​Government issues updated guidance to help social landlords prepare for Awaab’s Law coming into force later this month

The move comes ahead of the regulations coming into force on 27 October 2025.

From this point social landlords will have to address all emergency hazards and all damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm to tenants to fixed timeframes, the guidance says. 

The guidance covers:

1. Introduction
2. Scope of Awaab’s Law
3. Awareness, triage and categorisation of hazards
4. Investigating whether there is a significant or emergency hazard
5. Requirement to take emergency action
6. Issuing a written summary to tenants
7. Making the property safe and supplementary preventative works
8. Securing suitable alternative accommodation
9. Defence
10. Transitional Arrangements
11. Enforcement of Awaab’s Law
12. Other statutory and regulatory requirements and guidance
13. Further information

The guidance has been updated following feedback received since publication of a draft version in June 2025.

The Ministry says: “While the policy set out in the Regulations will not change, we may continue to refine the guidance to support understanding and implementation.”

It adds that in 2026 the Government will extend regulations to include the following hazards where they present a significant risk of harm:

• excess cold and excess heat
• falls associated with baths etc., on level surfaces, on stairs and between levels
• structural collapse, and explosions
• fire, and electrical hazards
• domestic and personal hygiene and food safety

In 2027, it will extend regulations to all remaining HHSRS hazards (apart from overcrowding) where they present a significant risk of harm.

The guidance says: “Social landlords should ensure they are preparing for the future expansion of Awaab’s Law. This guidance includes information in relation to damp and mould hazards that will be in scope for the first phase of Awaab’s Law and will be updated to include other hazards ahead of the coming into force of further phases. We want to make sure that this policy works effectively through taking a ‘test and learn’ approach and will implement any lessons learned between phases.”

The Regulations are known as ‘Awaab’s Law’ in memory of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died as a result of a severe respiratory condition due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home. 

The guidance says: “Living in hazardous conditions can have a substantial impact on people’s health, safety and wellbeing. While many landlords take timely and effective action to address hazards, Awaab’s Law serves as a legal backstop for the cases where social landlords are failing to make repairs quickly enough, leaving their tenants at risk.”