Awaabs Law or the Hazards in Social Housing Regulations 2025 is a new law which comes into force on 27th October. The law addresses the problems which led to the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, caused by prolonged exposure to damp and mould in his home.
The main focus of the law is to ensure that social housing landlords take prompt action to address health and safety hazards the effect residents. However, there will also be effects for contractors who might work in these homes.
There will be two new legal levels of hazard:
- An ‘Emergency hazard’ with imminent threat to health or safety, such as unsafe electrics, which will need to be made safe within 24 hours. This will mean there will be pressure on contractors to ensure that they are able to respond quickly to these types of issues.
- A ‘significant hazard’, such as the presence of damp or mould must be investigated within 10 days and then repairs started within 5 days from that date (or 12 weeks for complex problems). This means that contractors will be expected to be able to quickly allocate competent people to investigate, diagnose and then repair the root causes of damage to help landlords meet their timeframes.
Emphasis will be placed on solving the causes of problems, not just ‘painting over’ them.
There will be an increased need for contractors to keep accurate records of the work that they do, the time and date of visits, photos of problems and solutions and a formal sign off stating that the work has met all required safety standards. Qualified damp surveyors, ventilation engineers as well as tradespeople capable of fixing underlying issues will be in high demand.
What does a contractor need to do?
- Identify agreements that you may have with landlords who will now need you to respond within these new timescales.
- Develop thorough recording systems, supported with documentation that will prove findings and work undertaken.
- Consider investing in training for staff to identify the root causes of issues, particularly damp and mould.
- Develop formal sign off procedures for works undertaken.
