Awaab’s law prompts thousands of damp and mould cases in Portsmouth
Just 92 Portsmouth damp and mould cases were deemed significant hazards.
Thousands of damp and mould cases have been reported to Portsmouth City Council since new rules introduced following the death of a two-year-old boy.
The council received 1,941 damp and mould cases during 2025/26 after Awaab’s Law was introduced, with a further 2,932 cases recorded up to July 2026.
The legislation was named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old who died from a respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his family home in Rochdale in 2020.
The legislation requires social landlords to investigate and address serious damp and mould hazards within set timeframes.
Portsmouth City Council adopted a new policy for dealing with damp and mould in its housing stock in October 2025.
A report to the council details the work carried out since the policy was introduced, including the creation of a Housing Health and Safety Rating System panel to coordinate responses.
Despite the high number of cases reported, just 92 were identified through investigation as presenting a significant hazard.
A significant damp and mould hazard can include extensive mould or persistent moisture, particularly where young children or older people are affected.
The council attended 56.4 per cent of all damp and mould cases within its target of 10 working days during 2025/26.
However, 72.8 per cent of inspections for the 92 higher-risk cases were completed within the 10-day timeframe.
The council said current monthly performance for attending and investigating cases within 10 days is now above 90 per cent.
It said performance fell during 2025/26 because of a sharp increase in reports, particularly in February and March.
The rise was attributed to seasonal demand and an expanded stock condition survey programme, which identified additional cases.
Condensation remains by far the most common cause, accounting for 72 per cent of cases.
A further 18 per cent were attributed to external leaks, nine per cent to internal leaks and one per cent to rising damp.
The report will be discussed by councillor Darren Sanders, housing cabinet member on September 23.
More information can be found on the council’s meeting agenda here.
If you have been, or are still being, affected by damp or mould in your home, please contact [email protected] or call 07584 527847.