LPM Damp,  Mould & condensation Surveys

I have been working within the Social Housing sector for the past 10 years, surveying many different types of properties throughout England.
I have experience of surveying for issues around repairs, void properties, stock condition surveying but mainly for damp, mould & condensation issues.

Damp, mould & condensation is something that most of us have experienced or know someone that has. Knowing and understanding how mould gets on walls and ceilings, how condensation occurs within your property and why the wall, floor or ceiling is damp is something that I can help you understand.
Further reading below and why damp, mould & condensation is high priority now, especially for Private & Social Housing Tenants. 

Awaab’s Law
Last updated: 19th July 2024
As of 20th July 2023, the much-anticipated Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (the Act) has now received Royal Assent and become law, paving the way for the most significant social housing reforms in over a decade. The Act brings positive change and transformation within the social housing sector by strengthening tenants’ rights and ensuring they live in safe, good quality homes devoid of health risks posed by building hazards.  

Awaab’s Law plays a crucial role in the biggest government reforms affecting social housing in a decade. Since 2010, the quality of social housing has been consistently improving, with a reduction in the proportion of non-decent social rented homes from 20% in 2010 to 10% in 2021. The government’s Levelling Up White Paper pledged to reduce non-decency in rented homes by 50% by 2030. Awaab’s Law will help to achieve this goal by ensuring landlords are taking action on hazards within specified time frames.

The Act emerged from the Social Housing Green Paper, as a direct result of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017. It makes provision for increased regulator intervention, including powers to issue uncapped fines to landlords; and ‘performance improvement plan notices’ if landlords fail to meet repair standards. It also paves the way for the introduction of Awaab’s Law. 

Awaab's Law Timescales
Awaab’s Law will require social housing landlords to follow strict timescales to inspect and repair hazards, including damp and mould. Awaab’s family’s suggested time frame was 14 days to investigate a reported damp and mould hazard and a further seven days to carry out urgent repairs.

The timescales laid out in the consultation apply to the initial investigation of potential hazards, meaning it's the landlord's responsibility to undertake an investigation within 14 calendar days (not working days) to identify whether there's a hazard present. Landlords must then provide a written summary of their investigation to tenants, which must be issued within 48 hours of conducting the investigation. The summary should include:

When the investigation was conducted.
Who carried out the investigation, including job titles. If any follow-up works will be carried out, including what they will be.Time frames of when the hazard will be addressed.

Following the issuing of the report, landlords will have seven calendar days to begin the works on-site to address the hazards investigated. This means that there's a 21-day priority to investigate, inspect, send a summary, and begin the work. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-deliver-awaabs-law