Letting agents to face Awaab’s Law before social housing providers
Shelter has criticised minister after he said new damp and mould rules for social housing providers would now go live in October.
Landlords and letting agents in the Private Rented Sector may soon have to implement stringent new rules on fixing damp and mould in homes sooner than their social housing counterparts.
While the Renters’ Rights Bill contains measures to introduce Awaab’s Law into the private sector when the legislation goes live most likely in March or April this year, the Government has now said similar measures for those operating social housing are to be introduced in October.
Announcing the date, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said: “Awaab Ishak’s family have tenaciously and courageously fought to secure justice, not only for their son but for all those who live in social housing.
“Awaab’s Law will help to drive a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of social housing, ensuring tenants are treated with fairness and respect”.
He has also said that Awaab’s Law will then extend to a wider range of hazards from 2026.
But Shelter has criticised the announcement, saying it will mean further delays for social housing tenants facing damp and mould in their homes.
Serious hazards
Its outgoing chief executive Polly Neate, added: “The Government promised to bring in Awaab’s Law, forcing landlords to deal with serious hazards in social homes within clear time frames, last Autumn.
“However four years after Awaab’s death, and nearly two years after the Social Housing Regulation Act received Royal Assent, today’s announcement means social housing tenants will have to wait years longer for this vital protection.
“These delays to implementation represent a real risk to the health and safety of tenants, and puts lives at risks”.
