New phase of Awaab’s Law gives 4 million UK social tenants faster hazard repairs

Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law will come into force on 30 November, extending strict time-limits for addressing serious hazards in England’s social-housing stock to about four million tenants. Under the new rules, landlords must investigate and make safe any danger that poses an immediate risk—such as damp, mould, electrical faults, structural defects, fire hazards or pest infestations—within 24 hours. For serious but not immediately dangerous issues, landlords have ten working days to investigate, must provide a written summary of the problem and planned action within three days, carry out urgent safety work within five days, and complete longer-term repairs within 12 weeks, with homes made safe within 15 days overall.

The law originated after the 2020 death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak and has been championed by his parents; it was first introduced under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and is now being rolled out under his successor Andy Burnham. Housing officials, including Steve Reed, Gavin Smart of the Chartered Institute of Housing and Kate Henderson of the National Housing Federation, welcomed the guidance, emphasizing the shift toward a culture of listening to residents. Phase 3, slated for 2027, will broaden the fast-action requirements to all remaining hazards in the government’s Housing Health and Safety Rating System, except overcrowding.