New statutory time limits will govern how quickly social housing landlords investigate and repair damp and mould—a major shift under the recently introduced Awaab’s Law. In our recent webinar with Building Magazine, we explored how the compliance challenge is as much about data and evidence as it is about maintenance delivery. Missed the webinar? Read on for an overview.
Awaab’s Law officially came into force at the end of October 2025, born out of the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 due to respiratory issues caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his home. It is embedded in Clause 42 of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 and the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) Act 2025 and represents a step change in how landlords evidence responsiveness, safety and care.
A new level of accountability
Under Phase 1, which focuses on damp and mould, landlords must investigate complaints within 10 working days and, for serious cases, begin remedial works or take temporary measures to make the home safe within five working days. Category 1 emergencies demand even faster action, whereby the investigation and work must both take place within 24 hours, or tenants need to be rehoused if the hazard cannot be controlled.
Beyond speed, landlords must be able to prove compliance, not just that the work was done but that it was done correctly, on time and that every step was documented, dated and verified.
