From 30 November, Awaab’s Law is changing to give you greater protection from more hazards in your home and make sure concerns about your safety are acted on quickly.
Awaab’s Law is named in memory of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died following prolonged exposure to mould in his social housing home.
The law helps keep social housing customers safe by making sure landlords investigate and act on serious hazards within set legal timescales.
It already covers emergency hazards and significant damp and mould. From 30 November 2026, it will extend to more hazards that could affect your health or safety at home.
What’s changing?
From 30 November, Awaab’s Law will also cover significant hazards involving:
- 🌡️ Cold and heat – including homes that can't be kept at a safe temperature
- ⚠️ Falls – such as unsafe floors, stairs or handrails
- 🏠 Structural problems – including loose ceilings or falling materials
- 🔥 Fire and explosion risks
- ⚡ Electrical safety – including exposed wires or damaged sockets
- 🚿 Hygiene and sanitation – including serious drainage, pest or hygiene problems
Emergency hazards and significant damp and mould will continue to be covered too. If something in your home could be putting you or someone you live with at risk, please tell us.
Tell us how it’s affecting you
When you report a problem, tell us what's happening and how it's affecting you and your household.
It's particularly important to tell us if someone's health or safety is being affected, the problem is getting worse, you can't safely use part of your home, or someone in your household has a health condition, disability, mobility need or other circumstances that could put them at greater risk.
You don't generally need to provide medical evidence when telling us about a health condition or vulnerability.
What can you expect from us?
We'll listen to your concerns, consider how the problem is affecting you and make sure the right team takes action.
Where Awaab's Law applies:
- Emergency hazards must be investigated and, if confirmed, made safe as soon as reasonably possible and within 24 hours.
- Potential significant hazards must be investigated within 10 working days.
- We'll usually give you our findings within three working days of completing our investigation.
- If we find a significant hazard, we'll usually complete the work needed to make your home safe within five working days of completing our investigation.
These are maximum timescales. If we need to act sooner to keep you safe, we will. If it isn't safe for you to stay in your home while necessary safety work is completed, we'll provide suitable alternative accommodation.
If something isn’t right, tell us
Tell us what's happening and how it's affecting you. We'll take it from there and make sure the right action is taken to help keep you safe in your home.
Call: 01782 744533
Email: hello@staffshousing.org.uk
Visit: www.staffshousing.org.uk/reportarepair
