The Generation Rent activist group has called for a series of reforms about damp and mould.

It wants the reinstatement of energy efficiency targets for the private rental sector, abandoned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the early autumn.

The activist group says: “Introducing a higher minimum energy efficiency standard to private rented homes – which was ditched in the autumn – would lead to warmer, dryer homes, stopping mould developing in the first place.”

It also wants fixed deadlines for private landlords to rectify alleged damp and mould in properties, saying: “Not giving landlords fixed deadlines to deal with potentially deadly issues leaves private tenants the most exposed and least protected.”

And it supports the Conservative MP Steve Brine who, as chair of the Health and Social. Care Select Committee, wants recently-introduced measures imposed on social housing landlords to be extended to the private sector.

Generation Rent says: “Damp and mouldy homes are dangerous to our health and can even kill. Awaab’s law was rightly brought in to social housing last year, giving tenants the security of knowing that action must be taken in a certain timeframe when it is found. 

“The UK’s 12 million private tenants however are offered no such protection.

“Awaab’s law must be extended to cover private homes as soon as possible. Issues of damp, mould, fuel poverty and poor insulation are worse in private homes than any other tenure type. We urge the government to correct this to stop people from falling ill and dying in their homes.”