Rotherham Council Spends Over £1.4 Million on Social Housing Damp and Mould Repairs

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council allocated more than £1.4 million to address damp, mould, and general disrepair in its social housing properties over the past year. Data acquired through freedom of information requests by Legal Expert, a firm of solicitors, revealed that the council received over 100 complaints from social housing tenants regarding damp and mould in the year concluding in October. James Clark, the council’s assistant director for housing, stated that the authority plans to invest an additional £2.5 million in damp proofing and ventilation fans during the upcoming year. He affirmed, “We have a pro-active, zero-tolerance approach regarding damp and mould.” Clark also noted, “Like all landlords, Rotherham Council has seen an increase in the number of reports received about damp and mould.” He elaborated, “All reports received are taken seriously and an inspection is carried out. Any remedial works are then ordered, including removal of any mould, installation of any preventative measures, such as extractor fans, and redecoration if required.” According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council’s expenditure included £412,021 on damp-related works, £972,426 on mould remediation, and £59,657 on disrepair works. The Housing Ombudsman, an independent service that resolves disputes between landlords and residents, has highlighted the challenges landlords face in resolving these issues within reasonable timeframes. A spokesman for the Ombudsman indicated that many landlords are struggling to address problems swiftly, which has contributed to a surge in complaints about damp and mould. “This is a topic that now dominates half of our casework,” he stated, adding that the issue is gaining increased attention due to new legislation. Awaab’s Law was enacted in July 2023, following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died from exposure to damp and mould in his Rochdale home. This law mandates that landlords must rectify health hazards like mould within a strict time frame. Currently, the law applies exclusively to social housing, but there are plans to extend its provisions to the private sector.