Awaab's Law was introduced in response to the death of Awaab Ishak in 2020, who died from respiratory illness caused by prolonged exposure to damp and mould in his family's social housing home. The law sets strict timeframes for landlords to act when serious hazards are reported.
The first phase of Awaab's Law came into force on October 27th, 2025 for social housing. It requires social landlords to investigate reports of damp and mould within 14 days, begin repairs within 7 days of identifying a serious issue, and complete them within a reasonable and legally defined timeframe. Emergency hazards must be attended to within 24 hours.
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 includes provisions to extend Awaab's Law to the private rented sector. The government has confirmed this will happen as part of Phase 3 of implementation, with the detailed regulations subject to consultation. When it takes effect, private landlords will face the same enforceable timeframes for responding to hazards.
If your private landlord isn't acting on damp, mould, or other serious hazards, you don't need to wait for Awaab's Law to be extended. You can already report the issue to your local council's environmental health team under existing HHSRS powers, and the council can require the landlord to carry out repairs.
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