From Monday 27th October 2025, Awaab’s Law will come into effect. These rules are designed to make sure all social housing tenants live in homes that are safe and free from health hazards, starting with damp and mould.
The law follows after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old boy who tragically died in 2020 due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home. The government has introduced these changes to make sure something like this never happens again.
What’s Changing from October 2025
From October 2025, as your landlord, we must:
- Investigate potential emergency hazards and undertake relevant safety works within 24 hours.
- Investigate potential significant hazards within 10 working days of becoming aware of them.
- Produce a written summary within 3 working days of the conclusion of the investigation.
- Undertake relevant safety work within 5 working days of the investigation concluding if a significant hazard is identified.
- Begin, or take steps to begin, any further works within 5 working days of the investigation concluding if a significant or emergency hazard is identified.
- All further works must be commenced within 12 weeks and be completed within a reasonable time period.
You have the right to live in a safe and healthy home. If you report damp, mould, or any other hazard, we must follow the above rules. These are legal duties, meaning landlords can face fines or legal action if they fail to comply.
If we don’t act or you’re unhappy with our response, you can:
- Raise a formal complaint.
- Contact the Housing Ombudsman Service for support and advice.
- Speak to your local council’s environmental health team, who can take enforcement action if needed.
The government is introducing Awaab’s Law in phases, this is the first of three:
In 2026 the requirements will be expanded to apply to a wider range of hazards, including:
- Excess cold and excess heat.
- Falls.
- Structural collapse.
- Fire, electrical and explosions.
- Hygiene hazards.
In 2027 the requirements will be expanding to the remaining hazards in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, excluding overcrowding.
To find out more information about damp or mould and how to raise a repair please visit our Condensation and Mould page.
