Herefordshire has seen a sharp rise in reports of damp and mould in both private and social housing, with complaint numbers more than doubling in two years.
In a response to a Freedom of Information request, Herefordshire Council revealed a sharp rise in formal complaints from residents about damp and mould — increasing from 29 cases in 2022 (including 21 in privately rented homes and eight in housing association properties) to 67 complaints in 2024, with 39 from private rentals and 28 involving housing associations (see graph).
A spokesperson for the council said the rise in complaints is “likely a result of increased public awareness” following the widely reported case of Awaab Ishak, the two-year-old boy who tragically died in 2020 due to prolonged exposure to damp and mould. His family’s concerns had been repeatedly ignored by their social landlord in Rochdale. The case prompted the introduction of new national guidance, and Awaab’s Law—which will require social landlords to fix damp and mould issues within strict time limits—is set to take effect in October.
Hereford Times, September 2025
