Damp and Mould in Social Housing

Hina Bokhari AM moved, and Caroline Russell AM seconded the following Motion:

“This Assembly expresses its deepest condolences to the loved ones of Awaab Ishak of Rochdale, whose untimely death from exposure to mould in a housing association flat prompted the Regulator of Social Housing to investigate damp and mould in social housing.
 
This Assembly notes the report, “Damp and mould in social housing: Initial findings,” issued by the Regulator of Social Housing on 2 February 2023 [3].
 
This Assembly notes the Regulator’s finding that as many as 6% of social housing homes in England have more or less serious levels of damp and mould, the worst of which would fail the Decent Homes Standard.
 
This Assembly agrees with the Regulator that, despite relatively low percentages, with over 4 million relevant homes in England, these percentages equate to around 240,000 homes in total, meaning far too many tenants live in unacceptable conditions.
 
This Assembly believes that, while advice on ventilation and other matters may be helpful, the Housing Ombudsman was right to warn in his report, “Spotlight on Damp and Mould,” October 2021 [4], against the prevalent belief among landlords that “lifestyle” is a prime cause of damp and mould.
 
This Assembly welcomes New Clauses 10A and 10B, added in February 2023 by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, to the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill 2022-233 [5], which will create obligations on landlords to tackle prescribed hazards such as damp and mould within a specified timescale.
 
This Assembly believes that the Mayor’s response to the Environment Committee’s report, “Keeping Out the Chill,” February 2019 [6], has not resolved problems in London.
 
This Assembly calls on the Mayor:

• To adopt the Housing Ombudsman’s recommendation of a zero-tolerance approach to damp and mould;
• To work with the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman to develop a Gold Standard on Damp and Mould for London’s social housing, bearing in mind the preventive measures identified in paragraphs 1.15 to 1.25 of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System Operating Guidance issued under the Housing Act 2004 [7], and the need for proper ventilation in new and retrofitted housing, as recommended by the Keeping Out the Chill report in 2019 [8];  
• To adopt such a Mayoral Gold Standard on Damp and Mould;
• To apply incentives as well as sanctions in order to promote it; and
• To make representations to Government as to the timescales that should be specified for the remedy of damp and mould in regulations made under clause 10A(3) of the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill 2022-23.”

Following debate and upon being put to a vote, the Motion was agreed unanimously.