24 February 2026
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has criticised continued inaction from the Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons on tackling damp and mould across social housing, private rented properties and temporary accommodation.
Under Awaab’s Law, currently being progressed in England and Wales, social landlords will be required to address emergency hazards including damp and mould issues, within a specific timeframe. Tenants in Northern Ireland currently have no such protection.
The MLA for Foyle said:
“It’s unacceptable that the Communities Minister keeps referring my questions on Awaab's Law to a response which he provided to me in March 2024. Since then there has been no progress and no intention to extend this life saving legislation in Northern Ireland.
“Awaab’s Law is named in memory of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically lost his life in England due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home. Work is underway in other jurisdictions to deliver legally enforceable protections that would ensure damp and mould repairs are actioned.
“In the last 12 months alone. Almost 14,500 reports of damp and mould have been made to the Housing Executive. That shocking figure doesn’t even include housing associations or private landlords, so the true scale is likely much greater.
“What is even more concerning is the situation in temporary accommodation. Single-let temporary properties are inspected at the point of acquisition but there is no routine, ongoing inspection regime to ensure standards are maintained. Responsibility for maintenance rests largely with private providers with the Housing Executive acting as intermediary.
“I’ve witnessed photographs of shocking damp, mould and water ingress in temporary accommodation allocated to a young mother and her new-born baby. I recognised the property because I had complained about it a year earlier on behalf of another constituent. That family was moved out but the defects weren’t remedied. Instead, another vulnerable tenant was simply moved in. That is a disgrace.
“Temporary accommodation is provision for homeless families, among the most vulnerable in our communities. Problems persist from one tenancy to the next because there is no statutory duty to regularly inspect and enforce minimum standards.
“Damp and mould carry serious health risks, particularly for children and older people. The cost of inaction could cost lives. Other regions are acting to protect tenants, so why is the Executive not doing the same? The response, or lack thereof, to date is not good enough. The SDLP Opposition will continue to push to see these protections implemented.”