Awaab's Law expands to cover more health hazards from November 2026
New social housing rules will provide 'safer homes' for millions of Britons from later this year, as the second phase of Awaab's Law comes into force this autumn. The legislation, first introduced in October 2025, was named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died from living with dangerous damp and mould. The first phase required landlords to act quickly to fix such problems and other emergency issues.
From November 30, 2026, the law will be expanded to protect tenants against other health hazards including structural problems, electrical faults, fire risks, and excess cold and heat. The change will affect approximately four million households in England's social rental sector, which includes around 2.5 million housing association tenants and 1.6 million council tenants.
Strict deadlines for landlords to investigate and fix dangers
The new law sets out strict deadlines for landlords to tackle non-emergency issues. They must investigate dangerous problems and ensure safety within 24 hours. If something is serious but not immediately dangerous, they must investigate it within 10 working days and provide a written summary of planned action within three working days. Landlords must then carry out urgent safety work within five working days of the investigation and start longer-term repairs within 12 weeks.
Housing secretary Steve Reed said: 'Awaab's Law sends a clear message that tenants' health and safety can never be compromised. This action will mean dangers have to be dealt with quickly by law, protecting tenants' rights to a safe and decent home.'
Industry leaders welcome collaborative approach
Gavin Smart, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), added: 'Extending Awaab's Law to these hazards is an important step towards safer, healthier homes, and we welcome the collaborative approach the government has taken. This is about more than compliance; it is a culture of listening to residents and acting on their concerns, and that is the change we want to help the sector deliver. CIH will support our members in delivering these duties and in continuing to feedback throughout the test-and-learn phase.'
