Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing.

The Homes Policy Development Group made the following recommendation:

RECOMMENDED to Cabinet that it recommends to Council the adoption of the new Damp and Mould Policy with the addition of the following paragraph:

‘To ensure that treatment has been effective, and damp and mould has not reappeared, any improvement work will be accompanied by a follow up visit to the property. MDH will allow at least 6 weeks after the initial treatment to revisit the dwelling. Any issues reported by tenants in the meantime will be acted upon promptly. If damp and mould have reappeared, further investigation and intervention will be pursued.

Cabinet had before it a report * which set out how Mid Devon Housing would address issues of damp, mould and condensation within the Council’s tenanted and leasehold housing stock.

This included how the Council intended to comply with its legal responsibilities and with the Housing Ombudsman’s recommendations in ‘The Spotlight on Damp and Mould’ report as well as its wider health, safety and wellbeing requirements towards it’s tenants under the statutory Homes Standard published by the Regulator of Social Housing and the new Social Housing Regulation Act 2023.

Consideration was given to:

·         How incredibly disappointing it was that it had taken the death of a child to bring this matter to the fore nationally.

·         The responsibility of the Council to provide safe and healthy homes.

·         A tenant/s ‘lifestyle’ being one of the causes of condensation and what the Council could do to help in terms of providing clear and helpful advice.

·         In certain circumstances reasonable adjustments could be made such as triple venting, opening a window after a shower, using a kettle rather than heating up pans of water or regulating the temperature better by turning the thermostat down rather than completely turning it off and then up to maximum the next time it is switched on.

·         Damp and mould rarely existed as a result of one particular issue, it was more complex than that. The cost of living crisis as well as mental health issues could also be having an impact.

·         Advice packs to tenants had been very welcome and there was an ongoing dialogue regarding education and feedback.

·         Many issues were picked up by Neighbourhood Officers.

·         There were more issues with the older housing stock and this was a consideration when reaching a decision about whether or not it was cost effective to repair a property or replace the property altogether.

·         The vulnerabilities of residents were taken into account. New tenants were invited to join a ‘Getting to know you’ project with housing officers making the most of every contact and opportunity.

·         Further central Government legislation was due which would provide more detail on how private landlords and Registered Social Housing landlords should deal with damp and mould, including any complaints arising as a result of it. It was not clear whether there would be any funding to support local authorities with this issue but Government was being pressed on the financial challenges this issue presented.

·         Neighbourhood walkabouts with Ward members were proving to be very helpful to all parties involved.

To receive a report from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing setting out how Mid Devon Housing will address issues of damp, mould and condensation within the Council’s tenanted and leasehold housing stock.

The Group had before it a report * from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing setting out how Mid Devon Housing will address issues of damp, mould and condensation within the Council’s tenanted and leasehold housing stock.

The following was highlighted within the new policy:

·       The new policy set out the Council’s approach following all recent government recommendations and legal provisions regarding damp and mould.

·       There had been some recent high profile cases nationally that had led to a tightening up of responsibilities in this area. Long term exposure to damp and mould was a health issue, particularly for children.

·       Damp and mould could often be quite complex to diagnose and could be due to a number of factors

·       Damp and mould could never be eradicated completely but every reasonable effort would be made to treat it.

·       The policy needed to include an additional paragraph regarding a follow up visit following any improvement work.

Discussion took place regarding:

·       A request was made that the treatment and management of damp and mould be reflected in a Key Performance Indicator so that Members could better monitor work in this area.

·       A further request was made that Members have sight of the Tenants Repair Handbook.

RECOMMENDED to Cabinet that it recommends to Council the adoption of the new Damp and Mould Policy with the addition of the following paragraph:

‘To ensure that treatment has been effective, and damp and mould has not reappeared, any improvement work will be accompanied by a follow up visit to the property. MDH will allow at least 6 weeks after the initial treatment to revisit the dwelling. Any issues reported by tenants in the meantime will be acted upon promptly. If damp and mould have reappeared, further investigation and intervention will be pursued.’

(Proposed by Cllr A Glover and seconded by Cllr S Chenore)

Reason:

The policy would set out how the Council intended to comply with its legal responsibilities and with the Housing Ombudsman’s recommendations in ‘The Spotlight on Damp and Mould’ report and well as its wider health, safety and wellbeing requirements towards its tenants under the statutory Homes Standard published by the Regulator of Social Housing and the new Social Housing Regulation Act 2023.

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes