Spotting the Signs Earlier: How Sureserve is Building Damp and Mould Competence across it’s Workforce

With new damp and mould legislation now in force in Scotland, Sureserve Energy Services UK Limited is taking proactive steps to strengthen the skills of its retrofit workforce across the UK, working with Elmhurst Energy to equip assessors with the knowledge to identify risks and support landlords in meeting their responsibilities.

Retrofit assessors can be found inside homes looking at fabric, ventilation, heating, occupancy patterns and how a property is performing. Until now, damp and mould risk might never have made the list unless it had already been raised as a complaint. But with new regulation, that is rapidly changing.

Damp and mould is no longer a background issue for landlords, contractors or retrofit teams. Awaab’s Law came into force for social landlords in England in October 2025, and the Scottish requirements came into force on 6th October 2026, applying across the social and private rented sectors. Sureserve Energy Services UK Limited has taken steps to prepare for these changes.

That is why the training sits naturally with retrofit assessment. The assessor is already on site, gathering the property information that informs the retrofit plan. Damp and mould competence adds another layer to that assessment before the information is passed to the retrofit coordinator.

“Damp and mould is now a critical competence issue for the housing and retrofit sectors. This training is designed to help professionals identify risk, understand the role of ventilation and building performance, and provide clear information that supports landlords’ decision-making.”

Josh Wakeling, Head of Training at Elmhurst Energy

From Complaint-Led Repairs to Earlier Detection

Awaab’s Law changes the pressure on landlords. Awareness, triage, investigation and evidence all become more important.

England’s guidance says a social landlord can become aware of a potential hazard through a tenant raising an issue, a routine inspection or visit by maintenance staff, or by notification from a third party, including contractors. It also says landlords should ensure contractors report hazards or potential hazards they identify when visiting a property. The legal responsibility for compliance and work completion remains with the landlord.

Sureserve’s retrofit assessors are already attending homes to assess property condition. While they are there, they may see something that would otherwise wait for a complaint: visible mould growth, damp staining, condensation risk, ventilation issues, thermal bridging or other moisture indicators.

It is here that Sureserve believes trained contractors and retrofit professionals can make a practical difference. A trained and competent assessor is better placed to recognise the risk and flag it to the social landlord for further investigation, before more severe problems develop.

Instead of damp and mould being raised only when a resident complains, risk can be spotted while a competent person is already in the home. For social landlords managing large housing portfolios, that can support earlier intervention, better evidence and more consistent decisions about remedial action.

This is where retrofit and repairs meet. A damp and mould finding should not sit alone. It may be linked to poor ventilation, fabric and thermal bridging, heating patterns, building defects or the way retrofit measures impact the home.

Competent identification at the assessment stage can help landlords and project teams look beyond the surface and focus on the cause.

Develop Your Damp and Mould Expertise With Elmhurst

As demonstrated by Sureserve’s approach, developing damp and mould competence can help retrofit and property professionals build on their existing knowledge while supporting landlords in identifying and addressing potential risks.

Elmhurst’s Damp and Mould Assessor Training provides professionals with the practical skills to identify damp and mould hazards, understand their potential causes and produce clear, evidence-based assessment reports.

The one-day, tutor-led online course is suitable for Domestic Energy Assessors, Retrofit Assessors, surveyors and other property professionals looking to expand their expertise.

Following successful completion, learners are eligible to join Elmhurst’s Damp and Mould Assessor Competency Scheme, providing access to specialist assessment software, technical support and additional member benefits.