Following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak due to a prolonged exposure to mould in his home, the government have recently passed the Social (Housing) Regulation Act 2023, also known as Awaab’s Law.
Awaab’s law is set to be one of the most impactful pieces of legislature relating to social housing in recent years, and it’s going to influence the way that social housing is cared for significantly.
So, in this article we are going to break down what the new law means for landlords, tenants, and housing associations, as well as how to best follow the newly stipulated laws, and the consequences for not adhering to the new stipulations set in Awaab’s law.
What is Awaab’s Law?
The passing of Awaab’s Law was done to deal with the growing epidemic of damp and mould in social housing, all because of the physical health risks associated with untreated mould and damp in a living space.
Some of the main points in the law passed include:
- From October 2025 “Social landlords have to investigate and fix dangerous damp and mould within a set amount of time as well as repair all emergency hazards within 24 hours”
- Landlords who fail to comply face being to taken to court, with social tenants able to use the full power of the law to hold them to account.
- Landlords and housing associations should implement proactive measures to prevent damp and mould issues, including regular property inspections and maintenance.
What Does Awaab’s Law Mean for Tenants?
Awaab’s law includes within it provisions that allow tenants to hold landlords to a greater level of responsibility when it comes to damp and mould issues.
Tenants now will be able to hold the landlord to account when it comes to controlling damp and mould issues within a property, and will be able to pursue the legal avenues available to them should they require.
Of course, this means that the tenants must inform their landlords about any damp and mould problems in their property, and that their reports must be accurate and detailed enough for the landlords to provide an effective and lasting solution.
Also, tenants have to be ready and willing to cooperate with the landlord so that access for inspections, surveys, and repairs relevant to the damp and mould issues in the property can be carried out to put a stop to the problem, or actively prevent a new problem from occurring.
What Does Awaab’s Law Mean for Housing Associations and Social Landlords?
Awaab’s Law specifically targets properties owned and operated by housing associations and social landlords.
That means that social landlords and housing associations need to be taking steps now to proactively prepare for when the law to comes into effect (October 2025), so that they can reduce the potential liability when the law is enforceable.
After October 2025 any and all social landlords and housing associations need to implement proactive measures to prevent damp and mould issues, which would include regular property inspections and maintenance.
Also, once the law is enforceable, social landlords and housing associations will have to investigate and fix dangerous damp and mould problems, and repair all emergency hazards, within a set amount of time (twenty four hours).
All of this is going to be enforceable by law, and if not adhered to then social landlords and housing associations could find themselves in court to face the consequences.
The law is also going to be extended to include the stipulation that social landlords and housing associations will have to provide temporary accommodation for tenants who have to leave their property for these repairs.
All of this means that preparation for Awaab’s law is best started now, ahead of the laws implementation so that any legal ramifications and rush for service can be avoided.
What Does Awaab’s Law Mean for Private Landlords?
Private landlords need to be aware that whilst at the moment Awaab’s law does not apply to private landlords, the government does plan to extend Awaab’s law to the private rented sector through the Renter’s Rights Bill.
When exactly this will take place is unclear, but the plans have been confirmed by the Deputy Prime Minister, with them saying ‘we will…take a step-by-step approach to make the law stronger over time so that landlords will be legally required to fix all dangerous hazards from 2027.’
With that in mind, it may well be best to prepare any privately held properties being used for rent for the laws implementation.
If you require any help in preparing a property you own or manage to be compliant with the requirements as set out in Awaab’s Law, you can always speak to our team to learn what steps you need to take.
