The government is set to implement significant reforms with the introduction of Awaab’s Law this October, ensuring that social landlords address dangerous living conditions swiftly. Social landlords will now be legally required to investigate and fix dangerous damp and mould within specific timeframes and repair all emergency hazards within 24 hours. These reforms come as part of a wider effort to improve housing safety and quality, in honour of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died after prolonged exposure to damp and mould in his home. At MTA Accommodation, we are here to help social housing providers with any emergency or temporary accommodation needs as these changes come into effect.
These reforms represent a landmark shift towards holding landlords accountable for maintaining safe living environments, with the law giving tenants the power to hold landlords to account through the courts. The phased approach of Awaab’s Law will first focus on damp and mould hazards, before expanding to cover additional emergency hazards by 2027. Social tenants will benefit from stronger protections, as landlords are legally obligated to address these issues swiftly and efficiently. The new law is expected to drive transformational changes in housing safety, improving the quality of social housing across the country.
The tragic death of Awaab Ishak in December 2020 led to a public outcry for justice, with his family courageously pushing for reforms. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasized that the government has a moral duty to prevent such tragedies in the future, making it clear that landlords cannot be allowed to rent out dangerous homes. Social housing tenants will now have stronger protections, with landlords forced to address dangerous conditions promptly.
The phased implementation of Awaab’s Law ensures that protections will start with damp and mould hazards, but will gradually expand to address other significant risks. These new regulations will make it easier for tenants to live in safe, secure homes, in line with the government’s broader pledge to improve housing standards. In the coming months, additional reforms will be introduced to further strengthen the law, including extending it to the private rented sector. This shift, part of the government’s broader social housing reforms, will help secure the lasting legacy that Awaab’s family has fought so hard for.
For more details, visit the official government announcement here: Awaab’s Law to Force Landlords to Fix Dangerous Homes.