Awaab’s Law: What Every Landlord Needs to Know and How Height Guys Can Help You Stay Compliant

lindsey7743
5 days ago
3 min read

The tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 was a turning point for the UK housing sector. Living in a flat plagued by damp and mould, Awaab’s story exposed deep failings in how social housing providers handle dangerous living conditions.

In response, the Government introduced Awaab’s Law — a new legal framework that holds landlords to strict timelines when tackling health hazards such as damp, mould and disrepair. It’s a landmark change that aims to make sure no tenant ever suffers like Awaab did again.

What Is Awaab’s Law?

Coming into force from October 2025, Awaab’s Law sits within the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. It requires social landlords to investigate and act on hazards swiftly, transparently, and in full communication with tenants.

Under Awaab’s Law, landlords must:

Investigate reported damp or mould within 10 working days
Provide written findings within 3 working days of that investigation
Carry out repairs within 5 working days if a serious risk to health is identified
Act within 24 hours for emergencies such as electrical faults or severe water leaks
Offer alternative accommodation if a property cannot be made safe in time

This is Phase 1 of the rollout, focused on damp and mould. Phases 2 and 3 (2026–2027) will extend the law to cover other major hazards such as fire safety, excess cold, and electrical risks.

Why It Matters for the Sector

Awaab’s Law puts legal weight behind what should already be standard practice: keeping tenants safe.

For social landlords, it introduces enforceable deadlines, tighter regulation, and the possibility of enforcement action if these standards aren’t met.For contractors and maintenance providers, it changes expectations to response times, reporting accuracy, and documentation must all stand up to scrutiny.

It’s not just about fixing problems faster. It’s about proving you acted properly, with evidence, communication, and accountability at every stage.

How Height Guys Can Help You Prepare

At Height Guys, we’re already supporting landlords and property managers to get ahead of these new regulations.Our work across housing estates, blocks, and communal buildings means we’re often the first to spot — and fix — the issues that could later become hazards.

Here’s how we can help you meet your Awaab’s Law obligations:

✅ Proactive Inspections: Identify signs of damp, leaks or water ingress before they become critical.

✅ Rapid Response: Mobilise qualified teams quickly to resolve reported issues.

✅ Evidence & Reporting: Provide photographic proof, date-stamped reports, and clear communication trails for compliance.

✅ High-Level Access Expertise: Safely reach areas that others can’t — from façades to rooflines — to eliminate causes of damp and mould at source.

✅ Partnership Approach: Work seamlessly with your facilities, compliance and asset management teams to meet deadlines safely.

When every hour counts, having a trusted, safety-certified partner can make all the difference.

Five Steps Landlords Should Take Now

Audit current reporting and response procedures.
Clarify roles — who investigates, who repairs, who communicates with tenants.
Train teams to recognise and escalate hazards immediately.
Strengthen contractor relationships to ensure 24-hour responsiveness.
Keep thorough records of every report, inspection and repair.

Being prepared now will make compliance smoother — and protect both your tenants and your reputation later.

Our View

At Height Guys, we fully support the introduction of Awaab’s Law.Every home deserves to be safe, dry and fit to live in — and this legislation gives the sector the structure it needs to make that happen.

We’ve built our business on reliability, safety and transparency. By helping landlords and housing providers prepare for Awaab’s Law, we’re continuing that commitment — creating healthier homes and safer communities across the UK.