Brent Council promises to tackle damp and mould within 15 days

The council said it would commit to carrying out repairs within five days of an inspection for issues in its social housing

Brent Council has agreed to take a “zero-tolerance approach” to damp and mould across its social housing as it looks to comply with the new regulations set out in Awaab’s Law. The measures include committing to respond to emergencies within 24 hours and carry out repairs within 5 days of an inspection.

The Cabinet approved the new policy at a recent meeting (July 27), which commits it to managing its housing stock in line with Awaab’s Law. The law was created following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2022 after developing a severe respiratory condition brought on by prolonged exposure to black mould spores in his home.

The council claims the policy shows that it has “responded really seriously” to the legislation and is “acting to raise standards” for its tenants. The local authority already has around 320 cases in the system that need to be addressed, as well as 34 new cases per week on average – a number that is likely to rise during the winter period.

The policy establishes “clear service standards and response times” that the council must adhere to for the roughly 12,000 homes it is a landlord to. These include responding to emergencies within 24 hours, inspections within 10 days, repair work within five days, and, where required, full remediation within 12 weeks.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters, Cllr Robert Johnson, said: “These standards provide residents with clear guidance and greater assurance and accountability, while helping us to identify and address issues before they escalate.

“The policy also recognises that inequalities can arise from poor housing conditions and commits the council to adopting a risk-based approach that targets support where it is needed, alongside robust monitoring and reporting performance that will help us continually improve outcomes for our tenants and leaseholders.”

The measures emphasise prevention, early intervention, effective communication with residents, and prioritising support for those who are most vulnerable. Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health, Cllr Liz Dixon, described damp and mould as not just property management concerns but “significant public health issues”.

Cllr Dixon added: “We know that they have concerns and have serious consequences for residents, particularly children, older people, pregnant women, disabled residents, and those with respiratory conditions. This policy […] adopts a zero-tolerance approach and makes clear that we will not unfairly attribute damp and mould to residents’ lifestyles.

“Alongside the compliance with the law, the policy supports our wider ambition to provide safe, decent, and sustainable homes, and reduce health inequalities. I’m really glad that the council has responded really seriously to this piece of legislation and is acting to raise standards for our tenants.”

The costs of delivering the policy will rest on the ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account (HRA), through which the council meets its landlord responsibilities. The local authority said the measures are “more than about compliance” but are also around building trust with residents, listening to concerns, and responding swiftly.

Council Leader, Cllr Muhammed Butt, said: “It’s not about apportioning blame to anyone. It’s just making sure that we’re taking our responsibility seriously and, where issues and concerns have been highlighted to us, that we’re responding in a timely manner.

“It’s about people being able to live good quality, decent lives in good quality accommodation and this is part and parcel of our commitment to help support residents in being able to live fruitful lives with their families as well.”

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