Awaab’s Law: Government announces crackdown on unsafe social housing

Awaab’s Law: Government announces crackdown on unsafe social housing

9:30 AM, 9th January 2024, About 4 months ago 3

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The Government has unveiled new plans to crack down on unsafe social housing to protect tenants in support of its pledge to deliver Awaab’s Law.

Named after Awaab, a two-year-old boy from Rochdale who died from a respiratory condition caused by extensive mould in the flat where he lived.

His death sparked a campaign for reforms in social housing to prevent future tragedies.

Now Housing Secretary Michael Gove has launched a consultation to enforce strict time limits and legal requirements for social housing providers to address dangerous hazards such as damp and mould.

‘It’s time for us to deliver’

Mr Gove said: “The tragic death of Awaab Ishak should never have happened. His family have shown courageous leadership, determination and dignity to champion these changes and now it’s time for us to deliver for them through Awaab’s Law.

“Today is about stronger and more robust action against social landlords who have refused to take their basic responsibilities seriously for far too long.

“We will force them to fix their homes within strict new time limits and take immediate action to tackle dangerous damp and mould to help prevent future tragedies.”

He added: “Alongside Awaab’s Law, our landmark Social Housing Act will drastically improve the quality of life in social housing, granting residents a proper voice to fight those who think they can cheat the system and ensuring rogue landlords face the full force of the law.”

Investigate hazards within 14 days

Under the proposed law, social landlords will have to investigate hazards within 14 days, start fixing them within a further 7 days, and make emergency repairs within 24 hours.

Those landlords who fail to meet these deadlines can be taken to court where they may be ordered to pay compensation to tenants.

Landlords will also have to keep clear records to improve transparency for tenants, showing every attempt is made to comply with the new timescales and avoid unnecessary delays in rectifying people’s homes.

Faisal Abdullah, Awaab’s father, said: “We hope that Awaab’s Law will stop any other family going through the pain that we went through.

“Landlords need to listen to the concerns of tenants and we support these proposals.”


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Comments

paul robinson

11:08 AM, 9th January 2024, About 4 months ago

Great to see new laws that should improve social housing stock. Some of that stock was in a shocking condition when we worked on the last Decent Homes project. But I do wonder if LA have sufficient funds to improve their aging stock, some with latent defects that can often lead to increased issues of damp & mould, especially as the UK’s weather seems to be getting more wet.

Reluctant Landlord

11:44 AM, 9th January 2024, About 4 months ago

key words here are 'proposed' new law, and 'can' be taken to court....

The process for a tenant reporting things still has to be followed and like anything else, takes time and then probably a claim to the Ombudsman.

Nothing is fast and more than likely a provider IF taken to court will just pay the fine as they do already.

Social providers will argue they don't have the funds as it is, so are they going to be allowed by the government to increase their rents to all social tenants to fund all this?

Cider Drinker

21:05 PM, 9th January 2024, About 4 months ago

Sometimes, the work required to remedy the problem is intensive and the tenant hold need to move out.

Most problems with mould are caused by our drive to make homes warmer for the tenant - often as required by law.

The harsh truth is that much of the U.K. housing stock is just not fit for the 21st Century. Many should be demolished and replaced with modern housing using predominantly timber construction.

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