£15.4 billion a Year is Spent Treating Illnesses Associated with Damp Housing

With 6.5 million households in England affected by damp and mould, the NHS spends £1.4 billion on treating associated illnesses, whilst ongoing healthcare raises the figure to £15.4 billion. 

Social housing tenants must understand their rights when it comes to tackling the health crisis surrounding damp and mould effectively. With such a monumental cost to the health and healthcare system, less than half of renters surveyed by Shropshire-based home safety experts Aico turned to their landlord when they discovered damp and mould within their homes due to uncertainty around their legal rights. 

Damp and mould can have serious ongoing effects as in some cases they can produce allergens, irritants, mould spores and toxins that are harmful to health. Health conditions associated with damp and mould include: 

• Respiratory problems  
• Infections  
• Skin conditions 
• Allergies 
• Weakened immune system 
• Mental health problems 

Your legal rights as a council or social housing tenant 

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, tenants have the right to live in a property that is fit for human habitation at the beginning of their tenancy and throughout. This requires private and social landlords to act on complaints within a reasonable timeframe. 

A landlord failing to act within a reasonable timeframe may cause tenants serious health and safety risks. The Social Housing (Regulation) Act, passed in 2023, increased regulations on social landlords designed to protect tenants from serious harm due to disrepair and home hazards, such as mould and damp, water damage, and structural defects. 

Awaab’s Law 

Aico published its report to coincide with the introduction of Awaab's Law, which came into effect on 27th October 2025. 

Awaab's Law is legislation passed in 2023 as part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. It is named after Awaab Ishak, a two- year- old boy who tragically died of mould exposure in social housing in December 2020. 

In the years following two-year-old Awaab Ishak’s death, local authorities and housing associations have come under increasing pressure to respond to complaints within a suitable amount of time and to offer more sustainable solutions. 

Thanks to the passing of Awaab's Law, social housing tenants will have more protection from unsafe and unhealthy living conditions amidst rising complaints. 

Although the Law has been enacted, it will be gradually phased over the next two years. In the meantime, landlords are urged to be ready for the changes. 

Landlords and tenants should be aware of the following milestones: 

• October 2025: Landlords must address damp and mould hazards in a fixed timescale and perform emergency repairs, including those linked to damp and mould, within 24 hours. 
• 2026: Initial requirements will be extended to include other serious hazards, such as excess cold and heat, structural issues, fire, electrical problems, and hygiene hazards. 
• 2027: The Law will be extended to include all remaining hazards defined by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), excluding overcrowding. 

Making a complaint to the Housing Ombudsman 

If a housing association or council landlord has failed to provide a safe and habitable environment, tenants can contact the Housing Ombudsman service (HOS) or seek legal advice for a housing disrepair claim. 

HOS is an independent and impartial public body that can action long-overdue complaints relating to tenant and landlord disputes. Many HOS judgements find that the landlord has failed to adhere to a legal, policy or process requirement. Tenants may also be able to claim compensation for stress, physical damage or damage to their belongings caused by unresolved repairs. 

Premier Legal Assist is on hand to help 

If you are living in rented accommodation that’s in disrepair, such as mould, broken heating, electrical faults, infestations, or structural issues, and your landlord has refused to act after you have made reported complaints, or has not acted within a reasonable timeframe, you may be entitled to make a claim for repairs and in some cases compensation.   

Premier Legal Assist can connect you with a team of specialist housing disrepair lawyers who operate on a 'no-win, no-fee' basis. Our panel of solicitors has years of experience dealing with housing disrepair claims against local councils and housing associations across the UK. 

To find out if you are eligible to make a 'no-win, no-fee' claim, complete our short form, and a team member will be in touch.