AWAAB’S LAW AND WHY IT MATTERS
In October 2025, Awaab’s Law became a legal requirement for all social housing providers in England. It was introduced in memory of Awaab Ishak, a child who tragically lost his life after long-term exposure to mould in his family’s social housing home. His case underscored a deeply painful truth: damp and mould in homes can have serious health consequences — and landlords must do much more to mitigate any risks to their residents health.
Awaab’s Law marks a turning point. It’s not just about compliance: it’s about putting tenants’ health, safety, and dignity first.
Under Awaab’s Law, social housing providers must meet strict response times when dealing with damp and mould hazards. Emergency hazards, such as serious mould posing an immediate health risk, must be addressed within 24 hours, with landlords required to make the home safe straight away or provide suitable temporary accommodation if necessary.
For significant hazards, including cases of damp or mould that require further investigation, landlords have a maximum of 10 working days to carry out a full assessment, identify the underlying causes, and recommend appropriate remediation. Tenants must also receive clear, written communication outlining the findings and the actions that will be taken to resolve the issue.
Other vital expectations include:
Thorough investigations (not just a quick inspection) by qualified personnel
Clear, transparent communication with tenants about findings, plans, and timetable
Proper documentation and record-keeping
Preparedness to escalate or take temporary measures while full repair works are arranged
Failure to comply may lead to complaints, regulatory action, or legal consequences.
What social housing members need to do now
To meet Awaab’s Law obligations—and to protect tenants—social housing providers must act ahead of the deadline. Here’s a checklist of core steps:
Audit existing processes & identify gaps
Review how you currently respond to damp and mould reports. Where are delays, unclear handoffs, or areas with weak accountability?Set up or confirm 24/7 emergency repair capability
You’ll need contractors who can respond immediately to serious hazards, day or night.Engage qualified damp / mould specialists
Investigations must be done by people who deeply understand the science — to identify root causes, differentiate types of damp, and design lasting fixes.Train staff & align internal responsibilities
Everyone from frontline housing officers to senior management must know the new legal expectations and their roles.Revise tenant communication & reporting templates
Written reports must be clear, accessible, and transparent. You may also need translated or easy-read versions.Run practice drills & test processes
Simulate reporting, triage, investigation, and repair workflows ahead of time to find weaknesses and fix them before Awaab’s Law is live.Document, monitor, and review continuously
Keep accurate records, monitor your performance against the required timelines, and feed back lessons into process improvements.
How EN:Able Communities Supports Members
We’re committed to helping our member organisations not just comply — but to build a culture that protects residents, strengthen resilience, and embed trust. Here’s how we can help:
Training Workshops — for front-line staff, property teams, and residents on damp & mould causes, best practice under Awaab’s Law
- Toolkits & Guidance — clear templates, checklists, and policy samples tailored for social housing and community providers
Peer Sharing & Learning — Our webinars address current housing and compliance policy changes, see our resources section for more information.
Referral to Expert Partners — we can help you connect with trusted, experienced contractors, consultants, and compliance services
Looking Ahead: Beyond 2025
While Awaab’s Law starts with damp and mould, the law will expand in future to include a broader range of serious housing hazards. Ensure your organisation will be ready to respond to evolving regulations — with better quality, better confidence, and stronger protection for tenants and take the first steps in educating staff and residents with our Condensation and Mould Action Awareness Course.
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Find out more about our workshops and how we can help you with your damp, condensation and mould training requirements to support tenant wellbeing.
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