Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Placemaking and Housing.  To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters and Planning.

The Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters and Planning introduced the report which sought approval of the Damp and Mould Policy for Haringey’s Council housing stock.  The policy would set out how Haringey would address issues of damp, mould and condensation within the Council’s tenanted and leasehold housing stock, and how the Council intends to comply with its legal responsibilities and with the Housing Ombudsman’s recommendations in ‘The Spotlight on Damp and Mould’ report.

In response to questions from Councillor Barnes, the following was noted:

-       Tenants provided with dehumidifiers would also be provided with funding / financial support to use them.

-       A written response would be provided in relation to how Haringey would be responding to the 26 recommendations within the Ombudsman’s report.

RESOLVED

1.            To approve the Damp and Mould Policy for Haringey’s Council housing stock. (Appendix A).

Reasons for decision

As a social housing landlord, the Council has a duty to ensure that its housing stock is maintained at least in accordance with the Decent Homes Standard, which includes taking steps to assess properties for damp and mould problems and, where appropriate, take steps to avoid or minimise the recurrence of damp and mould.

We know that residents living in homes with damp and mould are more likely to suffer from respiratory problems, and other conditions that impact the immune system.

The cost-of-living crisis and the impact of fuel poverty is leading to an increased number of residents not being able to either heat or ventilate their homes adequately, which can potentially exacerbate the problem.

In 2021, the Housing Ombudsman published its ‘Spotlight on damp and mould’, which was both an indictment on the failures of social landlords in dealing with this issue, as well as road map for improving how cases are dealt with. Following the coroner’s report into the death of Awaab Ishak in late 2022, this issue has become ever more prominent, and it is essential that we, as a social landlord, have a policy in place, to assure our tenants that we are giving damp and mould the focus they need.

Alternative options considered

The Council could treat all damp and mould cases via its existing repairs process, and decide not to design and implement a damp and mould policy. We rejected this option since there is an expectation, from government and our residents that the Council, as a social housing landlord, will have a policy in place which sets out our approach to dealing with issues relating to damp and mould.