Awaab’s Law – Responding Faster To Damp & Mould.
The Customer
Our client is a large UK social housing provider, responsible for managing a significant portfolio of residential properties and supporting communities across multiple regions. VPS has partnered with this organisation since 2016, primarily delivering specialist cleaning and clearance services. Over the years, this long-term collaboration has created a stable and trusted working relationship built on consistent performance, reliability and shared objectives. More recently, the partnership expanded to include damp and mould surveying and remediation support in response to new legislative requirements.
The Problem
The introduction of Awaab’s Law, a recent legislative reform, requires landlords to take prompt action on damp and mould issues to protect tenant health. As a result, housing providers must now respond within clearly defined and accelerated timeframes. The housing provider faced an immediate operational challenge when their in-house surveying capacity was significantly reduced due to staff changes.
With surveyor numbers effectively halved, the organisation needed urgent support to:
- Complete damp and mould surveys within required legislative timescales
- Accurately assess the severity of issues across their housing stock
- Deliver remediation works quickly to remain compliant
- Avoid regulatory risk, audit exposure and reputational damage
The volume of cases, combined with the time-sensitive nature of compliance, created significant pressure on internal teams. Thanks to the established partnership model already in place, VPS was able to mobilise rapidly without the delays typically associated with onboarding a new supplier, ensuring continuity of service during a period of organisational pressure.
The Solution:
VPS provided a flexible, end-to-end service designed to quickly address the urgent survey and remediation needs of the housing provider, ensuring compliance with Awaab’s Law while protecting residents and properties. Our approach combined scalable resourcing, specialist expertise and strong operational oversight to minimise disruption and manage risk effectively. VPS was able to mobilise rapidly without the delays typically associated with onboarding a new supplier, ensuring continuity of service during a period of organisational pressure.
Following survey completion, VPS provided full treatment services, including mould removal, damp treatment and reinstatement works where required. Specialist products were used to treat affected areas and help prevent recurrence, ensuring properties were restored to a safe and habitable condition for tenants.
Following survey completion, VPS provided full treatment services, including mould removal, damp treatment and reinstatement works where required. Specialist products were used to treat affected areas and help prevent recurrence, ensuring properties were restored to a safe and habitable condition for tenants.
Clear reporting and close coordination with housing teams ensured transparency and supported the housing provider in meeting their compliance obligations and service level agreements. Performance monitoring and SLA alignment provided audit-ready assurance and clear governance throughout delivery.
The service effectively bridged the resource gap while the organisation rebuilt its internal surveying team. Flexible capacity allowed VPS to respond immediately to fluctuating
demand during this workforce transition.
The Result
Rapid mobilisation of VPS solutions enabled the housing provider to maintain tenant safety and compliance during a period of reduced internal capacity. The partnership:
- Prevented delays in damp and mould assessments
- Reduced risk of regulatory non-compliance
- Supported upcoming audit requirements
- Ensured residents’ homes were assessed and treated promptly
- Alleviated operational pressure on internal teams
By providing immediate specialist support, VPS helped stabilise service delivery during a critical period. Years of consistent delivery meant the housing provider could rely on VPS to take on compliance-critical work with confidence, knowing governance, quality and accountability would be maintained.
The Impact
The housing provider successfully navigated a high-risk compliance window without disruption to residents or exposure to enforcement action. The organisation has since rebuilt its internal surveying capacity, but intervention played a key role in VPS protecting both residents and the wider organisation during a period of significant operational strain. Insights gained during this high-pressure period have since been embedded into ongoing service delivery, strengthening resilience, risk management and future partnership performance. The long-standing partnership continues to evolve, demonstrating the value of responsive, specialist support when housing providers face sudden resource or compliance pressures.
When our internal surveyor capacity was reduced, the speed at which VPS mobilised made a real difference. Their team helped us maintain compliance, protect residents and keep services running smoothly during a challenging period. The partnership approach and clear communication throughout gave us confidence that the situation was under control.
Senior Housing & Property Representative
Better security starts now.
Our team of security experts are on hand and ready to discuss your vacant property and asset protection needs.
Our Accreditations
VPS Group business units Nexus and VPS Site Security are approved by the SIA. Within the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) for Security Guarding, Key Holding and CCTV.
SIA approval – Nexus and VPS Site Security
