FINAL - JDDK Millmount News Summer Edition 2025 DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 12
T H E D I S C O V E RY
Awaab’s Law –
how landlords should
prepare for the changes
By Adam Vaughan, Director, Certi昀椀ed Passivhaus
Designer, Trustmark Accredited Retro昀椀t Coordinator
In October 2025, Awaab’s Law will come into
effect, reshaping the responsibilities of landlords in
maintaining safe, healthy living conditions for tenants.
This new legislation, named after Awaab Ishak, a twoyear-old who tragically died due to prolonged exposure
to mould in his home, places the onus onto landlords to
proactively address damp and mould issues. At JDDK
we can guide landlords, housing associations, and local
authorities in preparing for these crucial changes.
These include:
Understanding Awaab’s Law and its impact
• Tenant interviews – engaging directly with residents to understand
their home environment, heating habits, and potential issues related
to overcrowding or underheating.
Awaab’s Law instructs that social landlords must investigate and
remedy reported cases of damp and mould within strict timeframes.
Unlike previous regulations, which provided broader requirements
under the Decent Homes Standard and Energy Performance
Certi昀椀cate (EPC) ratings, this law enforces clearer accountability
for maintaining habitable homes. The emphasis is now on swift
action and prevention, so that no tenant faces prolonged exposure
to unsafe living conditions.
Many landlords may 昀椀nd it challenging to identify and 昀椀x these
issues, often due to constraints like limited budgets or a lack of
technical expertise. The causes of damp and mould can be complex,
ranging from structural defects and inadequate ventilation to tenant
behaviours in昀氀uenced by fuel poverty. Our expertise in retro昀椀t
coordination and sustainable design can help landlords navigate
these challenges.
Identifying and diagnosing damp and mould issues
Mould forms when moist air meets cold surfaces, causing condensation.
Poor insulation, cold spots, and high humidity make it worse. We look
at the bigger picture to identify the root causes of damp and mould. Our
assessments, used successfully by Newcastle City Council and South
Tyneside Council, involve a thorough investigation using advanced
diagnostic tools.
12 Millmount. Summer 2025.
• Ventilation Analysis – assessing whether air昀氀ow rates comply with
building regulations and ensuring proper extraction in key areas like
kitchens and bathrooms.
• Thermal Bridging Assessments – using thermal imaging to detect
cold spots where condensation could form, potentially leading to
mould growth.
• Humidity and Moisture Monitoring – installing data loggers to
measure long-term humidity levels, helping to pinpoint recurring
problem areas.
By combining these methodologies, we create a detailed diagnosis that
helps landlords to 昀椀nd the best solutions for their properties.
Effective retro昀椀t strategies for
compliance with Awaab’s Law
To meet the standards of Awaab’s Law and create healthier living
spaces, we prioritise strategic retro昀椀ts that effectively combat
damp and mould. Our approach centres on three key areas:
1. Improving ventilation systems
Ventilation is one of the most misunderstood aspects of housing
maintenance. In our experience, very few properties have ventilation
that meets required standards, often due to incorrect installation,
poor commissioning, or tenants inadvertently disabling fans. We
often recommend decentralised continuous extract ventilation
(dMEV), a low-energy system that continuously removes moist
air, preventing condensation build-up. Centralised extract systems
(MEV) are particularly effective in 昀氀ats, reducing noise and
increasing ef昀椀ciency compared to individual room fans. Mechanical
ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) is an advanced system suited
to new builds and deep retro昀椀ts, providing 昀椀ltered fresh air while
recovering heat from extracted air.
