According to a new report from the Centre for the New Midlands, a regional thinktank dedicated to the improvement of the West Midlands, the impact of living in damp and mouldy homes is far from a legacy issue and one that continues to negatively impact the wider community.
This is despite the previous government’s efforts to address this problem through their allocation of the Social Housing Quality Fund (SHQF), a £15 million grant programme that was designed to tackle severe damp and mould in social housing in the West Midlands, deployed between September 2023 and September 2024.
The West Midlands SHQF Evaluation report was officially released on Monday 4 November, and revealed that 40% of tenant survey respondents had been living with damp and mould for more than four years, with devastating health and wellbeing impacts. 51% of all tenants said that living in such conditions had caused them physical health issues whilst 76% admitted it had negatively impacted their quality of life. The report showed satisfaction with the quality of the damp and mould repairs funded by the SHQF grant, but dissatisfaction around engagement and communication from local authorities and housing providers.
The evaluation also includes a comprehensive property and process analysis, detailing the deployment of the £15 million grant across the West Midlands, with directors and heads of housing services interviewed as part of the research.
A key takeaway, and a pertinent one given the recent budget announcements on housing, is that this targeted funding to tackle damp and mould, although much needed, was still just a ‘drop in the ocean’ of what is required by local authorities and social housing providers to address this problem. While there is an urgent need for government to invest in building new social and affordable housing, the need to improve the quality of existing homes is equally critical to ensure that all social housing residents can live in safe, healthy, and decent homes.
Dr. Halima Sacranie, Director of Housing Research at the Centre for the New Midlands, commented on the report findings: “Although the SHQF grant programme, initiated by the previous government, has positively impacted the quality of social housing across the region, critical challenges remain. The issues of damp and mould, which continue to be prevalent and widespread in social housing, are persistent and likely to worsen without further action.”
“According to our research, 60% of respondents were concerned about the conditions of their home before the grant-funded repairs began, citing long-term exposure to damp and mould as contributing to physical and mental health concerns. While the SHQF grant programme has addressed concerns for some residents, for many residents the repairs have not resolved these issues, and for others it’s still too early to determine the full health and wellbeing impacts of these interventions.”
This evaluation has highlighted that far more needs to be done to address the underlying causes and prevalence of damp and mould housing conditions and provides recommendations for tackling damp and mould as part of a broader strategy to enhance housing. While this research focused on social housing, damp and mould is a chronic issue across different types of housing tenure, and especially in the private rented sector (PRS) which doesn’t have the same regulatory safeguards as social housing. However, the government is expected to extend some of these regulatory requirements around improving housing quality to the PRS.
Drawing on the research findings, Dr. Sacranie urged policymakers to “adopt a more integrated approach to improving housing quality, which should prioritise damp and mould prevention alongside decarbonization efforts and retrofitting homes to meet net-zero targets. I strongly encourage decision-makers to review the report and its recommendations to improve the living conditions and wider health outcomes of tenants.”
ENDS
Editors’ notes: The report shows the harrowing and devastating impact on health and wellbeing of living in homes with severe damp and mould, with some testimonies of the worst experiences reminiscent of the same hazardous conditions that led to the tragic and preventable death of Awaab Ishak nearly 4 years ago. With Awaab’s Law, which requires landlords to address hazards such as damp and mould in social homes within a fixed time period, set to be implemented this December, the findings are current and relevant. It is expected that Awaab’s Law will also be extended to the private rented sector (PRS) through the Renters (Reform) Bill.
Click here to download the full report or to arrange an interview, email david@workpr.co.uk or call 07824 427658.