Social landlords who are forced to fix dangerous mold from October according to Awaab’s law – because charity criticizes “delay” | Political news
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Social landlords who are forced to fix dangerous mold from October according to Awaab’s law – because charity criticizes “delay” | Political news

A law to force social landlords to investigate and fix dangers within a fixed time scale will be discontinued from October, the government has announced.

The legislation is named after two -year -old Awaab Ishak, as died in December 2020 From a respiratory relationship caused by long -term exposure to mold in the social home, his family rented in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

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The tragedy triggered widespread calls for change After an investigation, how measures to treat and prevent the shape from being taken – despite the boy’s father repeatedly raised the issue with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).

In response, the then conservative government promised to introduce AWAAB’s law to hold social landlords to report, with labor promised to implement and expand it to the private sector if they won the election, which they did last July.

By establishing the next step, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said it will come into force in the social rented sector from October this year.

Awaab Ishaks home
Photo:
Awaab Ishaks home

This means that social landlords will be required to handle humid and mold hazards that pose a significant risk of damage to tenants within fixed time scales.

The time scales are not stated in Rayner’s statement.

A consultation under Tories had proposed to force landlords to investigate the problems within 14 days and fix them within another seven, but it is not clear if this will still be the case – with more information expected later along the line.

Rayner said that from October 2025, social landlords will also have to deal with All emergency repairs, whether they relate to moisture and mold or any other danger, as soon as possible and within no longer than 24 hours.

Mold leads to a respiratory condition that killed two -year -old Awaab Ishak
Photo:
Mold in Awaab’s social home

What happens after 2025?

From 2026, the requirements will apply to a wider range of non-acute hazards in addition to moisture and mold, including excess of colds and excess heat, fall, structural collapse and fire, electrical and hygienic hazards.

Since 2027, the requirements of AWAAB’s law will be extended to the remaining dangers as defined by the housing health and security rating system (excluding over-elaboration).

This includes issues such as keeping a property safe against intruders, insufficient lighting and exposure to noise.

“Delays put people at risk”

Rayner said that the beveled approach “in no way means that social landlords have any game room” when it comes to fulfilling their existing tasks to keep tenants secure, among criticism from housing campaigns.

She said that sequence is required so that protection against moisture and mold can be introduced earlier than would be the case if the government tried to apply AWAAB’s law to all dangers from the beginning.

But Polly Nate, CEO of Shelter, said: “Four years after Awaab’s death, and almost two years after the Social Housing Act received royal consent, today’s announcement means that tenants in social housing will have to wait years longer for this important protection .

“These delays to the implementation constitute a real risk to tenants’ health and safety and put life at risk.”

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Complaints about social housing

Awwab’s law follows the campaign from their parents, who said they hoped it would prevent other families from going through what they were doing.

There are widespread problems with moisture, mold and decay over home in England, which is in the worst condition in all European countries while being more expensive to buy, According to analysis of Home Builders Federation.

Complaints about social housing increased by over 300% in 2024While nearly half of private tenants said to live with moisture or moldSky News has previously reported.

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It is not clear when Awaab’s law could be expanded to the private sector, which promised in Labor’s manifesto. The government said this will be done through its Rental bill, that is currently going through Parliament.

The ministers also consult a new decent home standard, which sets minimum standards for the conditions for social homes, and will separately legislate to require social landlords to carry out electrical security checks and appactions for appliances.