Property agents in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire have joined a push to help landlords and tenants understand the causes of damp and mould, and how to fix them.

The councils’ housing teams have signed up 28 agents in the region to ensure they’re aware of their responsibilities and can make improvements in rental properties - without the need for enforcement action. The initiative also aims to ensure more landlords and tenants understand new legal tenancy protections under the Renters’ Rights Act.

Although the Decent Homes Standard won’t be extended to the PRS until 2035, damp and mould are already covered under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, and the Act strengthens councils’ ability to inspect properties, issue improvement notices and impose civil penalties. Meanwhile, Awaab’s Law - requiring strict timeframes for fixing damp and mould – is likely to be introduced next year.

Engage

Chris Dunnachie, private sector housing manager at the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, says both local authorities have tried to engage with local letting and managing agents for the last 18 months.

“I commend the 28 agents who have so far decided to sign up but out of nearly 200 agents in the region this figure is disappointingly low,” he tells LandlordZONE. “This may be due to a fear of putting their head above the parapet to working with the housing regulators, or that the information of how to sign up has not reached the correct decision maker in the agent’s organisation.”

The councils are now considering opening the initiative up to local landlords and are encouraging more agents to take part.

Understand

Landlord Action’s Paul Shamplina spoke at a recent event and reminded agents about the need to understand legislative changes.

“Educating on condensation and mould is important, especially with the impending Awaab’s Law coming in down the line,” says Shamplina. “It’s essential that agents and landlords have clear lines of communication with tenants on how they heat and ventilate their homes.”

Key

Lisa Malyon, founder of the UK Centre for Mould Safety, provided key damp prevention strategies and told agents that damp and mould was a health rather than an aesthetic issue, which could cause chronic and severe illness.

“I am motivated to see so many letting agents signing up to take a proactive approach to ensuring the properties they let are warm and dry,” adds Malyon. “It will alleviate the higher heating costs associated with a damp home and will reduce the strain on local national health services.”

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