UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / September 24, 2026 / One of the West Midland’s largest social housing landlords has invested in bespoke damp and mould training for its surveying teams ahead of the winter months. whg, which manages 22,000 homes across the region, partnered with the Federation of Damp to train its surveyors to identify damp and mould issues earlier, diagnose their root causes, and act quickly to fix them.

The training investment comes ahead of the 30^th November rollout of phase two of Awaab’s Law. The legislation was introduced following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from prolonged exposure to mould in his family's rented home in Rochdale. When the child's parents complained to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing about the mould, they were told to paint over it - and no action was taken. Now, the law named after him sets strict legal timescales for landlords to investigate and fix hazards, including damp and mould.

Sam Fitzgerald, founder of the Federation of Damp, said, "Children, elderly residents and people with existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of damp and mould. Training like this gives surveying teams the confidence to spot problems early and respond properly, rather than guessing or papering over the cracks."

The UK Health Security Agency estimates[1] that around 2 million people in England are currently living in homes with significant damp and/or mould problems. Left untreated that damp or mould can lead to the development or worsening of several respiratory diseases and other conditions.

Toby Deakin, Director of People at whg said keeping tenant wellbeing across the West Midlands was central to the partnership. “Keeping our customers safe and well in their homes is a priority for whg, and investing in the skills of our colleagues is an important part of that.

“Working with the Federation of Damp has enabled us to develop bespoke, practical training for our surveyors, giving them the knowledge and tools to identify issues early, understand the cause and make sure the right action is taken.

“For customers, that means a more consistent and informed service, clearer advice and greater confidence that concerns will be assessed properly and responded to effectively. It also helps us stay ahead of new requirements such as Awaab’s Law and continue raising professional standards across our service.”

The Federation of Damp is an independent trade body working with housing providers, local authorities and contractors across the UK to strengthen internal understanding of damp and mould management at scale.

For more information, please visit federationofdamp.co.uk.

[1] Source: https://research.ukhsa.gov.uk/our-research/damp-and-mould/