Awaab's Law: What Housing Providers Need to Know About Damp and Mould Compliance

A Landmark Moment for Housing Safety

On 27 October 2025, Awaab's Law came into force — the most significant piece of legislation around damp and mould in social housing in a generation. Named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale home, this law fundamentally changes the legal landscape for social landlords in England.

What Does the Law Require?

Under the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, social landlords are now legally required to meet strict timeframes when dealing with damp and mould hazards. If a social landlord becomes aware of a potential damp and mould hazard, they must investigate within 10 working days. They must provide residents with a written summary of findings within three working days of the investigation concluding. If the hazard poses a significant risk of harm, the landlord must make the property safe — using temporary measures if necessary — within set timeframes. All emergency hazards must be addressed within 24 hours.

Tenants who believe their landlord has failed to meet these requirements can take legal action for breach of contract.

What's Coming Next?

Awaab's Law is being implemented in phases. The first phase (October 2025) covers damp and mould hazards and all emergency repairs. In 2026, requirements will expand to include excess cold and heat, falls, structural collapse, fire, electrical hazards and hygiene issues. By 2027, the law will cover all remaining HHSRS hazards except overcrowding.

The Risk of Surface-Level Compliance

There is growing concern that some landlords may attempt to comply in letter but not spirit — wiping away visible mould without addressing the underlying moisture source, for example. This approach is both ineffective and potentially negligent. Mould that is cleaned away without root-cause remediation will inevitably return, leaving tenants at continued risk and landlords exposed to further legal action.

How Mould UK Supports Compliance

Mould UK was built for this moment. Our service is specifically designed to help housing associations, councils and social landlords meet their obligations under Awaab's Law through comprehensive, evidence-based mould assessments. Our all-inclusive service at £350 + VAT per property includes a full building inspection, lab-verified mould species identification, environmental monitoring data and a detailed report with actionable remediation recommendations. We also offer CPD-accredited tenant training to help residents understand their role in maintaining healthy indoor environments — addressing the occupancy and social determinants alongside the building factors.

This is not another band-aid programme. It's the evidence base housing providers need to resolve mould problems permanently and demonstrate compliance with confidence.