Awaab’s Law will be implemented this October in the social rented sector. What will this mean for landlords, and how can the private rental sector prepare ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill?
On 27th October, Awaab’s Law comes into force for the social rented sector. The Law, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died in December 2020 due to prolonged mould exposure, will legally require landlords to repair dangerous hazards within fixed timescales.
The timelines for regulation implementation
The rollout of Awaab’s Law is expected as follows:
27th October 2025: Social landlords will have to address all emergency hazards (including damp and mould) that present significant harm to tenants within set timeframes.
2026: The regulations will extend to include:
- Excess cold or heat
- Falls associated with unlevel surfaces, stairs, baths, etc
- Structural collapse and explosions
- Fire and electrical hazards
- Domestic hygiene and food safety
The guidance and timeframe expectations around “emergency” and “significant” hazards differ slightly:
- For emergency hazards, landlords must investigate within 24 hours. If it’s a confirmed hazard, landlords must conduct all relevant works and make the property safe within 24 hours. If this isn’t possible, the landlord must offer suitable alternative accommodation until the works are completed.
- For significant hazards, landlords must complete or begin the safety works within 5 working days of concluding the initial investigation. Where further work is required (and it’s impossible to begin these within the 5 working days), landlords are expected to start these as soon as possible and within 12 weeks of concluding the initial investigation.
In both instances where a hazard is confirmed, the landlord must provide a written summary of the investigation within 3 days of the conclusion.
Is the market ready for Awaab’s Law?
According to a report by Inventory Base, one in ten social rental homes in England falls below the government’s Decent Homes Standard, which is approximately 430,000 properties.
Furthermore, it’s forecast that by the end of this year, nearly 405,000 homes will still be classified as “non-decent”.
How effective will Awaab’s Law really be?
Inventory Base claims that landlords must move from reactive to proactive prevention for the Law to truly change the sector. It goes on to say that relying on tenants to flag already dangerous issues must be replaced by regular landlord inspections to detect problems early on.
A spokesperson comments, “Social housing providers must now adopt a preventative mindset, conducting regular inspections, logging issues comprehensively, and maintaining a clear, auditable digital workflow to ensure accountability and timely resolution.
“The private rented sector should also take note. With the proposed Renters’ Rights Bill set to introduce stricter compliance requirements, the need for digitised, standardised property management is becoming universal. Failing to adapt risks causing real harm to tenants. In a climate of increasing scrutiny, transparency and timely action are not optional, they are operational necessities.”
Preparing for the Renters’ Rights Bill
This initial rollout of Awaab’s Law will set a precedent for its extension to the private rental sector with the Renters’ Rights Bill. The new expectations will change how landlords manage their properties, with more procedures and standards to uphold.
This Law will professionalise the sector, and we know that our landlord clients are already proactive in ensuring their tenants have safe, reliable homes. However, for properties where some work needs to be done to meet the incoming standards, it’s time to act now.
Our experts can help you secure finance to complete any necessary property improvements. Whether this is a bridging loan, remortgaging to raise capital, or a further advance, we’re here to support you.
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Call our experts on 0345 345 6788 or submit an enquiry here to see what finance you could access.
