New Campaign Demands Extension of 'Awaab's Law' to Protect All Renters

Housing Disrepair Experts campaign for 'Awaab's law'

Housing disrepair experts are campaigning for tenants' rights, advocating for a new law to be extended to cover all rented homes.

Damp and mould in homes can lead to respiratory problems, allergies, asthma, and have a negative impact on mental health. Last year, a two-year-old boy died due to mould in his home, prompting the government to introduce new legislation, known as "Awaab's law", to require councils and housing associations to fix reported health hazards, including damp and mould, within strict new time limits.

However, while councils are proactively dealing with damp and mould, they argue that all tenants deserve a decent home, including those in private rented accommodation. A recent English Housing Survey revealed that private rented homes were nearly three times more likely to have damp problems than social housing, with 2.7 million households experiencing damp, mould, or excessive cold.

"We place great importance on addressing the issue of damp and mould in rental homes. While we welcome the introduction of Awaab's law, we believe that everyone deserves a safe and decent place to live. Therefore, we urge the government to extend this law to cover all rental properties, not just social housing. " - Lilly Wood

Additionally, we would like to see all tenants receive better protection under the HHSRS guidelines, where damp and mould should be classified as category 1 hazards. This would provide a more accurate understanding of the extent of the problem in England. It's been almost four and a half years since the promised review of HHSRS, and we believe it's high time for the government meet this commitment." - Lilly Wood

The housing, health, and safety rating system (HHSRS) assesses hazards based on the likelihood and severity of harm they could cause, with damp and mould typically categorised as a less serious risk. As a result, councils must use other HHSRS hazards to address damp and mould in private rented homes, leading to underreporting of cases to central government. The council is calling for the HHSRS to be urgently reviewed, to place greater emphasis on the risk posed by damp and mould and to address issues not covered in current guidance.

Excess moisture, inadequate ventilation, and a cold home cause condensation, leading to mould in the home. The HHSRS currently does not provide adequate guidance on the affordability of heating, other complex causes like overcrowding, or the effect of damp and mould on people’s wellbeing.