Attending The NHMF Damp & Mould Webinar – Our Verdict

By Nic Bohanna on November 16th, 2023

Last week, we at Synserv had the opportunity to attend one of the National Housing Maintenance Forum’s esteemed webinars. 

The session focused on effective responses to mould removal, covering the government’s legislative response and how the law is changing.

This was an exciting opportunity for us to learn about legislative changes at the forefront of an industry we have experience in. 

Being a key service we provide, the session’s focus on mould and damp removal proved to be a rewarding and illuminating session. 

Continue below where we outline key points from the webinar, including significant legislative changes mandated by law.

An Overview: From Awaab’s Law to Upcoming Changes

In their own words, the NHMF described the webinar as ‘’An excellent opportunity to hear about the Government’s upcoming consultation on Awaab’s Law and timescales for repairs in social housing’’.

Some key points from the session are as follows:

  • Awaabs law was created after a young child died from severe lung damage. This was caused by the presence of damp and mould in his home.
  • The property in question was managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. They failed to act to remedy the presence of mould in the residence.
  • The law will penalise social housing landlord if they fail to act swiftly enough to investigate and remedy damp and mould in their properties.
  • The law will also mean that residents of these properties must be made aware of their rights and have clear avenues to make a complaint about their residence.
  • New changes will form part of the tenancy agreement so landlords will be in breach of contract and subject to legal action by tenants if they fail to meet obligations.

The housing ombudsman will also be given new power to govern social housing landlords under Awaabs law, pushing landlords to be:

  • Proactive
  • Responsible
  • Fabric Focused
  • Accountable

Our Commitment to Change

As already mentioned, our team found the session both rewarding and illuminating. The consequences of negligence were presented in vivid detail. 

Coming away from the session, we have a newfound appreciation for the importance of our role as commercial cleaning experts. 

Damp and mould need to be tackled with the utmost efficiency. Failure to do so can have disastrous, and even fatal, consequences. This is consistent across all industries, not just social housing. 

If you would like to speak to an expert in damp and mould removal, contact our team today. We can advise you on the best strategy and course of action.

Image of Nic Bohanna

Written by

Nic Bohanna

Key Client Manager

Nic is the Key Client Manager at Synserv with a degree from the prestigious Durham University. With a background in management in the service industry, he now ensures all our passive fire protection services run smoothly. When he’s not at work, you’ll find him pursuing his favourite activities of hill walking, a game of golf, or enjoying a nice cold pint.


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