MPs, doctors and campaigners have demanded immediate measures to protect private renters from exposure to life-threatening mould and damp.

Landlords in social housing will be obligated to make emergency repairs within 24 hours under proposals announced under Awab’s law.

The legislation was introduced after the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to mould in his home in Rochdale.

Under the proposals, social landlords must investigate hazards within 14 days and start fixing them within a further seven days, or face court action.

MPs have now suggested that safeguards be extended to the private sector. 

A House of Commons’ health and social care committee report, published today, found that while 0.2 per cent of social sector properties have the most severe level of damp or mould (category one), the figure soars to 3.6 per cent in the private sector.

The report said that private rentals “contribute disproportionately to both the total number of poor quality homes and the costs that poor housing causes to the NHS.”

It called on the government to “consider how similar safeguards could be extended to tenants in the private rented sector who are affected by housing hazards.”

Professor Stephen Holgate, special adviser on air quality for the Royal College of Physicians, warned that indoor mould can have “significant health implications” which are entirely avoidable.

He said: “Sadly, it is individuals living in deprived areas who are most likely bear the brunt of these environments.

“The government must do more to tackle this.”

Conor O’Shea, policy and public affairs manager for Generation Rent, called for Awaab’s law to be immediately extended to Britain’s 12 million private tenants.

“Issues of damp, mould, fuel poverty and poor insulation are worse in private homes than any other tenure type,” he said.

“We urge the government to correct this to stop people from falling ill and dying in their homes.”

He called on the government to introduce a higher minimum energy efficiency standard to prevent mould developing in the first place. 

London Renters Union said tenants are “often ignored when we report poor conditions to local authorities, and we face the constant threat of revenge eviction from our landlords under section 21.

“Private renters should also be given the legal right to withhold rent for any time they are forced to live in unsafe conditions.”

According to an English Homes Survey, nearly one in four privately rented homes fail to meet decent standards.

Nick Ballard, Acorn Head Organiser said: “Home is the place you should feel safe, but for thousands of renters their home is making them ill. 

“This urgently needs to change.”