Addressing issues around damp and mould in one of our key priorities and we have been working hard at the Barnet Group to improve how we handle damp and mould. One of the largest changes we are making is to introduce a new “Damp and Mould Policy”, which sets out our attitude towards, and response to damp and mould in social housing in Barnet.
To make sure our approach to tackling damp and mould works for everyone, in April 2023, we opened our draft policy for public feedback through our website. The public consultation period is now over. Following your feedback, we are making the following changes to the policy:
You said:
“The policy should be easy to understand, so that everyone is able to access it.”
We did:
We reviewed the language to make the policy in as plain English. In addition, we will develop an Easy Read document that sets out how residents can report damp and mould issues, and steps they can take themselves.
You said:
“The policy should be kept up to date with legislation as it is released by the government.”
We did:
We have added the following to clause 9.5 of the policy to provide reassurance: “We will be responsive to any changes in legislation or regulation and will take this into account in how we provide a service to tackle damp and mould and how frequently we update this policy.”
You said:
“The policy should provide links to further relevant policies, including the hoarding policy and responsive repairs policy.”
We did:
We are currently developing the hoarding policy and this will be linked in once it has been developed, we have updated the policy to include a link to the responsive repairs policy.
You said:
“The policy should have flow chart to show how we respond to levels of damp and mould.”
We did:
We keep our policies (our principles on a subject) and procedures (the detailed steps we will take to deliver our policy) separate as the way we work. Whilst this means that we do not believe it is appropriate to include a detailed flow chart of the process within the policy, we can include a high-level diagram that sets out what residents can expect.
Once these changes are finalised, we are expecting to publish this policy this summer, where it will be available on our websites. As well as writing this policy, we are working through a comprehensive action plan – to ensure that our approach to damp and mould is robust and in line with the Housing Ombudsman’s recommendations for local authorities. Our managers are meeting regularly to prioritise this area of work.
Key actions within the plan include:
Stock condition surveys: We have surveyed more than 80% of Barnet Homes and Opendoor Homes’ properties, to identify instances of ‘severe’, ‘moderate’ or ‘slight’ damp and mould. Work is ongoing to address these issues, and we have resolved more than 85% of the severe cases.
Staff training: Staff training is being organised for colleagues across the business. Spotting damp and mould issues early and knowing how to deal with it effectively are vital to combatting the problem successfully. It is not just Repairs’ colleagues who have an important part to play in this. Everyone who interacts with residents and their properties – whether on site, in person or over the telephone – can help.
New technology: We are trialing environmental sensors in at least 200 properties, to assess whether these tools can help us to address damp and mould issues.
Contact us
If you are taking steps to reduce condensation, but still find that you are having issues related to damp and mould, then the issue may be something beyond your control – such as a fault in a property e.g. leaky roof, burst pipe or faulty damp-proof coursing.
If you think your home is damp and the cause is not condensation, please email our Customer Contact Team at talktous@barnethomes.org or call us at 020 8080 6587 to arrange an inspection.