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This item was chaired by Diana Minns (Vice-Chair Tenant
Representative).
Matter for
Decision
The Council completed a
self-assessment against the Housing Ombudsman’s recommendations from their
spotlight report on Damp and Mould. A specific policy on managing damp and
mould was drafted.
Decision
of Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness
i.
Acknowledged the self-assessment and subsequent action plan.
ii.
Approved the Council’s Damp and Mould Policy (as amended)
that sets out the framework of activities and responsibilities in response to
mould and damp reports and complaints.
Reason for the Decision
As set out in the Officer’s report.
Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected
Not applicable.
Scrutiny
Considerations
The Committee received a report from the Director of City Services.
The Director of City Services advised that an additional
paragraph (set out below) was proposed to be added into the Policy as new
paragraph 11 and then all subsequent paragraphs would be renumbered
sequentially.
11.Leaseholders’ Responsibilities
Damp and mould can be caused by condensation and may adversely
affect your health and your home. Whilst the Council is only responsible for
the external building elements and structure of the building Leaseholders are
requested to make sure that they take appropriate steps to prevent significant
amounts of condensation that results in damp or mould growth. This preventive
action includes:
·
to adequately heat rooms – ideally between 18°
and 21°C
·
regularly check for any leaks, or faulty
heating, windows, or extractor fans.
·
To keep extractor fans uncovered.
·
to keep their property well ventilated by
keeping windows slightly open especially while cooking or bathing, ensuring
that extractor fans are in working condition and vents are clean and left open.
·
Leaseholders are asked that extractor fans are
not turned off in kitchen & bathroom
·
ensure windows vents and wall vents are not
blocked or closed.
·
the Council actively encourages leaseholder to
take out household contents insurance, leaseholders are responsible for
arranging adequate household contents insurance, to protect their home from
damage caused by damp, mould, or condensation.
The Council has a responsibility in maintaining the
structure of the building that may contain leasehold properties, in these
instances there may be a shared responsibility for both leaseholder and the
Council depending on the location and cause of the problem.
Leaseholders that have concerns can report this either by
phone, report it on the repairs page Request
a repair for your council home - Cambridge City Council or by
emailing: condensation@cambridge.gov.uk.
The Council Surveyor will make an inspection and discuss where the
responsibilities lie.
The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the amendment.
The Director of City Services said the following in response to Members’
questions:
i.
Improvements to communication with tenants required
a combination of active engagement (going out and speaking to people), online
engagement and written engagement. Hoped to have a formal tenant engagement
policy as soon as was practicable.
ii.
A private company had been engaged to respond to
in-house treatments regarding damp and mould. Officers would no longer be
required to redirect their time to damp and mould as this work was being
covered by an external company.
iii.
The Environmental Health Team investigated
complaints against private landlords (for example regarding overcrowding of
housing) where issues were reported. Officers were looking to see how help
could be provided to tenants to set up stronger engagement mechanisms for
private tenants.
iv.
Damp, condensation and mould (DCM) work tended to
reduce during the summer because of dryer, warmer weather. Work was currently
being undertaken to proactively treat houses which had DCM. An education
programme was also being run to try and assist tenants to know what to do in
order to reduce the risk of DCM occurring.
Housing Officers should also be checking for and reporting issues of DCM
if these were observed during any property visits / inspections.
v.
Timescales for a surveyors visit to be undertaken
within the DCM Repair Request Flowchart would be added.
vi.
Large national Housing Associations were unlikely
to record data regarding DCM by Local Authority area. Asked Councillors, Tenant
and Leaseholder Representatives to let the Council know if they became aware of
any tenants (housing association / private tenants) who were having problems
with DCM.
The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations as
amended.
The Executive Councillor
approved the recommendations as amended.
Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any
Dispensations Granted)
No conflicts of interest
were declared by the Executive Councillor.