Savills has come under fire in a BBC Panorama documentary on the state of mouldy rental homes.
BBC reporter Rahil Sheikh met families dealing with black mould across both social and privately rented homes.
One of the properties was rented in Rotherham by an elderly couple, while in every room there was peeling wallpaper, wet walls, large black mould patches and a bad smell.
The property was managed by property group Savills and owned by William Pears Group.
The Pears brothers include Mark Pears, who is trustee of the British Museum and is reported to be worth £3bn; and Sir Trevor Pears, who has been knighted for his charity work.
The couple have been complaining to Savills about the conditions since 2022.
Savills told the BBC it is “very sorry to learn that Mrs Brown believes that her complaints have been in any way ignored” and that the company “always tried to address problems in a timely manner”. Savills added that 13 different inspections have taken place between 2023 and 2024.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will extend ‘Awaab’s Law’ once it passes through the House of Lords. This will force landlords to respond to mould issues more quickly, or face penalties of up to £30,000.
Jason Instrell, Industry Lead at SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance, said: “Damp is often caused by a lack of air circulation. The key is to ensure the property is well-ventilated and that there is consistent air movement, both before a property is let and during a tenancy.
“There are a number of general maintenance tasks that building owners, landlords and tenants can easily carry out to help prevent mould and control its growth.”
