MANCHESTER, UK. June 30, 2026 – Newly released Freedom of Information figures secured by Scrubbed With Love show that complaints about damp and mould in Manchester’s private rented homes increased sharply between 2021 and 2023. Reports climbed from 649 to 918 during that period, representing a 41% rise and highlighting ongoing concerns about housing conditions across the city.
The data, covering 2021 through 2025, also indicates that housing enforcement activity has remained consistently busy, with Manchester City Council receiving more than 1,600 housing service requests every year.
Information supplied by Manchester City Council under the Freedom of Information Act highlights the continuing challenges many private renters face.
Complaints relating to damp and mould increased from 649 in 2021 to a high of 918 in 2023. Although reports eased slightly to 897 in 2024 and 759 in 2025, they remain well above the level recorded at the beginning of the reporting period.
The trend reflects wider national concern over housing standards following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale in 2020. A coroner concluded that prolonged exposure to mould in the family’s housing association home was the direct cause of his death, prompting greater scrutiny of damp and mould issues across both social and private rented housing.
Despite increased awareness and legislative changes associated with Awaab’s Law, complaint levels have remained elevated through 2024 and have yet to return to those seen in 2021.
The FOI data also shows that complaints requiring housing enforcement within the private rented sector have stayed consistently high throughout the five-year period.
Manchester City Council recorded 1,665 housing requests for service in 2021. That figure dipped slightly to 1,602 in 2022 before increasing to 1,755 in 2023.
The 2023 total represents the highest annual figure in the dataset. While requests reduced modestly to 1,694 in 2024 and 1,627 in 2025, the figures suggest continued pressure on housing enforcement services rather than a significant improvement in property standards.
Josie Cookson, owner of Scrubbed With Love, said: “For tenants experiencing poor housing conditions, delays before council intervention can have serious consequences. When enforcement takes time or disputes continue unresolved, damp, mould and structural issues often become considerably worse before specialist remediation can begin.”
The Freedom of Information response also included reports of discarded needles and sharps handled by Manchester City Council’s street cleansing teams.
There were 304 reports in 2021, falling to 199 in 2022. Numbers then remained relatively stable, with 198 reports in 2023, 193 in 2024 and 182 in 2025.
Although the annual totals have declined since 2021, the figures indicate that discarded sharps continue to be a recurring issue across the city’s public spaces.
Across the five-year period, Manchester City Council recorded at least 1,076 reports requiring street cleansing teams to remove discarded needles and sharps.
Josie Cookson said: “The reduction in reported incidents compared with 2021 does not necessarily mean the issue has disappeared. Changes in reporting behaviour, operational priorities or service demand may also influence the figures. Discarded needles present contamination risks in communal spaces, alleyways, car parks and public areas, making safe specialist removal essential for protecting public health.”
The data also highlights the period between complaints being reported and problems being fully resolved.
Josie Cookson said: “Where damp and mould are involved, that process can take weeks or even months. During that time, mould can continue spreading across walls, ceilings and furnishings, releasing spores that may worsen respiratory illnesses, trigger allergies and create significant health risks for vulnerable people. Household cleaning products and DIY treatments are frequently unable to deal with established mould growth, meaning specialist remediation is often required.”
For landlords, failing to address these issues promptly can have serious legal implications under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, alongside the additional responsibilities introduced through Awaab’s Law.
Scrubbed With Love provides specialist remediation services for landlords, letting agents, housing associations and private tenants throughout Greater Manchester and Liverpool, tackling damp, mould, contaminated waste and discarded sharps safely and professionally.
Josie Cookson added: “These figures reinforce what our team regularly encounters on site.
“Many tenants have been living alongside mould for months before we become involved. By that stage, the problem has often progressed beyond what routine maintenance can resolve. While the council continues to work within its available resources, there is often a significant delay between a complaint being made and conditions improving. Our role is to help bridge that gap with professional remediation.”
