Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) mould and (b) damp on the long-term health of social housing tenants.

In September 2023 the Department of Health and Social Care, jointly with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the UK Health Security Agency, published Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home, which is available on GOV.UK website. This guidance sets out the health risks of damp and mould, and the steps social and private landlords should take to address these issues.

The guidance indicates that damp and mould in the home may present a significant health risk to social housing tenants and can contribute to the development and worsening of respiratory conditions. Damp and mould can also affect the eyes and skin and contribute to fungal infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems.