Awaab's Law: Compliance Requirements: What Landlords Need to Know

From 27 October 2025, Awaab's Law will take effect, introducing strict new timeframes for social landlords to address damp, mould, and other emergency hazards that pose a significant risk to tenant’s health. 

Key Time Frames for Damp and Mould Hazards

Registered providers of social housing must:

• Investigate emergency hazards within 24 hours of becoming aware of them.
• Investigate significant potential hazards within 10 working days of becoming aware of them.
• Provide tenants with a written summary of investigation of findings and provide this to the tenant within 3 working days of completing the investigation; and
• Undertake necessary repairs within 5 working days where an investigation identifies a significant hazard;

In 2026/2027 regulations will be further extended to include further hazards such as excess cold and excess heat, fire and electrical hazards, structural collapse and eventually all HHSRS hazards. 

These obligations sit alongside existing landlord duties to ensure properties remain fit for human habitation, safe, and free from health and safety hazards.

Implications for Private Landlords

Although Awaab's Law currently applies to the social housing sector, the Renters' Rights Bill proposes to extend these same standards, including The Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector. 

Private landlords should take steps now to:

• Familiarise themselves with the upcoming requirements
• Review their property standards and maintenance procedures 
• Prepare for increased compliance and enforcement under future regulations

You can read the government guidance here - Awaab’s Law: Draft guidance for social landlords - GOV.UK 

New and Updated Landlord Compliance Resources

To help landlords stay compliant, The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 Guide has been updated and expanded to reflect current legislation and best practice. 

Property now contains a new Residential Tenancy Compliance Documents and Templates group, in particular the Damp and Mould in Dwellings Compliance for Landlords which has a comprehensive range of professionally drafted templates, checklists and compliance letters. 

Landlords and Lettings agents should also refer to the Damp and Mould and Fitness for Human Habitation Act Explained Information Pages for information on compliance.

Stay subscribed for further information on the Renters' Rights Bill as it progresses through Parliament.