In a landmark move to enhance the safety and quality of social housing, the Housing Secretary, Michael Gove, has unveiled plans for Awaab’s Law.
This initiative comes as a response to the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from Rochdale, who succumbed to a respiratory condition caused by extensive mould in his flat. The Government aims to introduce life-changing reforms to prevent such tragedies and hold social landlords accountable for the well-being of their tenants.
Swift Action Proposal
The Awaab’s Law consultation, launched by the Housing Secretary, proposes imposing strict time limits on social housing providers to address hazardous conditions promptly. The proposed framework requires social landlords to investigate hazards within 14 days, commence fixing within an additional seven days, and complete emergency repairs within a stringent 24-hour timeframe.
Failure to comply may result in legal consequences, including court orders to compensate affected tenants.
Housing Secretary, Michael Gove, emphasised the urgency of these measures, stating, “Today is about stronger and more robust action against social landlords who have refused to take their basic responsibilities seriously for far too long.”
Policy Institute Curia’s Housing Inquiry
Curia’s Levelling Up Commission recently conducted an inquiry session on housing and homelessness. Part one focused exclusively on the UK’s planned transition to green energy and the challenges that come with reaching net zero targets. The panel was hosted by the commission’s chair, former Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Social Care Paula Sheriff, and she was joined by two industry leaders who provided some solutions to potential obstacles: Richard Miller, an Associate Director at Connected Places Catapult, and James Dyson, a Senior Researcher at E3G.
Awaab’s Law: Transparency and Accountability
To ensure transparency and accountability, landlords will be mandated to maintain clear records of their efforts to comply with the new timeframes. This measure aims to prevent landlords from delaying essential repairs and to provide tenants with the assurance that their concerns are being actively addressed.
Faisal Abdullah, Awaab’s father, expressed support for Awaab’s Law, stating, “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.”
Social housing campaigner, Kwajo Tweneboa, echoed these sentiments, stating, “It’s crucial the Government can make sure this law has teeth and is enforced for it to work as intended.”
Strengthening Tenant Rights
Through the measures introduced, tenants now have the right to take legal action against landlords failing to rectify dangerous hazards promptly. This builds on the ongoing efforts to improve standards in social housing.
The Social Housing (Regulation) Act, enacted last year, equips the Regulator of Social Housing and tenants with enhanced powers and rights to hold rogue landlords accountable. The Regulator now has the authority to issue unlimited fines and enter properties with 48 hours’ notice to address emergency repairs in severe cases.
The proposed changes align with the Government’s commitment to addressing systemic issues identified post the Grenfell Tower fire. These include not only ensuring the safety and quality of social housing but also improving the treatment of tenants by their landlords.
Future Steps and Consultation
The Awaab’s Law consultation will remain open for eight weeks, allowing stakeholders and the public to provide input. Following the analysis of responses, secondary legislation will be introduced to enforce Awaab’s Law as soon as practically possible. The Government continues to engage with the social housing sector, residents, and experts to address unsafe homes.
These reforms mark a significant step forward in the Government’s pursuit of safer and higher-quality social housing, with ongoing efforts to keep the public informed through monthly updates on improvements in social housing in England.
Awaab’s Law consultation will be open for eight weeks and further details on how to respond can be found here.