Dangers of damp and mouldy homes highlighted

A campaign has been launched to highlight the dangers of damp and mould in privately rented homes in Hull and East Yorkshire.

The Healthy Homes initiative involves encouraging tenants to report problems to letting agents and making them aware of their statutory requirements to resolve them.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull City Council are among the local authorities selected by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to run pilot projects.

They said living in a home with damp and mould could have a serious effect on people's health, including skin conditions, problems with immune systems and breathing problems, if left untreated.

Each year, the NHS in England spends an estimated £1.4bn on treating illnesses associated with living in cold or damp housing, according to building research body BRE .

In 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak died as a result of the mould in his home in Rochdale.

Landlords are legally mandated to take steps to address damp and mould issues, and failure to do so can result in enforcement action from the local council.

Twenty-one letting agents have signed up to the initiative in Hull and East Yorkshire, pledging to signpost landlords and tenants to damp and mould guidance from the government and local authorities.

They have also pledged to encourage tenants to report issues in the first instance to the agent, to enable investigations to prevent damp and mould in the properties.

As part of the campaign, the councils are also advertising the need to act on damp and mould at many of the bus stops in the area.

Councillor Paul Drake Davis, Hull City Council's portfolio holder for regeneration and housing, said: "Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, we want to help you keep your homes healthy."

Councillor Lyn Healing, East Riding cabinet member for communities and public protection, said: "Damp and mould are serious issues, and it is imperative that tenants and landlords take action to avoid adverse health effects."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds , watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here .