Letting agents under told to reduce mould and damp in rented homes
Updated guidance jointly from three Government departments makes it clear Ministers want private rented sector to up its game.
Letting agents and property managers face more scrutiny over damp and mould in rented properties including ;potential unlimited fines, updated guidance from the Government has highlighted.
Ministers have issued the detailed advice which makes it clear that landlords and their agents are to be watched more carefully when managing properties, including facing unlimited fines for those who flout the various laws governing damp and mould.
This guidance follows the case of toddler Awaab Ishak whose death from complications created by damp and mould in his council home brought the issue to the Government’s attention.
Housing secretary Michael Gove says that landlords and agents must not blame tenants for damp and mould, saying: “Damp and mould in the home are not the result of ‘lifestyle choices’, and it is the responsibility of landlords to identify and address the underlying causes of the problem, such as structural issues or inadequate ventilation”.
health
The guidance highlights how damp and mould can affect a tenant’s mental and physical health and urges landlords and agents to study the various laws they and their properties must conform to, and how and when to respond to tenants’ complaints.
The guidance also heralds two of the Renters (Reform) Bill’s main components which will be used to regulated the PRS including the management of mould and damp in properties.
These are the Housing Ombudsman which will deal with tenant complaints where the landlord hasn’t acted, and the Property Portal, where a landlord’s compliance with the Decent Homes Standards, along with other regulations, will be recorded.
No longer acceptable
“It is no longer acceptable to blame issues on the way tenants live and normal life such as cooking, washing and drying of laundry have to continue,” says Sean Hooker, Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme.
“Instead, landlords and their agents must be sensitive to the needs of tenants and work with them to understand and change behaviour where appropriate.
“They should also thoroughly investigate the underlying causes behind the problems and follow up to ensure things have improved.
“We at the PRS will be using this guide to hold agents to account and urge the Government to introduce redress for landlord managed properties as soon as possible to proceed a holistic approach across every rented home.”
