Formulated specifically for technical officers, the course is essentially designed to provide delegates with a solid understanding of the various causes, symptoms and cures associated with condensation, damp and mould. It revisits existing understanding, dispels myths, and challenges often outdated, generic and inappropriate advice given to affected parties in light of recent improvements to the housing stock. It also provides an update and overview of changes in legislation, including practical coverage of Awaab’s Law.

What delegates will gain from the course

• An appreciation of the ‘perfect storm’ that has led to damp gaining increased recognition in terms of property safety and compliance.
• An overview of relevant property-management legislation and recent changes (e.g. the Social Housing (Regulation) Act – Awaab’s Law 2025) and the implications of non-compliance.
• A practical understanding of the various causes, symptoms and cures associated with condensation, damp and mould.
• Strategies for the effective removal and/or reduction of damp and mould problems.
• Familiarity with a diverse range of detection tools, such as moisture, carbide and capacitance meters; borescopes; hygrometer sticks; humidity boxes; thermal imaging cameras; data loggers; and environmental sensors.
• How to communicate sound, knowledge-based principles to affected parties.
• How to protect parties’ interests and implement effective procedural guidance to prevent failures.

Awaab’s Law: what the course covers

• The legal and regulatory requirements of Awaab’s Law, with its focus on addressing damp and mould hazards within mandated timeframes to ensure tenant safety, clear communication and robust record-keeping to mitigate legal risk.
• Definitions of hazards and required timescales for responding to reports of damp and mould.
• ‘Significant’ and ‘emergency’ hazards: landlords’ obligations, completion timings for safety work, longer-term repairs, and the provision of alternative accommodation where required.
• Preparing written reports and what to include
• The information landlords should collect—from their organisation, their homes and their tenants—to tackle damp and mould effectively.
• How damp and mould problems can be checked in tenants’ homes.
• What happens when things go wrong: common pitfalls and how to respond.

The training is lively, practical and interactive and, most importantly, in tune with the increasing demands placed on housing organisations and their technical officers in meeting the challenges presented by this increasingly resource-draining aspect of their work.

Who should attend

• Surveyors
• Asset managers
• Property compliance officers
• Maintenance officers (day-to-day responsive, programmed, planned and cyclical)
• Property inspectorate
• Stock condition surveyors
• Quality assurance officers
• Contractors and trade operatives
• Estate and neighbourhood officers with a technical focus.

Please note: This course offers an overview of the legal and regulatory context, including Awaab’s Law. It is not a comprehensive, in-depth examination of Awaab’s Law, nor a step-by-step guide to how it will operate in practice. The content should not be relied upon as legal advice or as a substitute for organisation-specific policy or process design. For detailed interpretation and practical implementation, delegates should seek specialist legal advice and/or dedicated implementation training.

Wayne Anderson is an expert lecturer, national conference speaker, chartered surveyor, arbitrator and consultant. His training sessions are lively, colourful and interactive and are based on extensive experience gained over 25 years with best practice organisations involved in the housing repairs and maintenance sector. Wayne has a reputation for simplifying complex issues and encouraging frontline staff to develop a deeper understanding of maintenance issues that can be applied confidently on a day-to-day basis.