The Government has announced it will bring Awaab’s Law into force from October this year, covering action on damp and mould of properties. This is as part of a phased introduction to the Social Housing Regulation which will be extended to a wider range of hazards from 2026.
Landlords will be forced to investigate and fix damp and mould in social housing in England within strict timescales from October, the Housing Secretary confirmed. However they will also be required to repair all other ’emergency hazards’ within 24 hours from this date.
Timeframes for other hazards to be addressed, including structural and electrical issues, will not be introduced until 2026 at the earliest, following an industry consultation. This delay has been criticised by Shelter, who said it “represents a real risk to the health and safety of tenants, and puts lives at risk.”
Previous propsals brought forward under the Conservative government suggested social landlords should be required to investigate and provide a timeline for repair within 14 days of being made aware of the hazard, with work beginning within seven days for significant risks.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the phased approach allowed protections from damp and mould to be brought in earlier, and enabled an initial period of testing to ensure the changes were implemented effectively.
In 2026, timeframes for “non-emergency” repairs will be announced for a wider range of hazards including excess cold and heat, structural collapse, fire, electrical faults and hygiene hazards, with the remaining statutory hazards covered from 2027.