Oxford City Council misses damp and mould response targets

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 06:08 · Archive

Oxford City Council failed to investigate 14 per cent of significant damp and mould cases within the required 10-day period between April and July 2026.

Oxford City Council received 154 reports of significant damp or mould hazards in its social housing between April and July 2026. The council was found to have responded to 132 of these cases within the statutory 10-day period, meaning 14 per cent were not investigated within the required timeframe.

During the same period, there were 15 reports of emergency damp or mould hazards, which should be investigated within 24 hours. Oxford City Council confirmed that 80 per cent of these emergency cases were investigated within the legal timeframe, leaving 20 per cent uninvestigated within the required period.

A council spokesperson said: 'Our priority is to provide residents with dry, warm and healthy homes while protecting our properties from damage and deterioration.' The council claimed it responds 'quickly' to reports of damp and mould, with emergency hazards investigated immediately and significant hazards investigated within 10 working days, after which findings are shared with tenants and necessary remedial work is started promptly.

The reports follow the introduction of phase one of Awaab's Law, named after Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 following prolonged exposure to mould in his social housing home.

How it is being reported

• Damp and mould hazards in Oxford not fixed on timeNew data has revealed slow response times from the council in responding to damp and mould hazards in social housing.Oxfordshire Guardian · 16 Oct, 05:00
• Damp and mould hazards in Oxford not fixed on timeNew data has revealed slow response times from the council in responding to damp and mould hazards in social housing.Oxford Mail · 16 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Oxford City Council · Awaab Ishak · Oxford

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