Following the tragic death of two year old Awaab Ishak, whose respiratory condition was exacerbated by damp and mould in his social housing flat, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) took formal action against registered social housing providers.
In response, the RSH issued letters reminding providers:
The largest social housing providers were required to submit detailed information to the RSH by 19 December, including:
All submissions had to be supported by robust and relevant data, reinforcing, the Regulator’s focus on accountability.
In October 2022, the House of Commons Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee published its First Report of Session 2022-23. The Regulation of Social Housing.
The Committee received 628 responses from tenants, covering issues such as:
Members also visited housing association sites and spoke directly with tenants.
The Committee’s findings were stark. Evidence suggessted that some social housing had deteriorated to the point of being unfit for human habitation.
Conditions were described as:
“Horrendous”, “appalling”, “disgraceful”, and “criminal”.
Damp and mould featured heavily in the evidence. One case involved a mother and her two children living in a flat so affected by black mould that mushrooms were growing from the walls. All three developed breathing problems, yet the landlord failed to act for over two years.
In response, the Regulator of Social Housing acknowledged that such cases were “wholly unacceptable”, while maintaining they did not reflect the experience of most tenants.
The Regulator also agreed that stigma and discrimination concerns must be taken seriously and announced plans to consult on new consumer standards. These may include:
The Housing Ombudsman supported recommendations to increase tenant awareness of complaint rights and access to redress.
While regulatory reform is progressing, change is often slow. Although the government has recently named and shamed several failing landlords, many tenants continue to live in unsafe homes.
The Social Housing (Regulation) Bill is expected to introduce:
If you are living in a property affected by damp, mould, or other disrepair, you do not need to wait for regulatory change to protect your rights.
NJS Law is one of the few housing disrepair solicitors operating across England and Wales with a dedicated legal team focused on tenant claims.
We can help you by:
We act for tenants nationwide on a No Win No Fee basis, ensuring you can pursue your claim without financial risk.
Our experienced and compassionate team will support you at every stage of your Housing Disrepair Claim.
Call NJS Law on 0800 093 3393 today to discuss your case.
For fast, friendly affordable legal advice. Contact a member of our team today.
