Travis Perkins calls on landlords to act on damp and mould

Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has called on social landlords to be proactive when it comes to reacting to issues with damp and mould, after new legislation came into place last week.

Awaab’s Law, introduced after the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 from prolonged exposure to mould in his home, took effect on October 27 and requires social housing providers to address all hazards within specified timeframes.

Under the new law, the landlord must investigate an emergency hazard within a 24-hour period, and if they discover the relevant steps are needed to make the property safe, they must do so within 24 hours from the initial investigation.

Ian Sharman-Jones, managing director of Travis Perkins Hire, says: “I would urge any social landlord to take any report of a hazard in their accommodation with the utmost seriousness. The ultimate goal is to make social housing a safer place to live and Awaab’s Law, despite the devastating circumstances around its introduction, should do this.”

Travis Perkins has also partnered with TIC Mould Control with its solutions set to become part of the businesses damp and mould offerings. Its self-delivery system eliminates mould and spores making rooms safe in one hour.