The Research and Campaigns team is delighted to announce the launch of our new report, ‘After Awaab: The Reality of living with mould and damp.’ This report sheds light on the significant impact of living in homes affected by damp and mould across Northumberland. You can read the summary report below and the full report here.
AFTER AWAAB: THE REALITY OF LIVING WITH MOULD AND DAMP – SUMMARY REPORT:
Drawing on testimony from Citizens Advice Northumberland clients, this report evidences the systematic prevalence and severe impact of long-term damp and mould in local homes. It highlights a significant gap between tenant experiences and the standards set by Awaab’s Law and the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Act. Damp and mould are widespread, often lasting over a year, and are part of a broader pattern of housing disrepair across Northumberland.
Impact on Residents Health and Wellbeing
Damp and mould cause both physical harm and profound psychological distress; 88% of clients reported associated physical health issues, and 92% of interviewees linked the problem to heightened stress levels.
Financial Strain
A large majority (92%) of interviewees incurred additional costs, often forced to pay for mitigation measures themselves including dehumidifiers, cleaning products, and increased heating.
Landlord Response Clients reported living with severe mould for years despite repeated notifications, facing delayed, ineffective, or absent responses. Landlords frequently provided only temporary or cosmetic fixes rather than addressing underlying structural causes.
Top 5 Priorities for Action
- Enforce new legal standards: Strengthen monitoring and enforcement of Awaab’s Law and the Renters’ Rights Act.
- Act early and fix root causes: Shift to proactive inspection and early intervention, addressing structural causes over temporary fixes.
- Strengthen landlord accountability: Introduce clear expectations and transparency around response times and repair quality.
- Support vulnerable households: Target assistance towards those most at risk (children, pre-existing conditions, fuel poverty).
- Guarantee access to independent advice: Invest in free, impartial advice services for tenants.
Meaningful improvement requires robust enforcement and landlord accountability, not legislation alone. A follow-up study is planned for 2026 to measure progress against this baseline.
Read the full report – After Awaab: The Reality of living with mould and damp
