What is Awaab's Law?
Awaab's Law sits within the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. Its purpose is to require social landlords to investigate and fix dangerous hazards — beginning with damp and mould — within set timescales, rather than leaving residents waiting indefinitely. It reflects a wider shift towards treating damp and mould as a serious health risk rather than a cosmetic nuisance.
Who does it apply to?
Awaab's Law applies to social landlords — councils and housing associations. While the detail is being introduced in stages, the direction is clear: social landlords are expected to act promptly on reports of damp and mould, with particular regard to households that include young children or people with health vulnerabilities.
Private renters are not covered by Awaab's Law in the same way, but related standards — such as the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System — remain relevant, and good record-keeping is just as important.
What does it require landlords to do?
- Investigate reported damp and mould hazards within set timescales.
- Communicate findings to the resident.
- Begin work to address hazards promptly where they are found.
- Give particular regard to vulnerable households, including young children and those with respiratory conditions.
How tenants can use Awaab's Law effectively
A law that sets timescales is only useful to you if you can show when the clock started. That means having a clear, dated record of when you first reported the problem, what you reported, and what the landlord did in response.
From the very first sign of a problem, keep your own records. Save photographs, note the dates, record any health impacts, keep every message from your landlord, and build a clear timeline. Storing everything in one place — a Housing Issue Case File — is what turns scattered notes into a record that is easy to follow and hard to ignore.
Why recording vulnerability matters
Awaab's Law places particular weight on vulnerable households. If your home includes a young child, an elderly person, someone who is pregnant, or anyone with asthma or another respiratory condition, recording this clearly — alongside any health impacts you have experienced — helps ensure your circumstances are properly taken into account when your landlord responds.