An estimated 12.2m people live in the UK private rented sector. Between 6% and 13% of properties are affected by damp. Excessive damp and mould poses a serious and immediate risk.

The English Housing Survey showed that 9% were reported to have a problem with damp in 2022.This indicates that more than 414,000 households were affected. 

In 2023 the Building Research Establishment (BRE) group calculated that one dwelling with a category 1 HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System) damp problem causes a cost of £9,500 to the NHS and society per annum.10 The BRE’s research shows the financial cost to taxpayers of health issues impacting tenants in homes with mould and damp issues. If this cost applied to the 700,000 households across the UK's private rented sectors living with damp and mould, this would equate to a cost of £6.65 bn to the NHS and society

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act (“Awaab’s Law”) will set out timescales for social housing landlords to investigate and resolve damp and mould issues. While there are not yet the same requirements for properties in the PRS, the Government has committed to extending this obligation to the private rented sector. It is likely once Awaab’s Law is implemented in the private sector, landlords and letting agents will be required to address hazards set out by the HHSRS within strict timeframes. Under the previous 11 Government, the suggested timescales were to:

1) require social landlords to investigate the causes of damp and mould within 14 days of complaints being made and provide residents with a report on the findings
2) give social landlords 7 days to begin work to repair a property if a medical professional decides there is a risk to a residents’ health

While the Government has not yet finalised the timescales or the timeframe to extend Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector, we would encourage all property professionals to prepare ahead to ensure they are able to effectively and efficiently address mould and damp issues when they arise. Current official guidance spans both the social and private rented sector. It includes robust advice on how mould and damp issues should be communicated, identified and rectified.

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