What is Awaab's Law? A guide for private landlords

The way landlords manage damp and mould is changing. Awaab's Law has introduced new legal standards for social landlords, with the Government confirming that similar requirements will be extended to the private rented sector in the near future through the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

While there is no confirmed implementation date for private landlords, now is the ideal time to review your approach to property maintenance. By responding promptly to issues, keeping clear records and taking a proactive approach, you can protect your investment, support tenants and be prepared ahead of time.

What is Awaab's Law?

Awaab's Law is legislation designed to ensure serious housing hazards, including damp and mould, are investigated and addressed promptly in social housing. It was introduced through the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak.

Since 27 October 2025, social landlords have been required to respond to reports of serious damp, mould and emergency hazards within statutory timescales.

The legislation will continue to be introduced in phases. From 30 November 2026, the requirements will also apply to a wider range of serious hazards covered by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), including excess cold and heat, fire and electrical hazards, structural collapse and certain fall hazards.

What does this mean for private landlords?

At present, Awaab's Law applies only to the social rented sector. However, the Government has confirmed that equivalent requirements will be introduced for privately rented homes through secondary legislation under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Although these changes currently apply only to social housing, they provide a clear indication of the standards the Government intends to introduce across the wider rental market.

In the meantime, private landlords should continue to meet their existing legal responsibilities by ensuring properties are fit for human habitation and addressing hazards such as damp and mould promptly where they arise.

Rather than waiting for future legislation, adopting good property management practices now can help landlords stay ahead of regulatory change while protecting both their investment and their tenants.

Three practical steps landlords can take now

Respond promptly

Encourage tenants to report maintenance issues as soon as they arise and investigate the underlying cause of damp or mould, rather than simply treating the visible symptoms.

Keep clear records

Maintain a record of reported issues, inspections, contractor visits and completed repairs. A clear audit trail demonstrates a proactive approach and provides valuable information should issues arise later.

Focus on prevention

Routine property maintenance, including checking ventilation, heating systems, roofs, gutters and insulation, can help reduce the likelihood of damp and mould developing in the first place.

How our Fully Managed service helps

Taking a preventative approach is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of damp and mould, which is why our Fully Managed service includes access to our Mould Protection Device.

Installed discreetly within the property, the wireless device monitors temperature and humidity every 30 minutes, helping identify environmental conditions that may increase the risk of damp and mould. This enables potential issues to be identified earlier, allowing landlords and property managers to investigate before they become more significant.

The system also creates a historical record of environmental conditions, providing useful insight into how a property is performing over time and supporting a proactive approach to ongoing property management.

To find out more about our Fully Managed service and the mould protection device service, speak to your local branch today.

All legislative information in this article is based on the guidance published by the UK Government at the time of this blog's publication.