The UK government has opened a consultation on extending Awaab’s Law to private rented homes and licensed accommodation in England, bringing statutory repair deadlines closer to those already applied in social housing.
The proposals would require landlords to investigate and address dangerous damp, mould and other serious hazards within defined periods. They also consider emergency repairs, written records for tenants, alternative accommodation when a home cannot safely be occupied, and the remedies available when a landlord misses a deadline.
The consultation is concerned with the design of the legal duty rather than a rule already in force. Ministers are seeking views on which hazards should be covered, how quickly different risks must be investigated or repaired, and how obligations should work for houses in multiple occupation and other licensed premises.
The measure is named after Awaab Ishak, the two-year-old whose death brought sustained attention to the consequences of prolonged damp and mould in rented housing. The consultation applies only to England and remains open until December 18. Any final regime will depend on the government’s response and the legal steps that follow.
