The UK Government has confirmed that Awaab’s Law will officially come into force on 27 October 2025.
The new rules will hold social landlords to strict deadlines when investigating and repairing damp and mould problems — giving tenants the legal protection they’ve long needed.
Much attention is given to the damage housing disrepair has on families, especially those with young children. However, older people are often left in situations of housing disrepair that can go unresolved for years. Last month, Westminster City Council agreed to pay £21,000 to an elderly tenant who could not get necessary repairs done on her flat.
The lack of proper maintenance and repairs in residential properties has far-reaching consequences, leading to injuries, health issues, and a diminished quality of life for many vulnerable citizens.
Unfortunately, damp and mould continue to plague social and rented homes, with many more suffering serious and life-threatening health problems in the past year.
Experiencing housing disrepair issues can be stressful, affecting both your comfort and well-being. Fortunately, tenants have legal protections in place to ensure that landlords fulfil their obligations to maintain properties and keep them in repair.
Mould, fungus, and damp in a home can have serious implications for your health and well-being. If you are a council or housing association tenant dealing with these issues, it is essential to understand your rights and options for making claims.
Housing disrepair claims against social housing landlords have substantially increased since the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 came into force in England in March 2020.
When pursuing a housing disrepair claim, it’s important to approach the process strategically to maximise your chances of success.
When a property deteriorates and falls into disrepair, it can have adverse effects on your health. If you’re renting, this is completely unacceptable, and your housing association or local council should take action to rectify the issue.
On 28th June 2023, the Regulator of Social Housing published a report on damp and mould in social housing stock. The paper was created in response to the Coroner’s report on the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale, in which damp and mould present in the toddler’s home was found to have contributed to his death.
Mrs Tuner, who lives in the Borough of Hastings in East Sussex, brought a claim against their social housing landlord Southern Housing at the start of July 2022.
James Pearce’s’ Tip for clients who don’t report disrepair before claim for housing disrepair.
RSH confirmed that the council breached health and safety requirements. It had failed to complete a significant number of remedial fire safety actions, including 4,000 that were high risk. In addition, it did not have up-to-date electrical safety reports for thousands of homes.
Mould and damp growing, exterior doors that don’t lock, electric wiring exposed, rat droppings everywhere and toilet bowl encrusted with faeces are some of the issues which this mother of three has to deal every day.
Social housing landlords will have to investigate and fix damp and mould in their properties within strict new time limits, Housing Secretary Michael Gove announced Thursday 9 February.
As the Social Housing Regulation (SHR) Bill 2022-23 approaches its final report stage in the House of Commons our Housing Disrepair Solicitors thought it would be useful to set out why this Bill is so important and how it will improve the rights of tenants.
Since the conditions in which Awaab Ishak lived were made public and after the publication of the health problems that he suffered which led to his death, the Government and The Housing Ombudsman announced new regulations to monitor the quality and conditions of homes owned by local councils and housing associations.
Following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from a respiratory condition exacerbated by damp and mould present in his flat, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) sent letters to registered providers of social housing reminding them:
This week’s ruling by a Coroner that two-year-old Awaab Ishak died of a respiratory condition caused by exposure to the mould in his flat has shaken the social housing industry and left politicians and advocates for healthy, safe homes demanding to know how such a thing could have happened in 2020 (the year Awaab died).
This Housing Disrepair Claim Guide gives information on housing disrepair claims.
It explains the tenant’s and landlord’s responsibilities to do repairs and what options the tenant has if the landlord doesn’t meet their obligations.
If you are a Council or Housing Association tenant and living in substandard or poor living conditions due to leaks, damp, mould, faulty heating/electrics and so on… then you are living in disrepair. It can be a frustrating and emotionally taxing situation to be in, especially if your pleas are being ignored.
If you live in a Council Property it is their responsibility to provide a safe, secure, and well-maintained home. Therefore, the Council or Local Authority must repair any reported issues they are legally responsible for, especially if the conditions are affecting your health. If you have complained and they have not fixed the issue in a reasonable timeframe or are ignoring the problem entirely, Nicholson Jones Sutton Solicitors can give you the help you deserve by ensuring the repairs are completed.
Whilst we all have our own preferences on the standard of living, a standard that is not acceptable is a home in disrepair.
It is a legal right for tenants to live in a safe environment and it is a legal obligation for your landlord to repair any issues that may compromise it. If you rent from a Housing Association, or a Local Council, you may be entitled to compensation if they fail to repair the property.
If your rented property is in disrepair, it’s your landlord’s responsibility to fix it.
As a tenant you have the legal right to live in a property safe and free from any issues of disrepair.
Your landlord has a legal obligation to repair your property and maintain it to a reasonable standard.
This article gives information on housing disrepair claims. It explains the tenant’s and landlord’s responsibilities to do repairs and what options the tenant has if the landlord doesn’t meet their obligations.
When talking about housing disrepair, it is important to clarify the difference between repairs which the landlord is responsible for, and general maintenance
