From 27 October 2025, a new housing law comes into force that will hold social landlords to account when it comes to damp and mould.

Known as Awaab’s Law, it was introduced after the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died from exposure to mould in his family’s flat in Rochdale. His story prompted national outrage and led to a complete rethink of how social housing providers deal with these hazards.

What are the New Legal Requirements?

Under Awaab’s Law, social landlords — including councils and housing associations — must now:

✅ Inspect reports of serious damp, mould or other health hazards within 10 working days.
✅ Provide written findings to the tenant within 3 working days of the inspection.
✅ Fix emergency hazards (where there’s an immediate risk to health) within 24 hours.
✅ Make homes safe within 5 working days for other damp or mould problems that pose health risks.

Although the law currently applies to the social housing sector, the government has confirmed that private landlords will face similar obligations in the near future.

Why Does This Matter?

This law is about more than repairs — it’s about protecting people’s health.

Prolonged exposure to damp and mould can lead to respiratory illness, asthma, and long-term health problems, especially for children and the elderly.

For tenants, Awaab’s Law brings stronger rights and clearer timescales.
For landlords, it sets strict deadlines and legal responsibility to act quickly — failure to comply could lead to legal action, fines, or compensation claims.

Landlords Should:

If you manage or own social housing, make sure you’re ready:

• Have a clear damp and mould response procedure in place.

• Keep written records of inspections and repairs.

• Address the root cause — don’t just paint over mould.

• Work with qualified damp specialists who can provide reports and certified remediation work.

What Can Tenants Expect?

If you’re a tenant in social housing, you now have the right to expect:

• An inspection within 10 working days of reporting a damp or mould issue.

• A written report within 3 working days of that inspection.

• Repairs completed within 5 days, or 24 hours for emergencies.

If your landlord doesn’t act, you can raise the issue with your local council or the Housing Ombudsman.

How Brighton Damp Proofers Can Help!

At Brighton Damp Proofers, we’ve been dealing with damp and mould problems across Brighton and the South East for years. We welcome Awaab’s Law because it ensures these issues are taken seriously — and fixed properly.

We help landlords, housing providers, and tenants by providing:

• Professional damp and mould inspections

• Detailed reports that meet legal and professional standards

• Root cause analysis – whether it’s rising damp, condensation, or penetrating damp

• Remedial works using trusted systems such as Newton Membrane and specialist mould treatments

• Ventilation and prevention solutions to stop the problem returning