On the 27th of October 2025, Awwab’s Law will be at the forefront of minds of UK property managers and landlords. 

Awaab's Law is a landmark piece of legislation enacted in the UK in memory of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died in 2020 due to prolonged exposure to black mould in his family's social housing flat. 

The law, part of The Social Housing Regulation Act, aims to prevent similar tragedies. It will hold landlords accountable for addressing dangerous housing hazards, particularly damp and mould, in a timely and effective manner. 

What landlords need to know

The aim of Awaab’s law is to prevent health issues caused by an unsafe living environment. It enables tenants to push for fast action to eradicate mould and damp from their rented housing. 
It’s a tool to hold landlords accountable for neglecting issues with mould and damp, encouraging action. 

Here’s a brief layout of what is expected of social landlords after October 27th: 

  • They must investigate emergency hazards and undertake relevant safety work within 24 hours of becoming aware of the issue.
  • To investigate any non-emergency hazards within 10 working days of being made aware of them. 
  • Produce a written summary of findings from any investigations. This must be provided to the named tenant within three working days of the concluded investigation. 
  • For emergency hazards, undertake relevant safety work within five working days of the investigation concluding. 
  • Begin, or take the steps to begin any further works that’re required within five working days of the investigation concluding. This is relevant when the investigation identifies a significant or emergency hazard. If steps cannot be taken to start the required work within five working days, it must be done as soon as possible.The absolute limit for the work to be started is within 12 weeks.
  • The work needs to be completed to a satisfactory standard within a period of 21 working days.
  • Secure the provision of alternative accommodation for the household that is suitable for the tenants. This will be at the landlord’s expense and is only relevant if the work cannot be completed within the specified time frames. 
  • Ensure the named tenant is kept up to date throughout the process and provide them with information on how they can stay safe. 

Another key aspect of Awaab’s Law is increased scrutiny and enforcement from the powers of Housing Ombudsman. This law will allow them to monitor landlord compliance more closely. It also allows for potential legal action against landlords who violate the regulations. 

To find official information on what Awaab’s Law entails, please visit the government website.

How we can help

Housing associations, landlord and local authorities have trusted us for our 50 years to effectively eradicate mould from houses and flats.

Explore our internal mould treatments or if you’re not sure what you need, give our office a call on 01372 743 334 to help with problem identification to ensure correct selection of product and application of treatment.