Investigate timelines for landlord compliance under Awaab’s Law

Damp homes

The compliance timelines under Awaab’s Law—set to come into force on 27 October 2025—establish legally binding periods within which social landlords must inspect, repair, and communicate about hazardous conditions such as damp, mould, and structural risks. The law is being rolled out in three phases (2025–2027), starting with damp and mould, and expanding to all residential hazards covered by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

Phase 1 – From 27 October 2025

This phase covers emergency hazards and significant damp and mould issues.

Timelines and procedures:

Emergency hazards (e.g., severe mould growth affecting health, electrical danger, gas leak, structural collapse):
- Must be investigated within 24 hours of being reported.
- Immediate steps must be taken to remove or mitigate the danger.
- If the hazard cannot be fixed quickly, alternative accommodation must be offered until repairs are completed.
Significant damp and mould hazards:
- Must be investigated within 10 working days of the complaint.
- Written findings and action plan must be provided to the tenant within three working days of inspection completion.
- Repair work to make the home safe must begin within five working days after inspection.
- Completed repairs must be verified and monitored to ensure the hazard has not recurred.
- Records must be retained for at least six years.

Tenants gain the right to take legal action or seek intervention through the Housing Ombudsman if these timeframes are breached, unless the landlord can prove all reasonable efforts were made (e.g., access denied, material shortages).

Phase 2 – From 2026

The second phase broadens Awaab’s Law to additional significant hazards, requiring identical inspection and mitigation timelines. Covered hazards will include:

Excess cold or heat
Structural collapse and explosions
Falls (on level surfaces, stairs, baths)
Fire and electrical hazards
Domestic hygiene and food safety risks

Social landlords must apply the same 10-day investigation and five-day remediation rule for these hazard types, ensuring parity across all categories of danger.

Phase 3 – From 2027

The final stage will extend coverage to all remaining HHSRS hazards (excluding overcrowding), institutionalizing Awaab’s Law across the full spectrum of housing safety conditions.

Compliance and Oversight

Regulations under the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 embed these timeframes into tenancy agreements, creating statutory contractual obligations enforceable in court.
The Regulator of Social Housing and Housing Ombudsman Service will monitor compliance via audit trails, repair logs, and complaint data.
Landlords unable to meet statutory deadlines must proactively document delays and demonstrate communication with tenants in line with the “reasonable endeavours” defence.

In summary, from October 2025 onward, social landlords will operate under a time-bound, legally enforceable framework that prioritizes tenant safety. The fixed response windows—24 hours for emergencies, 10 days to inspect, and five days to make safe—represent the UK’s first statutory repair standards directly tied to housing health outcomes and tenant protection.

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https://www.mfbrokers.co.uk/resources/news-and-insights/the-deadline-for-awaab-s-law