Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Social Housing: Damp and Mould

Monday 12 January 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Liam Conlon raised concerns about social housing disrepair leading to health issues in his constituency.
  • The Minister expressed sympathy and referenced Awaab's law, which mandates social landlords to take urgent action on dangerous homes.
  • Clive Jones questioned the lack of action by builders who constructed substandard homes with damp and mould issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liam Conlon Lab Beckenham and Penge
NHS Housing
Context

Awaab Ishak, aged two years old, died due to avoidable damp and mould conditions. This case highlights the urgent need for immediate action on disrepair issues.

Question

Social housing disrepair and neglect is one of the most common issues in my inbox, particularly in Penge, Crystal Palace and Anerley. In one case, a mum in Penge saw her two children develop breathing problems and be forced onto inhalers due to persistent damp and mould. Given that the health impacts of mould can take hold quickly, what steps is his Department taking to guarantee social housing tenants' right to immediate action in such cases?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Steve Reed)

I am very sorry to hear of how my hon. Friend’s constituent and her children have suffered in that circumstance, and I thank him for his question. Awaab's law, which is now in force, will require social landlords to take urgent action to fix dangerous homes or they will face the full force of the law. As part of these reforms, landlords must now consider the circumstances of tenants that could put them at risk, including the presence of young children, or those with disabilities or other health vulnerabilities. Alternative accommodation must also be offered if homes cannot be made safe within the required timeframes.

Answered
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Q2 Clive Jones Lib Dem Wokingham
Housing Environment
Context

Three single mothers in Wokingham have suffered from damp and mould issues due to substandard homes built without proper damp-proof membranes.

Question

My constituents, three single mothers, have suffered at the hands of builders who built substandard homes without crucial damp-proof membrane and damp-proof courses. That meant that their homes were riddled with damp and mould, and the house builders have not addressed this serious fault for far too long. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that house builders can be held accountable by residents?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Steve Reed)

There are measures other than Awaab’s law in place that may be able to help, if I understood the detail of the case. I would be very happy to write to the hon. Gentleman. We could look, for instance, at warranties, or at building enforcement; those may be ways to get action taken.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures other than Awaab’s law were not explicitly outlined.

How: Will Write To The Hon. Gentleman

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