Agenda item

Director of Housing Property Services presented the Damp, Condensation and Mould report and draft recommendations and the following issues were raised:

·       Members were invited to appraise the work undertaken and offer suggestions of how Council’s work in this critical area be improved.

·       Additional recommendations is attached for members to adopt, reminding Committee that it has now been a year since the damp and condensation programme was established.

·       Online reporting form is in the process of being updated so that residents are empowered to provide more information when reporting damp and mould and officers can assess and triage quickly and more accurately.

·       Repairs policy has been revised and updated to include damp, condensation and mould. Policy is due to go through governance and signed off early 2024.

·       The One View Dashboard has influenced a new operational dashboard, which enables officers to communicate to a wide audience and to prioritise risk and highlight any gaps.

·       Housing Ombudsman has commended Islington’s programme and recognised the dedicated work of all involved.

·       Tenancy and Property visits pilot has been hugely beneficial in identifying damp and mould in homes, root causes and other repair issues that could lead to damp and mould. A total of 521 households was involved in the pilot and 50 homes had visible damp and mould which were then referred to the Repairs Team.

·       Meeting was informed that the Partnership referral form was initially piloted with Andover Medical Practice and will be extended to other medical practices and services.

·       Council has a programme in the winter months of proactively testing the performance of boilers and communal heating. Remote monitoring devices which will help identify the increase in humidity in a property so that the repairs team can proactively prevent damp, condensation and mould in homes.

·       The Service is working with University College London in conducting a net zero and damp and mould research study to prepare Council for reducing damp and mould and also meeting its net zero aims.

·       In response to a question about street properties brought back in house, the Corporate Director informed the meeting that some of the funding of £5m received from the Social Housing Department has been used to insulate street properties within its housing stock.

·       With regards to time scale on completing some of the recommendations, the Corporate Director advised that most are in progress at the moment and that these will have to be agreed by the Executive with set deadlines.

·       On whether the Council had sufficient funds with regards its relationship with UCL, meeting was reminded that despite the increase of £1m planned investment, the Council will be seeking more funds from central government .

·       Meeting was advised that funding is available to recruit surveyors noting that presently agency staff is being used prior to the position being filled and trained up and also the Service is looking to train apprentices.

·       Over 4000 properties were visited, that the damp and mould team continue to look at trends; that a number of outreach activities were being organised to inform its residents of the process; ongoing work with UCL and capital investment has been allocated.

·       Meeting was advised that an update report on the programme will be presented in a future meeting of the Committee. 

RESOLVED:

That the additional recommendations be agreed.