Awaab’s Law: A turning point in tenant safety and housing standards
Our mission is to ensure that all of our tenants live in safe, healthy and well-maintained homes. That’s why we’re full advocates of Awaab’s Law – a significant new piece of legislation that will transform the way housing providers respond to health hazards in social and rented homes.
What is Awaab’s Law?
Awaab’s Law is named in memory of Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old boy who tragically died in Rochdale in 2020 after prolonged exposure to damp and mould in his own home – a social housing flat. Awaab’s death highlighted systemic failures in housing management and a lack of accountability when it came to health hazards in homes.
The Law was introduced as part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 as a means of legally requiring landlords to act quickly when serious hazards such as damp, mould and other health related risks are identified in a tenant’s home.
Key features of Awaab’s Law
The Government officially laid out the requirements of Awaab’s Law in July 2025. These include:
- Strict timeframes for landlords:
- 7 days to investigate and provide an initial response to tenant reports of damp, mould, or other health hazards
- 21 days to begin repair work where a hazard is confirmed
- In emergency cases, action must be taken within 24 hours
- Primarily applies to social housing in England – but there is increasing pressure for similar standards to be applied across the private rented sector
- Clear enforcement powers for the Regulator of Social Housing and local authorities to hold landlords accountable for non-compliance
Why does Awaab’s Law matter?
This legislation is more than just policy – it’s about people. It’s about ensuring that no tenant has to live in unsafe conditions, and that housing providers take their responsibilities seriously.
For property managers and landlords, it represents a cultural shift from reactive repairs to proactive health and safety management. It also requires better communication with residents and greater transparency around repair processes.
What does this mean to us at Qube Residential?
We’re advocates for the introduction of Awaab’s Law and the heightened standards it brings – and most importantly how it contributes to the safety of tenants. We are committed to:
- Conducting proactive property inspections to identify and resolve issues before they become hazards
- Improving our reporting systems, making it easier for tenants to raise concerns and track the status of repairs
- Training our staff and contractors to respond efficiently to health-related hazards
- Maintaining open lines of communication with all our tenants to ensure they feel heard, supported and safe in their homes
On the 25 June 2025, the government laid the first phase of Awaab’s Law before Parliament, and it will take effect from the 1st October 2025. This initial phase mandates social landlords to act swiftly on damp and mould, as well as all other emergency hazards.
Landlords must specifically:
- Investigate potential hazards within 10 working days
- Provide a written summary within 3 working days of the investigation,
- Take immediate action, making the property safe and beginning repairs within 5 working days
- Address emergencies within 24 hours
These measures are designed to ensure tenants live in safe, healthy homes and mark the start of a phased roll‑out, expanding to additional hazards by 2026 and 2027. This law sets a new standard, and we are proud to be working towards not just compliance, but leadership in creating safer homes for all of our tenants. If you’re experiencing issues with the condition of your home, don’t hesitate to contact our property management team. Ensuring your safety and well-being is our top priority.
Contact Qube Residential via our website or by phone:
https://www.quberesidential.com/contact-us/
Liverpool Office -0151 363 6686
Manchester Office -0161 302 8141
Read the full statement here from Angela Raynor: questions-statements.parliament.uk.
