Agenda item

The Housing department have provided the enclosed briefing updating the commission on damp and mould, to support scrutiny of this topic. In addition, Public Health have provided further information on research conducted showing the potential return on investment in damp and mould prevention.

The chair welcomed the  following officers and invited them to present the report circulated with the agenda:

• Hakeem Osinaike, Strategic Director of Housing, Housing
• Marc Cook Customer Journey Lead - Southwark Repairs , Housing and Modernisation

The chair then invited questions and the following points were made:

• A member asked about repeat visits and how damp can be prevented, as some constituents complain this is a reoccurring problem. Officers explained that there is follow up  after 6 weeks . Damp can be seasonal damp and addressed by ventilation such as fans. The Stock Condition Survey will be comprehensive and include communal spaces , and identify any structural issues causing damp, as well inform the investment required .

• There will be demographics details in the Stock Condition Survey, on the advice Public Health . There is a panel including Public Health looking at data which includes demographics .

• Outreach has been conducted with schools to identify children with respiratory problems that may be caused by damp in their homes.

• Members raised concerns about Housing Associations . Officers said there is a panel and offered to get back on this and how the council can help navigate improvement although it was noted that that the council have no enforcement powers . Housing Association have the same responsibilities as the council, as a landlord. 

• Officers agreed that the council  need to be more proactive in tackling damp and the Stock Condition Survey will inform decisions and set priorities , given the housing revenue account is insufficient to tackle everything. As such this will be about priorities. There are properties which are very old, need investment, and are hardest and most expensive to tackle. In terms of shortfalls Southwark has called for Decent Homes Standards to be revisited and for funding to be provided to cover this.

• The proactive work has been extensive , impactful and aided the move towards a proactive approach. 

• The Stock Conditions Survey will be 40% completed by by summer of next year. This will be  sufficiently representative of the overall stock and  enable the council to write an asset management programme .

• Members  spoke about previous problems in Arbitration where  tenants were often blamed for their lifestyle but lived in situations where bathrooms with had  no windows , for example. The Strategic Director stressed that structural problems are often a reason . Another member spoke about education to reduce damp . An example was opening windows in the mornings which can actually reduce heating costs .  Officers spoke of the importance of address underlying  building issues , alongside providing  education, for example tenants can worry about loss of heat through ventilation ,  however opening the windows in the morning for a brief period  can lower moisture content, which will reduce the risk of damp and reduce heating costs.  It is important to avoid a blame culture . The service does offer a hydrometer to assist in monitoring damp.

RESOLVED

Officers will provide more information on demographic reporting details.