Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee 18 March 2025
Thank you, convener, and thank you for having us along to this morning’s session.
As you will have seen from our written submission, we deal with a very high number of repairs issues—about 6,400 last year—and we are currently refining our data collection to better understand the issue of damp and mould within that. That said, we have been told by advisers that, although they are not officially logged, the number of damp and mould cases that they are seeing remains a stubbornly high proportion of all repairs cases. It is very much a prevalent and damaging issue that our advisers are dealing with every day and, indeed, is often the cause, or consequence, of another repairs issue.
What I really want to emphasise is the impact on people—that cannot be emphasised enough. Time and again, advisers tell us about the negative impact on mental and physical wellbeing, particularly the link with respiratory issues and stress and anxiety; irreparable damage to belongings, including furniture; and the financial hardship that is caused by having to replace such items, and often having to pay two rents, as people try to move to another property. Advisers also tell us about families being unable to live safely in their homes or to use all the rooms in their homes—and, worst of all, becoming homeless. It is also worth noting that many homeless accommodations also suffer from quite serious damp and mould.
I would just like to share a quick case study that illustrates some of the issues that I have been talking about. Laura and her husband approached their local bureau in February, because the temporary flat that they had been allocated when they became homeless was mouldy, damp and cold. There was mould all over the walls, which were often damp to the touch, and the windows were not airtight and let the cold air through. Their bed was also wet to the touch, because of the conditions.
Laura stated that they were spending approximately £12 a day on trying to heat the flat, but they were struggling to afford that on their low income. The couple had gone to speak to the council two weeks previously and were told that someone would be in touch, but they have not yet heard anything. Laura is currently pregnant and her midwife has said that they would provide a letter to the council, explaining how the accommodation was not suitable for her or the baby. Laura has lately been having difficulty with her breathing and has been experiencing an on-going cough.
That, I hope, gives you a sense of just one person’s experience of damp and mould.