The government has unveiled new measures to crack down on negligent social landlords in response to the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale, due to respiratory issues caused by mould in his flat. The initiative, named Awaab’s Law, aims to bring about significant reforms in social housing to prevent similar incidents.
The Housing Secretary has launched the Awaab’s Law consultation, proposing strict time limits for social housing providers to address hazardous conditions like damp and mould. The suggested legal requirements include investigating hazards within 14 days, initiating fixes within an additional 7 days, and completing emergency repairs within 24 hours. Landlords failing to comply may face legal action, including potential orders to compensate affected tenants.
To enhance transparency, landlords will be obligated to maintain clear records, demonstrating their efforts to adhere to the new timelines. This move seeks to prevent delays and ensure the prompt rectification of unsafe living conditions, aligning with the government’s commitment to deliver Awaab’s Law and safeguard the well-being of social housing occupants.
As part of changes to deliver Awaab’s Law, the government recently consulted on what more tenants need to better understand their rights and challenge social landlords when things go wrong.
This is the latest step in addressing systemic issues identified following the Grenfell Tower fire – not just the safety and quality of social housing but how tenants are treated by their landlords.
Awaab’s Law consultation will be open for 8 weeks and further details on how to respond can be found in the consultation paper.
