Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to address the failures in remedial work to combat mould in rented properties, in the context of the associated health risks.

The government is committed to ensuring that rented homes are safe, decent, warm, and free from damp and mould.

The Deputy Prime Minister made a Written Ministerial Statement on 6 February (HCWS423) confirming that the government will bring Awaab’s Law into force for damp and mould in social housing in October this year. The Renters’ Rights Bill, which is currently progressing through the House of Lords, will apply Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector.

Social housing tenants who have already reported a problem to their landlord about damp and mould and who are dissatisfied with the response can make a complaint to the Housing Ombudsman. Through the Renters’ Rights Bill, we are introducing a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman Service which will be mandatory for nearly all private landlords to join.

In addition, all tenants who think their house or flat is in a seriously dangerous condition can take their landlords to court under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.