MPs warn housing associations not ready for Awaab’s Law amid Decent Homes Standard for PRS

MPs raise doubts over whether social housing landlords will be ready for Awaab’s Law by October, as Housing Minister admits the Decent Homes Standard could take up to a decade to implement for the private rented sector.

Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Highgate, raised concerns over how social housing landlords will implement regulations in practice.

In a separate committee meeting, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Florence Eshalomi warned the Labour government that many housing associations are not well-resourced to carry out housing inspections, as Matthew Pennycook, Housing Minister, warned the Decent Homes Standard could take years to implement.

How will new regulations work in reality?

Under Awaab’s law, all social housing landlords will be required to fix dangerous damp and mould within set timeframes, and to complete emergency repairs within 24 hours.

Previously, Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, confirmed under Awaab’s law will all social housing landlords will need to provide and pay for alternative accommodation if a tenant’s home cannot be made safe within set timeframes.

During oral questions to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in Parliament, Ms Siddiq raised concerns over how the new regulations would work in reality.

She said: “I have real concerns about how ready housing associations are to implement the regulations, which are coming in very soon, in October.

“I have raised this issue with the National Housing Federation, but what assessment has the Minister made of housing associations’ ability to fully comply with all the regulations under Awaab’s law by October, so that we can ensure that all my constituents can live in a safe and healthy environment?”

Encouraging social landlords to act now

In response, Alex Norris, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, says the government is urging social housing landlords to act now to be ready for regulations.

He said: “We have published draft guidance for social landlords to make sure that they understand the requirements under Awaab’s law. As Ms Siddiq would expect, we are working very closely with them to support their operational readiness. We took a phased approach, but we are encouraging social landlords to act now.

“They should raise any concerns with us now, so that we can consider how to best support them. In the meantime, they must meet their existing legal obligations.”

However, as reported by Property118, many social housing landlords are still failing on emergency repairs ahead of Awaab’s Law.

Decent Homes Standard could take years to implement

In a separate meeting with Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, Florence Eshalomi MP raised concerns that local authorities are unprepared for the initial phase of Awaab’s Law when it comes into force in October.

She warned that councils lack the resources to carry out the housing inspections required to enforce the new rules.

She said: “Local authorities are telling us they do not feel well-resourced to carry out these inspections. Do you think we’ll be in a situation in October where residents will feel that local authorities will come to inspect these, and local authorities cannot keep up?”

Mr Pennycook argued Awaab’s Law will give tenants new legal rights to hold social landlords to account and adds that broader reform is coming with the Decent Homes Standard.

However, the Labour government have admitted the Decent Homes Standard could take up to a decade to implement.

The Government has begun a consultation on Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard, which is expected to be implemented by 2035 or 2037 for the private rented sector.

Labour MP Sarah Smith argued the 10 year implantation was “too long and too extreme”.

She said: “Why are we not pushing as quickly as possible to make every landlord responsible for making sure that the homes families are living in in this country, while they await the progress of this building programme, are fit for human habitation? Surely there could be greater urgency than 2035.”

However, Mr Pennycook insisted the Decent Homes Standard would raise housing standards across the board.

Ms Eshalomi pushed back, warning the government must act with more urgency to implement the Decent Homes Standard.

She said: “The situation is getting dire on a daily basis. Unless we do things differently, Minister, we’re going to keep spending money as a sticking tape on this.”