Debate contribution: Housing: Disrepair, Damp and Mould

Debate contribution by Mrs Pam Cameron on 24 February 2026.

MLA: Mrs Pam Cameron
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 24 February 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Housing: Disrepair, Damp and Mould
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5404723

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. No one should live in a home that is affected by damp, mould or serious disrepair. That is a basic expectation, and one that should apply to everyone, regardless of tenure. Damp and mould are not minor issues; they cause real harm to health, particularly for children, older people and those with respiratory conditions. They can worsen existing illness and create long-term problems if they are not dealt with properly. The tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak was devastating. It should never have happened. It has rightly led to a renewed focus on housing conditions and landlord responsibility. However, it is important that the Assembly focuses on solutions that can actually be delivered. Good intentions alone will not fix damp and mould. What matters is whether the right systems, funding and powers are in place to deal with the problem properly. Much of Northern Ireland's social housing stock is old. Many homes were built decades ago and require significant work to bring them up to modern standards. That is not a new issue; it is the result of long-term underinvestment. The Housing Executive is dealing with a large and complex estate. In many cases, damp and mould are not caused by a single fault but are linked to poor insulation, outdated heating systems, ventilation problems and structural issues. Those problems cannot be fixed through short-term or reactive repairs; they require planned, large-scale work. That is why access to borrowing for the Housing Executive is so important. Without proper borrowing powers to secure funding, the Housing Executive is limited in what it can do. It is forced to prioritise urgent repairs rather than addressing the underlying causes of damp and mould. That approach is not sustainable, and it does not deliver lasting improvements for tenants. Access to borrowing would allow the Housing Executive to plan ahead. It would allow work to be done at scale and investment to be made in insulation, heating systems and wider retrofit programmes that prevent damp and mould from returning. The Communities Minister has been clear that securing access to borrowing for the Housing Executive is a top priority, and that is the right focus. The amendment that I propose reflects that reality. It calls:
"on the Minister for Communities and the Minister of Finance to make access to borrowing for the Housing Executive their top priority"
so that additional investment can be targeted at our housing stock. It is not about creating new obligations without providing the means to meet them; it is about ensuring that the Housing Executive has the financial tools that it needs to meet existing standards and improve living conditions in a lasting way. Standards alone will not fix damp and mould. Guidance alone will not fix damp and mould. Funding and investment are essential. The amendment also recognises the importance of standards. It calls:
"on the Minister for Communities to reflect the principles of Awaab’s law in the development of minimum energy efficiency standards and a revised Decent Homes Standard".
That is a sensible and balanced approach. It recognises the seriousness of damp and mould and the need for clear processes, proper assessment of risk and timely repairs, but it also recognises that any approach must work in practice and be suited to the housing system in Northern Ireland. It is important to be clear that protections already exist. Environmental health officers have enforcement powers across all housing tenures to deal with damp and mould. The Department has issued guidance to social housing providers and continues to monitor how cases are being managed. Work is also ongoing to revise the Decent Homes Standard. That revised standard will strengthen requirements around damp and mould. It will provide clear expectations around inspection, prioritisation and repair. It is about improving how issues are identified and addressed, not simply creating new rules on paper. In the private rented sector, minimum energy efficiency standards will also play an important role. Poor thermal efficiency is a major contributor to damp and mould. Improving energy efficiency will improve living conditions and reduce long-term problems. At the same time, it is important that regulation remains proportionate. The private rented sector must remain viable and able to provide much-needed housing. Damp and mould cannot be tackled through a single measure. They require enforcement, clear standards, skills and capacity. Above all, they require investment. Without sustained funding and access to finance, progress will be limited. Our amendment is focused on delivery and on giving the Housing Executive the ability to invest properly. It focuses on improving standards in a way that is workable and effective. It is clear that there is more to do, but progress depends on long-term planning, proper funding and the ability to act at scale. For those reasons, I urge Members to support our amendment.

804 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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