Damp and Mould Policy

The Policy sets out the Council's intentions to ensure that the Council provides a reactive and responsive role where damp and mould is identified, a proactive  role to prevent damp and mould occurring and an empathetic service to residents who report damp and mould in their homes. 

Overarching Approach

1. The Council will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to damp and mould interventions
2. The Council will identify opportunities for extending the scope of their diagnosis within buildings, for example by examining neighbouring properties, to  ensure the response early on is as effective as possible
3. The Council will follow a data driven, risk-based approach with respect to damp and mould. This will reduce over reliance on residents to report issues and enable the Council to identify hidden issues.
4. The Council will appoint a member of staff as a single point of contact (SPOC) for each damp and mould case.
5. Hazards can be defined as "significant" through guidelines set out by the government, which considers issues such as the severity of the problem  alongside the age and vulnerability of the tenants. Notably, defining a risk as "significant" to health will not require a doctor's note.
6. Where properties are identified for future disposal or are within an area marked for regeneration, we will ensure that residents do not receive a poorer standard of service or lower living conditions, that steps are taken to avoid homes degrading to an unacceptable condition and that they regularly engage and communicate with these residents.
7. The Council will avoid taking actions that solely place the onus on the resident. The Council will evaluate what mitigations they can put in place to  support residents in cases where structural interventions are not appropriate to ensure that we are taking all reasonable steps to address issues of damp and mould and prevent re-occurrence.
8. Together with residents, the Council will review the information, materials and support provided to residents to ensure that these strike the right tone and are effective in helping residents to avoid damp and mould in their properties.
9. The Council will be more transparent with residents involved in mutual exchanges and make the most of every opportunity to identify and address damp and mould, including supporting residents who have mutually exchanged into properties if damp and mould issues occur.
10. The Council will review, alongside residents, the initial response to reports of damp and mould to ensure we avoid automatically apportioning blame or using language that leaves residents feeling blamed.
11. The Council will ensure that there is effective record keeping and that data and information is sufficiently accurate and robust.
12. The Council will review the number of missed appointments in relation to damp and mould cases and, depending on the outcome of any review, consider what steps may be required to reduce them.
13. We will ensure that staff and/or contractors have the ability to identify and report early signs of damp and mould.
14. The Council will take steps to identify and resolve any skills gaps they may have, ensuring their staff and contractors have appropriate expertise to properly identify, diagnose and respond to reports of damp and mould.
15. The Council will clearly and regularly communicate with residents regarding actions taken or otherwise to resolve reports of damp and mould.
16. The Council will review and update any associated processes and policies accordingly.
17. The Council will ensure there is effective internal communication between teams and departments on damp and mould including follow up and/or aftercare.
18. All newly let properties will be offered free from damp and mould.
19. The Council will ensure that we treat residents reporting damp and mould with respect and empathy.