news | 1 month ago | Jon Yarker

Awaab’s Law warning made to landlords

Two vocal groups in the PRS, Propertymark and the Housing Ombudsman, have made vocal warnings to landlords about what Awaab’s Law may mean for them.


The law was named in memory of Awaab Ishak, a two-year old boy who died due to exposure to mould in his family’s rented social home in 2020.

Following a coroner’s ruling into the need for landlords to take residents’ concerns about health and safety seriously, the then-government consulted on and introduced Awaab’s Law that was introduced in the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023.

This requires landlords to investigate and fix reported health hazards within specified timeframes. The law is now being extended to privately rented homes under the Renters Rights Bill which is currently undergoing parliamentary process.

The Housing Ombudsman, which recently published a report on maladministration concerns among landlords which included issues around mould and damp, has renewed calls for landlords to be ready.

Richard Blakeway, housing ombudsman, said: “Right now, landlords should be assuring themselves they can deliver robust action on hazards and doing so will make them better prepared for Awaab’s Law.

“Taking action on these lessons will help landlords deliver that basic human right of a warm, safe and decent home.”

Propertymark has also been vocal and highlighted the need for regular inspections of privately rented houses.

Richard Abbots, CEO of Inventory Hive, a partner of Propertymark that specialises in property inspection software, said it is vital that landlords address issues “at the first sign of trouble.”

“To comply with Awaab’s Law, proactive property inspections and routine visits are crucial,” said Richard.

“Waiting for tenants to report damp and mould can delay improvements and lead to worsening conditions, whereas routine inspections allow landlords and agents to detect issues early, take preventive actions and resolve small problems before they escalate.”

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