Damp, mould and condensation problems continue to persist in social housing properties across the country.

Since the issues were highlighted as a national problem by ITV News and an investigation by the Regulator of Social Housing, the Housing Ombudsman has reported that damp and mould-related cases now account for 40% of resident complaints.

With autumn and winter now on the way, landlords are being advised to get ahead of the game and ensure they have a strategy in place as the heating is turned on (or off) across their housing stock in the coming months.

The Housing Ombudsman has previously highlighted that a strategic response to damp and mould is required and warned landlords to stop blaming the issue on how tenants live in their homes to proactive engagement.

Whatever the root causes, we know that damp and mould have a significant impact on residents who experience it. Can we really say that we are doing enough?

At this virtual workshop, you will hear direct from the Housing Ombudsman about the key findings of their investigations into damp and mould issues, including some practical recommendations for action across all levels.

As always – there will be plenty of time to ask questions and share your approaches and experiences.

What will you take away from the session?

• An understanding of the complex causes of damp and mould
• Insight into how to develop a strategic approach to tackle issues of damp and mould effectively
• Awareness of what needs to be considered when developing decarbonisation programmes
• How to develop effective monitoring to track progress when dealing with instances of damp and mould
• How to proactively listen and take feedback on board from tenants.

Why attend?

The impact of damp and mould on anyone living with it is great – distress, inconvenience, disruption, concerns about health and well-being. A step change is needed in how landlords tackle the problem.

This session is essential for everyone involved in identifying and tackling mould and damp – asset managers, strategic and policy leads, housing management teams, repairs and maintenance staff.

It will take you through what you need to know and understand and what to do to put things right.

10.30 Chair’s welcome and introducion

• • Larry Ryder, Ryder Partnership

10.40 The understanding of mould, how it affects health and how to prevent it

• • Larry Ryder, Ryder Partnership

11.00 Sharing their findings from 2021 spotlight report and follow up from February 2023

• • Zoe Miller, Compliance and Systemic Investigations Manager, The Housing Ombudsman Service

11.30 Positive practice in legal matters

• • Dorota Pawlowski, Partner, Trowers and Hamlets, LLP

12.00 Break 

12.15 Lessons learnt from the Onward Damp Pilot

• • Andrew Brown, Director of Housing and Specialist Living, Onward Homes

  • Chris Radford, Analytics and Insight Manager, Onward Homes

12.45 Q&A

13.00 Closing remarks from the Chair

• • Larry Ryder, Ryder Partnership

Zoe Miller, Compliance and Systemic Investigations Manager, The Housing Ombudsman Service 

The Housing Ombudsman Service provides independent, impartial and fair dispute resolution for nearly 5 million households in England. Through resolving disputes effectively and promoting positive change across the social housing sector, we improve residents’ lives and landlords’ services.

As Compliance and Systemic Investigations Manager for the Housing Ombudsman, Zoe Miller leads a team carrying out systemic investigations into the wider and deeper issues driving complaints and ensuring compliance with membership requirements of the scheme and the Complaint Handling Code, providing recommendations to improve the social housing sector through the learning from complaints.

She undertook the evaluation of the Ombudsman’s Damp and Mould Spotlight report, which resulted in the publication of the follow-up report in February 2023.

Dorota Pawlowski, Partner,  Trowers and Hamlins, LLP

Dorota has over 20 years’ experience in the residential property sector having started her housing career at Birmingham County Council.

Specialising in all aspects of issues that may face a residential landlord, Dorota advises registered providers on all aspects of housing management issues but has developed a particular expertise in relation to disrepair claims and increasingly, claims for unfitness for human habitation. Dorota leads a team of solicitors and paralegals who deal with a large volume of disrepair cases and fights hard to defend cases or settle them for as low a sum as possible.  She regularly represents clients in the County Courts in applications for injunctions and possessions. She has advised extensively on the drafting of tenancy agreements and has reviewed registered providers’ policies and procedures.

Dorota also speaks and trains regularly on all aspects of housing management issues both internally and externally such as at CIH events. She has trained extensively in relation to all issues concerning disrepair.  She is a Committee member of the Social Housing Law Association and was instrumental in reforming the Midlands regional branch of this organisation which she now jointly chairs.

Andrew Brown, Director of Housing and Specialist Living, Onward Homes

Andrew Brown is Director of Housing and Specialist Living at Onward Homes. He has worked in the housing sector for 33 years in a variety of roles across housing management and community engagement.  At Onward Homes, Andrew is accountable for services to over 10,000 customers living in Greater Manchester and Cheshire East and for services to all of the organisations supported housing and housing for older people.  He led on the development of the neighbourhood model which is used by Onward to deliver its services.  In September 2021 Andrew set up a project to improve Onwards response to dealing with customer enquires about damp, mould and condensation.

Chris Radford, Analytics and Insight Manager, Onward Homes

Larry Ryder, Ryder Partnership 

If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected]

Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.

If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance.

Cancellations must be made in writing, and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited.