A landlord in Cumbria has been hit with a £10,250 fine after failing to carry out essential damp repairs at a rental property, despite repeated warnings from the local council.
Westmorland and Furness Council issued the penalty to the Warrington-based landlord of a one-bedroom property on Barrow Island after the owner failed to comply with a formal Improvement Notice requiring damp investigations and remedial work.
Escalating enforcement action
The council first became aware of damp and disrepair at the property in May 2025. Following an urgent inspection, officers served a Hazard Awareness Notice advising the landlord to commission a damp survey to identify the underlying cause and undertake appropriate repairs.
When no action was taken, the council escalated its response and served a formal Improvement Notice. By law, this required the landlord to complete the necessary investigations and property improvements by the end of July.
Despite the statutory deadline, the landlord took what the council described as “no meaningful action” within the compliance period. Further visits by officers confirmed the issues remained unresolved, prompting the authority to pursue formal enforcement.
Five-figure penalty issued
The £10,250 civil penalty was issued under housing legislation that allows councils to fine landlords who fail to comply with Improvement Notices. The landlord’s identity has not been released, though the council confirmed they have now started to address the outstanding works at the property.
The case highlights the growing willingness of local authorities to use their enforcement powers against non-compliant landlords. Under the Decent Homes Standard, which will apply to private rentals from 2030, landlords will face even stricter requirements to maintain properties free from serious hazards including damp and mould.
Awaab’s Law extension looms
The enforcement action comes as the government prepares to extend Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector. Named after Awaab Ishak, the two-year-old who died from exposure to mould in a social housing property in Rochdale, the law will introduce strict timeframes for landlords to investigate and fix damp and mould hazards.
While the exact implementation date has not been confirmed, the extension is expected during phase three of the Renters’ Rights Act in 2027. For landlords, the message is clear: failing to address damp promptly now risks far greater consequences once the new rules take effect.
The Decent Homes Standard guidance published by the government sets out the criteria landlords must meet to avoid enforcement action.
Opinion
This case is a warning shot. Councils are no longer waiting for tenants to complain repeatedly – they are actively pursuing landlords who drag their feet on repairs. With Awaab’s Law on the horizon, ignoring damp issues is becoming an expensive mistake.
Sources: Westmorland and Furness Council
Related reading: Decent Homes Standard: Five criteria landlords must meet by 2035
