents stating that the issue of damp and mould is not exclusively felt in social housing, but across all tenancies – something the Property Ombudsman’s research validates.
For PRS landlords that may be familiar with Awaab’s Law, the premise of the legislation is simple – it is a piece of damp and mould legislation that states swift, decisive action must be taken to stop damp and mould from impacting tenants’ lives and causing disasters such as the death of Awaab Ishak. Under Awaab’s Law, landlords are required to:
- Swiftly address reported damp and mould issues, identifying the root causes and implementing lasting solutions.
- Proactively prevent damp and mould through regular inspections and maintenance.
- Offer alternative accommodation if the hazards cannot be addressed quickly enough.
In addition, the government is working on a new Decent Homes Standard for both social and privately rented homes, which will include requirements for properties to be free from serious hazards, including damp, mould, excess cold, fire, and electrical risks. These updates signify a shift in responsibility for landlords, who must now take a much more proactive approach to ensure the health and safety of their tenants.
The Importance of a Proactive Approach
These changes in damp and mould legislation highlight the growing emphasis on preventing damp and mould before they become serious health hazards. A reactive approach—waiting for tenants to report problems and then fixing them—is no longer enough. Instead, landlords need to adopt preventative measures to ensure that their properties remain safe, comfortable, and compliant with the latest regulations.
At Resisure, we provide landlords, social housing providers, and property managers with the tools they need to stay ahead of these issues. Our property maintenance technology is installed in tenants’ homes and monitors critical environmental factors like mould, humidity, and temperature. This data feeds into a central database, allowing property owners to track trends and identify potential issues before they escalate into major problems.
By using Resisure’s technology, landlords can:
- Track key metrics in real time to prevent property damage and health risks.
- Receive alerts when conditions become unfavourable, allowing for timely intervention.
- Avoid costly repairs and tenant dissatisfaction by taking a preventative approach.
With tools like the Resisure Mould Index, you can keep your properties compliant with the latest regulations while safeguarding the well-being of your tenants.
Stay Ahead of Damp and Mould Legislation with Resisure
At Resisure, we empower landlords with technology that tracks key environmental data, helping you stay compliant and avoid costly property damage. Get in touch with us today to learn how our solutions can help you manage damp and mould more effectively, keeping your properties safe, healthy, and tenant-approved.