Meet the DMC team
Earlier this year, we created a specialist team dedicated to sorting damp, mould and condensation (DMC) in our properties.
Believed to be one of the first housing associations in Wales to create such a team, we caught up with two members, Emma and Alex to find out more about what they do.
Emma explains why the team was formed:
“DMC in social housing has been in the news a lot over the past couple of years. With many of our homes being 50-70 years old, we knew that it was inevitable that we would have cases in some of our properties too. So, to tackle this problem head-on, we established a team that could deal with DMC effectively and efficiently.
“There are 14 of us, made up of inspectors, surveyors, planners and multi-skilled trades, ensuring that we can offer tenants a one-stop shop when it comes to dealing with DMC in their homes.”
Alex is the team’s surveyor. He said:
“A warm, dry and well maintained home helps prevent mould and keeps us healthy. When we get a report of DMC our aim is to stop what is causing the problem, so once dealt with we minimise the risk of it returning.
“Once we receive a report of DMC, the team swings into action. I or our other inspector Desiree will go and
visit the property to make an assessment to see what work needs to be done. We’ll grade the property on a scale of 1-4, with 1 representing the most urgent cases. We base our assessment on both the amount and type of DMC in the property and who lives there – for instance, we’ll prioritise properties where vulnerable people are living such as the elderly, people with certain health conditions or babies and young children.
“Once I’ve graded the property, I’ll pass over to Ben, our planner, who’ll organise for one of our trades to visit, treat the DMC and fix its cause.
“When that happens our first priority is to try and remove as much mould as possible at a specialist clean and treat appointment. Our team of painters and trades target the affected areas, ensuring mould spores are removed. The area is treated with special anti-fungal wash to stop the mould coming back. We then paint the affected area following treatment. This first step helps reduce the risk of mould exposure within the home.
“Follow up work will then begin where we complete the repairs that were causing the DMC in the first place. This will help minimise the risk of it returning.
“Once all is complete we may need to repaint any affected areas if any mould has returned and make sure the tenant is happy with all the works that have been completed.”
In more complex cases, Emma in her role as tenant liaison officer (TLO) will also get involved, as she explains:
“My role is to act as the link between us and the tenant, keeping them informed of the work we’re planning and being there throughout the process to keep them informed.
“Sometimes, because of the scale of the work required, the complexity of it, or just because the tenant needs a little more reassurance as to what’s going to happen, I come on board. I’ll be with them every step of the way, regularly updating them on the progress of the work and being at the other end of the phone if they have any queries.
“I’ve also been trained to carry out some simple inspections myself, although I know I always have the support of Alex or Desiree if something more specialist is needed.”
Emma also draws on her years of experience working across a number of Tai Tarian departments.
“I’ve got a lot of experience of working with our tenants and that really helps when forming relationships with them. I’ve worked in lots of teams over the years, so I know exactly what extra help and services are available to tenants should they need them. Hopefully I can spot any signs if they are struggling and get them specialist help.
"We’re not just there to fix the DMC, we’re also looking at how else we can help the tenant too. It’s a great job and I really love interacting with our tenants.
“How we deal with DMC can vary enormously. It can be anything from a simple clean and treat, to roof repairs, chimney removals or loft insulation top ups. What is important is that we treat the root cause of the problem so that we can stop it from coming back. If we can do that then we will have succeeded and make sure that our tenants are once again living in a healthy home.”
If you have any concerns or questions about damp, mould or condensation in your home please get in touch with our contact centre on 0300 777 3000 or email repairs@taitarian.co.uk
More top tips for dealing with DMC here
