Hammersmith and Fulham Council is strengthening its commitment to resident safety by establishing an in-house damp and mould team within its housing department, as part of its response to Awaab's Law.
The move, highlighted during the Audit Committee meeting on Monday 1 December 2025, aims to ensure the council complies with the strict legislative timeframes set out in Awaab's Law. This law, named after Awaab Ishak, seeks to improve social housing conditions by mandating swift action on hazards like damp and mould. The housing team's approach includes addressing the root causes of damp and mould, not just treating the symptoms.
The Corporate Health and Safety Annual Update 2024/25, presented at the meeting, noted the housing team's proactive approach and robust system to comply with legislative timeframes. The council is investing circa £1.4 million per week in its current housing stock, which includes health and safety measures.
The report also highlighted the council's broader efforts to maintain high standards across its residential portfolio. Monthly monitoring of the 'big six' – asbestos, fire, electricity, gas, lifts, and water – takes place to ensure safety and compliance. As of the end of Q3 2025/26, 97.7% of the Council's properties met the Decent Homes standard, which is well above most London boroughs. The remaining 2.3% of properties that do not meet the Decent Homes standard primarily involve non-compliant windows, kitchen, and bathroom replacements, as well as homes having HHSRS risks identified as part of the stock condition surveys. The council plans to complete the necessary upgrades to the remaining 3,581 dwellings by June 2026.
The full Corporate Health and Safety Annual Update 2024/25 is available on the council's website.
