Social landlords will be forced to take urgent action to address health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting as Awaab’s Law comes into force today (27th October).
Social landlords must also investigate significant damp and mould within 10 working days of being notified and then make properties safe in five working days.
As part of the reforms, landlords now must also consider the circumstances of tenants which could put them at risk — including young children and those with disabilities or health conditions.
Alternative accommodation must also be offered if homes cannot be made safe within the required timeframes.
Those who fail to comply with the rules face being taken to court, where they could be issued enforcement orders, forced to pay compensation and legal costs — as well as loss of rent if homes were uninhabitable.
Awaab’s Law is named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old who passed away in December 2020 after being exposed to mould at his home in Rochdale.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed commented: “Everyone deserves a safe and decent home to live in and Awaab Ishak is a powerful reminder of how this can sadly be a matter of life or death.
“Awaab’s family has fought hard for change and their work to protect millions of tenants’ lives will live on as a legacy to their son.
“Our changes will give tenants a stronger voice and force landlords to act urgently when lives are at risk, ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.”
Gavin Smart, chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “We welcome Awaab’s Law as a significant step in ensuring that all social housing tenants live in safe and decent homes.
“Social landlords have been preparing for this change and have new processes in place to respond to these new requirements.
“We also welcome the new funding to enhance tenant engagement, a vital investment to help build cultures of trust, accountability, and safety in social housing.”
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, added: “The quality and safety of residents’ homes is housing associations’ top priority, and today represents an important milestone in our sector’s drive to ensure all our homes are the standard residents deserve.
“These reforms, alongside the government’s 10-year funding settlement and commitment to a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing, put housing associations on the sure footing needed to both continue investing in existing homes while having the confidence to build new ones.
“This will ease overcrowding pressures, which are a major contributor to damp and mould, and get to the root of addressing the housing crisis once and for all.”
