Herefordshire mould complaints from renters double in 2 years
Council officials think it's as more people have become aware of the issue
The number of complaints made over damp and mould in private or social rented homes in Herefordshire has more than doubled in two years.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, Herefordshire Council said that the number of formal complaints it had received from residents rose from 29 (21 in private rented accommodation, eight in housing association-managed) in 2022, to 67 (39 private, 28 housing association) in 2024 (see graph).
A council spokesperson said the increase “likely reflects greater public awareness” of the issue after the case of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, whose death in 2020 was found to have been caused by prolonged exposure to damp and mould which the family’s social landlord in Rochdale had failed to deal with.
This led to new national guidance, while Awaab’s Law, requiring social landlords to address health hazards from damp and mould within set timeframes, comes into force in October.
The council’s registered housing provider (RHP) partners “have been strengthening their systems to meet these duties”, while the council has “improved our triage and signposting so more enquiries reach the right organisation first time”, its spokesperson said.
Rising energy costs, affecting heating and ventilation, and wetter, colder seasons could also be behind the rise, they added.
The council offers advice to residents on the issue at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/damp .
It does not itself own or directly manage any housing in the county.