Landlords who fail to address damp and mould problems ahead of Awaab’s Law risk legal action, reputational damage, and significant fines, an air quality monitoring firm has warned.
Damp and mould represent a growing legal liability for landlords along with associated health concerns, according to ResiSure.
It explained that the cost of remediation ranges from £500 to £10,000 per property, while legal disrepair claims now average £5,000 per case.
From October, social landlords will be legally required to investigate damp and mould complaints within 14 days, provide written findings within 14 days, and start repairs within seven days.
Emergency hazards must be resolved within 24 hours, or tenants must be relocated.
Last month, the Government promised to extend Awaab’s Law to the PRS through the Renters’ Rights Bill and will consult on how to apply it to privately rented homes, “in a way that works for the sector and is fair and proportionate for tenants and landlords”.
ResiSure said landlords should explore options for dealing with damp and mould issues, such as by using a real-time monitoring solution which tracks humidity, temperature, and air quality to detect mould risks.
Data can then be used to resolve disputes before they escalate. It also recommends that landlords audit their existing properties and make tenants aware of the upcoming changes.
Matthew Whiting, of ResiSure, added: “For years, landlords have relied on tenant complaints or manual inspections - a slow, reactive process that leaves properties vulnerable.
“With Awaab’s Law setting strict timeframes for investigations and repairs, delays are no longer an option.”
Property lawyer David Smith believes that although private landlords would get longer than the seven days in which social landlords will have to resolve issues, he has warned that they can’t blame problems on damp and mould solely on tenant behaviour.
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