Wandsworth Council is set to equip its mould removal team with 60 iPads to improve their efficiency and response times, as part of a wider strategy to tackle damp and mould in council properties and prevent its recurrence.
To address the root causes of damp and mould, officers will conduct a comprehensive check of the heating and ventilation within the property to identify if any further repairs are required. The inspection ensures the heating system is working effectively, and consideration is given to installing additional ventilation, such as a positive input ventilation (PIV) system. Advice is also provided to the tenants on how to manage condensation within their home.
The Wandsworth Council Cabinet approved a Housing Revenue Account revenue budget variation of £52,300 in 2025/26 and £22,800 in 2026/27 to fund the purchase and licensing of the NEC Go Mobile application at a meeting held on Monday 14 July 2025.
The decision comes as the council prepares to comply with Awaab's Law, which mandates landlords to promptly address reported hazards in their properties or provide alternative housing for tenants when homes cannot be safely remediated.
The initiative aims to streamline the mould removal process, enabling officers to conduct on-site inspections, record findings, including photographic evidence, and generate reports for tenants more efficiently. The NEC Go Mobile application will facilitate the creation of these reports, ensuring that tenants receive timely written summaries of inspection outcomes and planned actions.
The council's approach to tackling damp and mould includes:
- Expanding the mould removal team to improve response times.
- Updating the council's website with information on damp and mould.
- Sending automated text messages to tenants six months after mould removal to follow up on the issue.
- Providing additional training for front-line housing officers on damp and mould.
The council's current approach ensures that an initial investigation into reports of damp and mould is completed within 14 days (10 working days). Awaab's Law dictates that a written summary must be provided to tenants within 3 working days of the inspection of the property.
According to the Public reports pack 14th-Jul-2025 19.30 Cabinet.pdf, since the mould removal team was created in March 2023, they have completed over 1,600 requests. Since the expansion of the mould removal team in September 2024, 22 mould removal requests are now being completed per week compared with 10 in January 2024. As of July 2025, 95% of tenants were very satisfied with the service provided by the mould removal team.
The cabinet was expected to receive an update on the Council's approach to Damp and Mould. The report provided an update on the significant work that has already been undertaken to improve the Council's response to damp and mould, including the successful work of the expanded mould removal team. The report also outlined further proposed changes to ensure compliance with Awaab's Law.
The report recommended that the cabinet approve positive Housing Revenue Account revenue budget variations of £52,300 in 2025/26 and £22,800 in 2026/27 and in a full year for the purchase of 60 iPads and for the licence fee for the NEC Go Mobile application.
