What landlords need to know about Awaab’s Law?
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From October 2025, social landlords have to comply with stricter laws on mould or damp within their properties. There are specific timeframes that must be followed to address these issues swiftly and to ensure that tenants are safe within their homes. Here’s everything you need to know about Awaab’s Law and any implications it may have for your rental properties
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What is Awaab’s Law?
Awaab’s Law introduces stricter requirements for investigating and addressing mould and damp in social housing. The law is named in memory of Awaab Ishak, who tragically died at the age of two in December 2020 after being exposed to mould in his home in Rochdale. After tireless campaigning from his family, the press, and housing charities, the law which bears his name comes into force in October 2025.
What does Awaab’s Law mean for landlords?
Introduced as part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, the law introduces a number of obligations for social housing landlords. Crucially, these are associated with specific timeframes that must be followed:
Social landlords must investigate within 10 working days of being notified about a potential mould or damp issue.
Social landlords must provide a written summary of the findings of the investigation within 3 working days of its conclusion.
If a significant hazard has been identified, safety works must be carried out within 5 working days of the end of the investigation.
For lesser hazards, work should be arranged as soon as possible and within a maximum of 12 weeks of the end of the investigation.
Social landlords must communicate regularly with tenants throughout the process to provide updates and information on how to stay safe.
If safety works cannot be completed within these timeframes, social landlords must provide suitable alternative accommodation at their own expense.
Social landlords must repair emergency hazards within 24 hours of them being reported. This is not limited to just those relating to damp or mould.
What else is covered by Awaab’s Law?
Awaab’s Law is being implemented via a phased approach. In 2026 the law will expand to cover risks relating to excess cold and heat, fire and electrical risks, falls, structural issues and collapse, and poor hygiene. In 2027 it will expand again to cover all hazards identified by the Housing Health and Safety Ratings System (England) Regulations except for overcrowding.
Speak to a Damp Proofing Specialist
Call 01795 583 059, email info.targetdamp@gmail.com, or fill out our contact form to discuss your requirements with a member of our team.
What precautions can landlords take to prepare?
In order to prevent your rental property from becoming one of the dangerous properties targeted by Awaab’s Law, it’s important to take preemptive action against mould or damp.
Damp proofing creates a physical or chemical barrier against moisture and prevents it from entering the property. This is particularly important for ground floor or below-ground spaces, as rising damp starts in these areas and gradually moves upwards via capillary action. If you have converted a basement or cellar into a living space (or are considering doing so), damp proofing is a vital step.
Ventilating your property and controlling condensation will help to prevent the damp conditions that mould needs to thrive. It’s important for excess moisture to escape from the property and not become trapped. Providing that suitable insulation and air vents are in place, this is largely a case of talking to your tenants about actions like opening windows, drying clothes outside where possible, and adequately heating the property during winter.
What if my property already has mould or damp?
If it’s too late and your property is already impacted by mould or damp, arrange repairs at the earliest possible opportunity. Not only are social landlords obligated to stick to the strict timeframes implemented by Awaab’s Law, but delays are also likely to lead to more serious damage and expensive repairs.
Investing in professional mould removal will give you peace of mind that the issue has been thoroughly dealt with. A professional will also be able to implement suitable control measures to prevent the issue from recurring. This is a significant benefit for landlords, as it avoids further disruption and prevents your rental income from being interrupted or diverted towards costly repairs.
Any damaged materials, such as timber or plasterwork, can also be rectified by these professionals. This spares you the inconvenience of completing the work yourself (often on a tight schedule) and lets you benefit from the experience of contractors who do this day in, day out.
Will Awaab’s Law affect private landlords?
Whilst the legislation is initially restricted to social landlords, it is expected that the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill will extend the same tenant protections and obligations for landlords to the private rental sector. This bill is likely to come into effect in 2026, making it important for private landlords to be familiar with Awaab’s Law and to anticipate which changes (if any) may need to be made to their rental properties.
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