UK Government reports on housing safety and damp control 2025 - Aspergillosis Patients & Carers Support

Damp homes

Several recent UK government reports provide comprehensive guidance and data on housing safety, damp control, and associated health impacts. The most relevant publications from 2023–2025 are summarized below.

Understanding and Addressing the Health Risks of Damp and Mould (UKHSA/DHSC, 2024)

This major cross-government report outlines the health, environmental, and legal aspects of damp and mould control in residential settings. Developed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), it:

Describes physical and mental health impacts, especially in children, older people, and those with chronic respiratory conditions.
Defines landlord duties under housing law and required response protocols for damp and mould complaints.
Rejects the term “lifestyle problem,” stressing structural and environmental responsibility for moisture management.
Provides prevention recommendations on ventilation, insulation, and inspection regimes.

Damp and Mould in Social Housing: Initial Findings (DLUHC, 2023)

This investigation assessed housing association and council stock across England following the Awaab Ishak case. Key findings include:

Issues in 2–4% of homes, particularly older, energy-inefficient estates.
Strong correlation between low-income tenancy and severe damp outcomes.
Recommendations for routine moisture monitoring, landlord performance audits, and education for tenants and staff.

English Housing Survey 2023–2024 (DLUHC, published July 2025)

Two reports from this survey provide quantitative analysis of damp and safety:

Drivers and Impacts of Housing Quality identifies rising levels of unsafe damp and ventilation problems, especially in the North of England and private rented sector.
Health and Housing Fact Sheet (2025) links poor-quality housing to chronic illness prevalence, noting that households in damp properties are twice as likely to include someone with a long-term condition.
Data from the Technical Report and live tables further detail rates of non-decency, energy inefficiency, and fire safety risks.

UKHSA Report: The Burden of Disease Caused by Damp and Mould (2024)

Produced by the Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, this research quantifies 2,800 annual Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in England caused by respiratory illness linked to damp homes. It highlights disproportionate effects on ethnic minority and low-income populations and forms the epidemiological basis for current housing policy reform.

Letter from the Secretary of State to Social Landlords (2023)

This official communication enforces updated guidance for housing providers and mandates action following coroner recommendations. It reiterates the government’s stance that landlords bear the duty for damp and mould mitigation through repair, ventilation, and structural rectification.

Local Housing Safety Strategies (2025)

Several local authorities have incorporated national safety reforms into localized housing plans, including:

Kensington and Chelsea Housing Strategy 2025–2030, prioritizing damp elimination under Awaab’s Law and maintaining 100% Decent Homes compliance.
Rotherham and Angus Healthy Homes Plans, integrating damp mitigation with public health objectives.

Together, these reports form the evidence base for the 2025 Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law, requiring all social landlords to rectify identified damp and mould hazards within statutory timeframes, marking the UK’s most stringent housing safety framework to date.

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https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-system-reform-next-steps-to-put-people-at-the-heart-of-care/next-steps-to-put-people-at-the-heart-of-care