.png)
Note: Articles on the Renters’ Rights Bill will be continuously updated as details emerge
Last updated 11 October 2024
Awaab’s Law is named after a young boy who died in a social-rented home as a result of health problems brought on by prolonged exposure to mould in the property. It is currently applied to the social rented sector and requires social landlords to take swift action when health hazards are recognized.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will extend Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector.
Currently, when problems relating to the condition of a rented property are reported, landlords are simply required to fix them within a ‘reasonable’ timeframe.
This new measure will set strict new legal timeframes within which landlords must investigate and fix reported serious health hazards, such as damp and mould.
If landlords fail to comply, tenants will be able to challenge them through the court for breach of contract. This will make sure that all renters in England are empowered to challenge dangerous living conditions.
“Since the death of Awaab Ishak in 2020 as a result of mould campaigners have been calling for landlords in the private rented sector to be held to the same standards as those in the social sector now are, with research indicating that 1.6 million children live in privately rented homes with damp, mould or excessive cold. The Labour Government has confirmed that this legislation will be introduced to private landlords.
The onus is now firmly on the landlord to identify and deal with any problem. It is no longer acceptable to blame issues on the way tenants live and normal life. Instead, landlords and their agents must be sensitive to the needs of tenants and work with them to understand and change behaviour where appropriate."
- Sean Hooker, Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme
“They should also thoroughly investigate the underlying causes behind the problems and follow up to make sure things have improved.”
For more information on dealing with damp and mould, read our guide ‘Identify and prevent damp, mould and condensation in your property’, and listen to this episode of The Property Cast which contains lots of practical advice.
For more information on Awaab’s Law, read David Smith’s blog, ‘What is Awaab’s law?’
Our media partner, LandlordZONE, offers exclusive insights and breaking news on the private rented sector. Keep up to date with everything you need to know by subscribing to LandlordZONE, the UK’s largest online landlord property news website.
You can also visit Total Landlord's Renters’ Rights Bill hub which will be regularly updated as the Bill progresses.
