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Millions of tenants safe from black mould through Awaab’s Law

ended 27. October 2025

Millions of tenants across the country will benefit from safer homes thanks to new rules coming into force today, the Government has announced. 

The first phase of Awaab’s Law will force social landlords to take urgent action to fix dangerous homes or face the full force of the law, improving lives for tenants and families living in all four million of England’s social rented homes. 

The new legal duties will finally put tenants’ safety first with landlords forced to fix emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting. They must also investigate significant damp and mould within 10 working days of being notified and then make properties safe in five working days. For both types of hazards, they must also write the findings to tenants within three working days of inspection.   

As part of the reforms, landlords now must also consider the circumstances of tenants which could put them at risk - including young children and those with disabilities or health conditions. Alternative accommodation must also be offered if homes cannot be made safe within the required timeframes. 

These vital reforms will not only keep tenants safer in their homes, but hold landlords to account. Those who fail to comply with the rules face being taken to court, where they could be issued enforcement orders, forced to pay compensation and legal costs - as well as loss of rent if homes were uninhabitable.

Awaab’s Law is a lasting legacy to two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died after being exposed to mould at his Rochdale home in December 2020. In the wake of this tragedy, Awaab’s family has fought to secure justice, not only for their son but for all those who live in social housing. 

Any thoughts, ASAP please.

4 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Michelle Lawson
Director at Lawson Financial
While this level of protection is welcomed and applauded, so many damp and mould issues are caused by tenants not ventilating properties correctly or adequately. Short of a landlord physically going round to open the windows, rebajes do have to take some responsibility. The pressure will be on to get works complete which is a huge ask to the trades involved too.
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Samuel Mather-Holgate
Managing Director & IFA at Mather and Murray Financial
It is reprehensible that it took nearly five years since the death of Awaab Ishak for this to become law, but tremendous credit needs to go to the family who resiliently perused their just cause. This will make such a difference to tenants living in poor conditions, and finally give them basic rights to live in decency. Over the coming months the proof will be in the swift administration of this law and how quickly tenants receive remedial work, opposed to dragging bureaucracy and delayed justice.
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Kundan Bhaduri
Entrepreneur, Investor and Landlord at The Kushman Group
The tragic death of a two year old has been successfully weaponised by the ideological zealots in Labour to further ostracize landlords. You see, mandating these 24 hour emergency repairs suggests politicians have never tried booking a weekend plumber or sourcing specialist damp contractors during a housing crisis. Social landlords will face an impossible cost of compliance while responsible private operators like us continue to wonder how we can fix broken structural issues with availability of skilled professionals within a single day.

Good landlords already prioritise tenant safety because it protects their investment. Bad landlords will continue to fly under the radar than face unlimited costs for problems beyond their immediate control. This government has confused speed with effectiveness. They are keen on delivering legislation that is replete with buzzwords but ignores basic market realities.
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David Belle
Founder and Trader at Fink Money
Black mould is usually fixed by opening a window, something many social tenants simply don't do for whatever reason. Further regulation is just silly.