Our Approach
In March 2023, the council adopted a new Damp and Mould Policy, which aims to ensure we are providing and maintaining dry, warm, and healthy homes for our tenants. This includes an updated process for dealing with reports of damp and mould. The policy has been developed with reference to the specific requirements outlined by the Secretary of State, Regulator for Social Housing, and best practice outlined in Housing Ombudsman Spotlight Reports.
If you or an officer report a case of damp and mould in your property:
- A repairs officer specifically trained in responding to damp and mould will contact you and the problem will be discussed in more detail.
- Within 10 working days of the initial report, an officer will visit your property to carry out a full assessment.
- Our repairs team will also arrange for our response team to visit your property and remove any visible mould growth, we aim for this to be done within 5 days.
- All assessments regarding the damp and mould will be recorded on a survey and the findings discussed with you. Both you and the inspecting officer sign and date the survey.
From this survey:
- All required works are raised with one of the council's contactors.
- Following the repair officer's visit, a letter will be sent to you advising of the findings of the survey, confirming the works to be undertaken by the council and provide any additional advice that may help to resolve the issue.
- If remedial works are needed, you will receive a follow up call at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months from the date the works are completed to check that everything is successful.
If you believe that you have damp and mould in your home, contact the council’s Repairs Team on 01529 414155, please do not report as a general repair.
Regulatory requirements in relation to damp and mould
The following sets out the regulatory requirements for all social housing landlords:
- S11 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 sets out the obligation on landlords to “keep in repair the structure and exterior” of a rented property.
- Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 sets out the current system for assessing the condition of residential premises, the Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS). This system allows for an assessment of the risk posed to occupants, from health and safety hazards in the home, including from damp and mould issues.
- The Decent Homes Standard was initially introduced in 2001, setting a minimum standard that all social homes should meet. The current Decent Homes Standard has been in place since 2006 but is currently subject to review as part of the implementation of the Charter for Social Housing Residents: Social Housing White Paper.
- The Home Standard, part of the Regulatory Framework for Social Housing, requires that tenants’ homes meet the Decent Homes Standard as a minimum.
North Kesteven District Council regulatory reporting on damp and mould
On 22 November 2022, the Regulator for Social Housing issued an open letter to all chief executives of social housing providers in England (this includes NKDC), requesting additional data and information on providers’:
- Approach to assessment of damp and mould prevalence
- Extent of significant damp and mould cases within properties
- Actions being taken to remedy issues in relation to damp and mould; and
- Assurance that an effective response is in place for individual cases of damp and mould.
This information was submitted to the regulator on 16 December 2022, meeting their deadline for submission of 19 December 2022.
On 28 February 2023, the Regulator for Social Housing issued a follow up letter to the chief executive of North Kesteven District Council requesting clarification and assurance in relation to our responses to the original request in November 2022 (see above).
This response was submitted to the regulator on 3 March 2023:
Current position - 1st quarter 2023 to 2024
Since the introduction of our current Damp and Mould Policy in March 2023, we have a clear and consistent approach to responding to all reports undertaking of required remedial works and the monitoring of outcomes of those works. The table below sets out our current position; going forward we aim to provide quarterly updates on this position.
| Month | Total Reports | All works completed | Surveyed and worked ordered | Survey to be booked | Survey booked | Access issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 totals | 77 | 15 | 55 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| April 2023 | 30 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2023 | 26 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| June 2023 | 25 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Q2 totals | 60 | 44 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| July 2023 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| August 2023 | 19 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| September 2023 | 24 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Q3 totals | 146 | 72 | 61 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| October 2023 | 36 | 19 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| November 2023 | 68 | 23 | 35 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| December 2023 | 42 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Q4 totals | 223 | 160 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| January 2024 | 87 | 76 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| February 2024 | 75 | 57 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| March 2024 | 61 | 27 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
NB: Monthly figures are a snapshot of status at the end of each month – e.g., reported cases may not be completed within the same month and completed works may not have been reported in the same month.
Reporting damp and mould
If you believe that you have damp and/or mould in your home, contact the Council Repairs Team on 01529 414155 or on maintenanceteam@n-kesteven.gov.uk. Please do not report this as a general repair.
If you would like further information on regulation, North Kesteven District Council policies or our reporting requirements in relation to damp & mould, please contact the Council Repairs Team so that we can provide updated and relevant information.