By Nathan Flanders, Break the Mould Policy Lead
Almost 50% of tenants having problems with damp in their house, and the UK government is finally taking action against it.
On February 6, the government announced that from October 2025 landlords of social properties will be forced to repair all emergency problems within 24 hours, and instances of damp and mould ‘in set time periods,' with intent to extend measures to ‘excess cold and excess heat; falls; structural collapse; fire, electrical and explosions; and hygiene hazards’ over the next couple of years. This is part of the next stage of Awaab’s Law, named after two year-old Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 due to mould exposure in his rented home.
Ishak’s death is a particularly severe consequence of unchecked mould in homes, but there are many other negative effects of living in a mouldy house, such as respiratory problems and worsening allergies and mental health - you can learn more about how to treat and prevent mould, as well as its effects on the body, here.
As well as harming the tenant, mouldy properties cost the NHS an estimated £1.4 billion, so creating drier homes could save the government money in the long term.
While the new regulations are a step in the right direction, there has been pushback to the speed of their rollout. Housing charity Shelter criticised delays to the law’s introduction.
‘Social housing tenants will have to wait years longer for this vital protection,' said Shelter CEO, Polly Neate. ' These delays to implementation represent a real risk to the health and safety of tenants, and puts lives at risk.’
Those renting from the private sector will have to wait even longer, with plans to apply Awaab’s Law coming in future as part of the Renters’ Rights Bill. This includes a majority of the 75% of University of Bristol students who have problems with damp.
If you are a student, and you want to see action sooner, sign the petition to support Epigram’s 'Break the Mould' campaign and hold bad landlords to account. If your house or flat has problems with mould, check out our dedicated Break the Mould page on the Epigram website for advice from fellow students on how best to fix it yourself.
Have you ever had mould in your house? Tell us your story at epigram.editor@gmail.com.
