The BBC’s recent Panorama documentary has once again highlighted a major issue in the UK’s housing sector: the persistent problem of damp and mould. For too many tenants, the response to their complaints consists of quick fixes rather than long-term solutions, leaving families stuck in unhealthy and unsafe conditions.

Why this matters

Damp and mould are not just minor inconveniences; they pose serious health risks, particularly for young children and vulnerable individuals. While there is some responsibility on tenants to maintain ventilation, the root causes often lie in structural disrepair, poor insulation, heating failures and ineffective ventilation systems.

The documentary featured insights from the Housing Ombudsman, but there was limited representation from environmental health and private rented sector enforcement teams, the very professionals responsible for ensuring housing standards are upheld. Without proactive enforcement and better reporting mechanisms, these cases can drag on for months, even years.

A tech-driven solution

RHE Global is committed to speeding up interventions and ensuring tenants’ voices are heard. That’s why our team working on The Housing App is developing a tenant reporting portal, a new feature designed to capture and track evidence of ongoing damp and mould issues, even after a landlord’s intervention. This will help local authorities and residential social landlords get the full picture, enabling them to act more quickly and effectively.

With Awaab’s Law coming into force in October 2025, it has never been more important to ensure landlords and enforcement teams have access to the right data at the right time to protect tenants.

Get early access and exclusive discounts

We believe in empowering housing professionals with the tools they need. That’s why we’re offering an early bird discount for new subscribers until June 2025!

Would you like to see The Housing App in action? Sign up for a free four-week trial today by contacting [email protected].

Let’s work together to create safer, healthier homes for all.

The Original Panorama article can be found here.