Understanding Awaab's Law
- David Procter
- Dec 3, 2025
- 3 min read
The UK government has introduced Awaab’s Law, a powerful new legal framework designed to ensure considerably higher levels of safety and healthy living conditions for tenants.
It came into force in October 2025, with further rollout during 2026 and 2027 - and will be introduced in Scotland in 2026. Currently it applies to social housing in England and Wales but there are calls to extend similar protections to the private rented sector.
For the construction sector, this greater focus and elevated priority means that any organisation bidding for or undertaking social housing maintenance will need to be ready to mobilise swiftly, within the time periods of the law. They must be able to demonstrate that they can address damp and mould issues and other serious hazards with greater speed and competence, impacting how they work by requiring stricter deadlines, enhanced record-keeping, and a shift toward solving root causes rather than quick fixes.
At Procter Street we can help strengthen your bidding for social housing maintenance contracts through our thorough understanding of the criteria you will need to be able to show. We can work with you to develop robust processes and dedicated teams that will meet the demands of the local authorities looking for the highest level of service.
You can read more about Awaab’s Law below – a tragedy that sparked this reform - a shocking reminder of what’s at stake when housing systems fail. Awaab’s Law ensures that no family should ever have to endure what his did - and that safe, healthy housing is a right for everyone.
Context: What is Awaab’s Law?
In 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak tragically died after prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s social housing flat in Rochdale. Despite repeated complaints, the housing provider failed to act. Awaab’s death shocked the nation and exposed deep flaws in how housing complaints - especially those involving health hazards - were handled.
Awaab’s Law is part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 which came into force on 27 October 2025. It mandates strict timeframes for social landlords in England and Wales - and Scotland in 2026 - to investigate and resolve health hazards like damp and mould.
Key timeframes
Emergency hazards (eg severe mould, gas leaks):
Investigate and make safe within 24 hours
If not possible, provide alternative accommodation
Significant hazards (eg persistent damp):
Investigate within 10 working days
Share findings and action plan within 3 working days
Begin repairs within 5 working days, or within 12 weeks if delays are unavoidable
These timeframes are now legally enforceable and will be included in all social housing tenancy agreements.
Phased rollout
Awaab’s Law will be implemented in three phases:
October 2025 – Damp, mould, and emergency hazards
2026 – Additional hazards like fire risks, structural issues, and hygiene
2027 – Full coverage of all hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), excluding overcrowding
Why it matters
Awaab’s Law is a moral commitment to protect lives. It empowers tenants, holds landlords accountable, and prioritises health and dignity in housing. Failure to comply could lead to legal action and compensation claims.
For social landlords, this means:
Updating repair protocols
Training staff to identify and act on hazards
Keeping detailed records of complaints and actions taken
If you are tendering for building remediation contracts our team is here to help
Contact hello@procterandstreet.co.uk
More information on Awaab's Law for landlords is available here
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