Damp & Mould
Remediation

Awaab’s Law is a legal amendment, introduced through the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, designed to enforce strict timeframes for social housing landlords to investigate and remediate hazards such as damp and mould.

The law is named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old who tragically died from prolonged exposure to mould in his social housing flat.

Key deadlines under the law include: investigating significant damp and mould hazards within 10 working days of awareness; providing a written summary within 3 working days of the investigation; commencing safety works within 5 working days if a significant hazard is confirmed; and addressing emergency hazards (including extreme damp/mould) within 24 hours.

Contractors engaged by owners and landlords will play a vital role in meeting statutory deadlines. CLC supports rapid triage, delivers specialist surveys and remedial works, and provides data capture and evidence compatible with audit trails.

CLC’s digital offering positions the business as a compliance enabler, helping clients demonstrate a clear ‘defence of reasonableness’ through auditable proof of investigation dates, reports issued, works commenced and completed.

Contractors must also ensure workforce readiness for faster mobilisation and scheduling, skills matching (root-cause diagnosis, damp remediation, ventilation upgrades) and support real-time reporting systems.

For social housing landlords, the law imposes specific operational obligations, including investigating significant damp and mould hazards within 10 working days of awareness, issuing a written summary within 3 working days, commencing safety works within 5 working days, and addressing emergency hazards within 24 hours.

The law gives tenants greater legal standing to hold landlords accountable through tenancy agreements, meaning landlords must embed compliance within contractual, operational, reporting and asset-management frameworks.

Social landlords must invest in data systems, streamlined works-order management, integrated asset condition processes, and cultural change across repairs and maintenance teams to deliver fast, auditable and long-lasting solutions. Failure to comply can lead to regulatory action, legal claims and reputational damage.

At present, Awaab’s Law applies to registered social housing providers in England and initially focuses on damp and mould hazards.

The Government has indicated an intention to extend similar duties to the private rented sector through the Renters’ Rights Bill, although detailed timeframes and implementation are still subject to consultation.

Property owners, landlords and managers across all sectors should therefore monitor developments closely and prepare for future compliance requirements rather than assume private rented properties will remain exempt.

• Rising damp: moisture from the ground moving up through the wall structure.
• Penetrating damp (or rainwater ingress): moisture entering from outside due to defects such as roof leaks, damaged render or faulty gutters; this can occur at any wall height.
• Condensation damp: caused by high internal humidity levels and inadequate ventilation or air movement, leading to surface moisture and mould growth on cold surfaces such as windows, walls and furniture.

Each type of damp differs in cause, indicators and remedial approach, making correct diagnosis essential for effective specification and cost control.

Rising damp is the upward movement of ground moisture through porous masonry materials by capillary action. It typically affects the lower sections of walls where the damp-proof course has failed, been bridged or is missing altogether.

Common indicators include tide marks or damp patches up to around one metre high, salt deposits on plaster, peeling paint or wallpaper, and occasional timber decay where skirting boards and flooring meet the wall.

While less common than some other forms of damp, rising damp remains significant in older housing stock because many properties either lack an effective damp-proof course or have one that has deteriorated over time.

Damp and mould can be caused by a range of issues, including:

• Building fabric defects such as failed damp-proof courses, cracked walls, damaged render, leaking roofs or poor drainage.
• Poor ventilation, inadequate heating and high internal humidity leading to condensation and mould growth.
• Water ingress and moisture bridges caused by raised ground levels, blocked cavity drainage or defective waterproofing systems.
• Lack of maintenance or delays in remedial works, resulting in unresolved underlying issues.
• Unsuitable materials and finishes, such as impermeable paints or renders that trap moisture within the building fabric.

CLC delivers a full range of damp and mould remediation services, from specialist mould treatments and fungicidal applications through to plaster repairs, timber treatments, damp-proofing systems, ventilation upgrades and waterproofing solutions.

CLC adopts an engineered, long-term approach focused on resolving root causes and preventing recurrence rather than simply treating symptoms.

The business supports landlords and asset owners in meeting compliance requirements under Awaab’s Law, protecting resident wellbeing and reducing portfolio risk.

CLC’s platform integrates digital workflows to support compliance and improve response times. This includes intelligent triage supported by IoT sensors and vulnerability flagging, mobile applications for on-site data capture, moisture readings and geo-tagged photography, as well as automated report generation and work-order management.

The end-to-end digital approach provides auditable evidence of investigations, supports compliance with statutory deadlines, and delivers real-time asset condition insights to help both senior management teams and operatives work more effectively.