With phase 1 of the law set to take effect on 27 October 2025, the draft guidance marks a critical step in helping social housing landlords prepare for their legal obligations. The law was initiated following the tragic death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak, due to a mouldy home. Part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, Awaab’s Law is set to impose strict requirements on social housing landlords to investigate and resolve issues of damp and mould within specified timeframes, helping residents gain faster repairs and reducing health risks.

The draft guidance has been published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to help social landlords understand and navigate their responsibilities in relation to Awaab’s Law. It sets out clear expectations for social landlords to address damp and mould hazards quickly and consistently. This includes strict timelines for investigating and rectifying emergency and significant hazards, with emergency hazards requiring investigation and safety work, if required, to be carried out within 24 hours. Meanwhile, significant hazards must be investigated within 10 working days, with safety work carried out within 5 working days of the investigation concluding.

The guidance also advises that the application of Awaabs’ Law will be case-specific, so social housing landlords will need to apply their own judgment depending on the circumstances. To support consistent and appropriate responses, landlords are advised to put in place clear internal policies, backed by strong governance and oversight. These policies should help ensure Awaab’s Law is applied fairly and effectively across housing stock, while also demonstrating that landlords are meeting their legal responsibilities. It is also essential to maintain clear, proactive, and consistent communication with tenants, and good record keeping. All these measures are vital since landlords will be required to show that they have taken reasonable steps where delays are unavoidable.

“We welcome the Government’s publication of ‘Awaab’s Law: Draft guidance for social landlords’ since it provides practical examples of how the law can be applied, allowing landlords to use judgment on individual cases depending on circumstances. It offers valuable advice on how to ensure compliance and, most importantly, protects tenants, since addressing mould and damp is crucial for safeguarding residents’ well-being. No one should live in a home with mould and damp, and landlords have a duty of care to their residents to help ensure they live in a healthy environment,” said Ashley Smith, product manager at Vent-Axia. “Effective ventilation is vital to improve indoor air quality and plays a crucial role in tackling condensation and mould. At Vent-Axia we work closely with landlords to help them choose the right ventilation for their individual property so they meet their duty of care.”

Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 landlords already have a legal requirement to provide rental properties that are fit for human habitation, including the need for effective ventilation and freedom from damp and mould. Vent-Axia can help landlords meet their duty of care with the right ventilation solution for each property. There are different types of ventilation available depending on the property type and whether there is already a mould problem.

Phase 1 of Awaab’s Law will be enforceable through tenancy law from 27 October 2025. If landlords do not comply, tenants will be able to seek redress. The Government will publish tenant guidance ahead of the implementation date.

Although the policy set out in Regulations will not be subject to change before 27 October 2025, the draft guidance may be subject to revisions to ensure that, when finalised, it is as helpful as possible. The Government welcomes any feedback on where further clarification or additional information would be helpful. Feedback can be sent to: socialhousingsafety@communities.gov.uk

For further information on ‘Awaab’s Law: Draft guidance for social landlords’ visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awaabs-law-draft-guidance-for-social-landlords/awaabs-law-draft-guidance-for-social-landlords

For social housing landlords requiring further ventilation advice visit Vent-Axia’s social housing hub: https://www.vent-axia.com/social-housing.