What Awaab’s Law means for you
We’re here to help you live safely in your home, and from October 2025, you’ll have stronger legal rights, specifically regarding issues like damp, mould, and other serious hazards. If you report one of these issues, we’ll be legally required to investigate and fix it within set timeframes. This blog outlines how we must comply and what it means for you.
What is Awaab’s Law?
Awaab’s Law was introduced following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old who died as a result of prolonged exposure to black mould in his home. The incident highlighted the urgent need for reforms in how social landlords manage housing hazards. The law aims to empower tenants by giving you clear rights to challenge landlords like us if we fail to act on reported hazards quickly.
From October 2025, if you report damp, mould, or other significant hazards, we’ll be legally required to:
- investigate and complete safety work on emergency hazards within 24 hours of finding out about them, so you’re not living in dangerous conditions for too long;
- investigate significant hazards within 10 working days;
- explain what we found in writing within three working days after our investigation;
- complete safety work on a significant hazard within five working days of our investigation;
- start any further works needed within five working days from our investigation if the hazard is a significant risk to health or safety. If this can’t be done, it must be started as soon as possible, within 12 weeks of finishing the investigation;
- provide alternative accommodation at no cost to you if repairs can't be completed in time and the hazard presents a serious risk.
We’re already doing a lot of work in this area, including proactive inspections for damp and mould in some homes. Our dedicated Damp and Mould Team responds to reports within the required timeframe, and emergency hazards are addressed within 24 hours. All our employees receive training on damp, mould, and condensation, and some will have additional training on the new legal obligations and identifying hazards.
What does Awaab’s Law mean for me?
This new legal framework supports your right to a safe living environment and the quick resolution of hazards. Throughout the process, we must update you and provide information on staying safe in your home.
A new term will be added to your tenancy agreement that says we have to comply with the new requirements of Awaab’s Law. This means it’s legally binding. If we fail to meet the requirements, you’ll have the right to take legal action against us for breach of contract.
If you feel that you need to take legal action, you can get help from Citizens Advice by visiting their website or calling their advice line on 0800 144 8848. You’ll still have access to our complaint process, and we’ll do everything we can to help resolve the issue.
What should I do if I find damp or mould in my home?
If you think you have damp or mould, please get in touch with us as soon as possible by:
- calling 0300 555 0500 (at any time);
- using the Live Chat function on our website (during opening hours);
- emailing reportdampandmould@chp.org.uk.
We’re here to help. As soon as you tell us about the problem, we’ll take action to investigate and manage it. We ask that you maintain contact with us and allow us access to your home as we resolve the problem so that we can help you as quickly as possible.
You can find more information about our current approach to dealing with damp and mould in our customer leaflet. We’re updating this ahead of the new regulations in October and will share a revised version with you then.