Damp and mould remain one of the most persistent challenges for social housing providers in the UK. From minor condensation to structural damp, these issues affect thousands of homes and can have serious health implications for residents. In recent years, we have seen how difficult it can be for our clients to manage repairs efficiently while staying compliant - particularly with regulations like Awaab’s Law now in effect.

Survey Insights: What Providers are Reporting

Last year, M3 conducted a sector-wide survey to understand how social landlords were preparing for Awaab’s Law and tackling damp and mould in general. The results confirmed that these issues remain widespread across the sector, with larger housing associations reporting a higher prevalence than smaller organisations. Lack of ventilation, poor insulation and structural issues were among the most commonly cited causes.

The survey also highlighted the key barriers to resolving cases quickly, including funding constraints, tenant cooperation and contractor response times. Confidence in demonstrating compliance was mixed, reflecting the growing need for a standardised approach across the sector.

Our intention is that these findings will help social landlords to make more informed, effective decisions and provide a benchmark for measuring progress over time. The full survey offers deeper insights into how widespread damp and mould issues are and where improvements can be made.

A Structured Response

A recent report by Health Equals showed that more than one in four people in the UK reported living in homes with damp, mould or cold conditions that could harm health. It also identified that these issues disproportionately affect lower‑income households, including those in social housing.

To help social landlords comply with the new legislation outlined in Awaab’s Law, M3 launched the Damp, Mould and Condensation Module as part of its suite of M3NHF Schedule of Rates specialist modules. With over 1,500 repair items, the module provides a structured framework for managing damp and mould across teams and contractors. It helps landlords:

• Comply with Awaab’s Law and other legislative requirements.
• Standardise repair processes to reduce variation and ensure consistent outcomes.
• Improve response times and tenant satisfaction.

Whether addressing minor condensation or structural damp, the module gives landlords and contractors the clarity and confidence to act decisively, helping prevent small issues from escalating.

Turning Data into Insights

Alongside the new module, M3 has also been working with the team at Rand Associates to launch a new software tool: M3 SOR Insight, to help repairs teams understand their Schedule of Rates data more effectively. By analysing datasets in seconds, it highlights:

• Misapplied SOR items and codes.
• Patterns that point to recurring problems.
• Potential financial impact of errors.

This detailed health check is intended to provide teams with an overview of their maintenance spend, helping them to manage budgets, improve compliance and prioritise interventions more proactively.

Why It Matters

With damp and mould affecting thousands of homes and regulatory expectations continuing to rise, repairs teams are increasingly looking for structured, data-driven ways to stay ahead. Stronger insight into repairs, maintenance and underlying causes can help social landlords evidence compliance, manage spend more effectively and take earlier, more targeted action to reduce the risks.

Last year’s survey reinforced just how complex damp and mould challenges remain across the sector. Our role is to support social landlords by turning those insights into practical approaches that help teams act with confidence, improve transparency and deliver healthier homes for residents.

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To receive a copy of the complete survey findings, follow this link to send us an email

To explore M3’s suite of tools to help you manage damp, mould and condensation repairs more efficiently, please contact the team: sales@m3h.co.uk.