With just a few months left before Awaab’s Law is enforced in October 2025, social housing landlords must act now to ensure compliance with new legal requirements aimed at addressing damp and mould hazards swiftly and effectively.
However, industry experts predict that these stringent measures may soon extend beyond the social housing sector, potentially impacting private landlords and Build to Rent (BTR) operators.
This means that private residential property managers must take proactive steps now to avoid being caught off guard should the law expand to cover the entire rental sector. Spike Living can help property operators implement robust systems for maintenance tracking, compliance, and resident communication – critical elements for staying ahead of these upcoming regulatory changes.
What Is Awaab’s Law?
Awaab’s Law was introduced following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who suffered prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s flat. The law, forming part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, will enforce strict timelines for landlords to respond to damp and mould complaints:
- Emergency repairs must be completed within 24 hours.
- Non-urgent damp and mould issues must be resolved within set deadlines to prevent health risks.
- Failure to comply could lead to serious legal and financial consequences.
Housing Ombudsman: Robust Records Are Essential
The Housing Ombudsman has warned that landlords must maintain robust records to triage and manage damp and mould cases effectively. Recent casework highlights that damp and mould remain among the top issues reported by tenants, with many complaints resulting from inadequate record-keeping and delayed responses.
Landlords are encouraged to improve their inspection processes now, rather than waiting until the law is enacted. Implementing a structured approach to reporting and responding to maintenance issues will not only ensure compliance but also improve tenant satisfaction and retention.
Labour Pledges to Extend Awaab’s Law to Private Landlords
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has put private landlords on notice, stating: “There is no justification whatsoever for letting private landlords off the hook for resolving mould and damp issues in their properties.” Labour has pledged to extend Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector if they come into power, meaning the private residential sector should start preparing now.
This potential legislative shift further underscores the importance of implementing robust maintenance and compliance measures before they become legally mandated.
How Spike Living Can Help Property Operators Prepare
Spike Living’s resident engagement and property management platform offers key features to help landlords and operators prepare for Awaab’s Law and any future extensions to the private rental sector:
1.) Streamlined Maintenance Reporting Process
Our advanced maintenance reporting module enables property managers to meet compliance standards efficiently. The platform simplifies maintenance request management, ensuring issues are logged, tracked, and resolved promptly.
Residents can easily submit maintenance requests via the app, triggering real-time notifications for property management staff. This ensures immediate action and enhances resident satisfaction by minimising delays.
Additionally, residents can attach photos to their maintenance requests, allowing maintenance teams to diagnose issues ahead of time. This means staff arrive prepared with the right tools and parts, increasing the likelihood of resolving issues on the first visit and reducing response times by up to 30%.
2.) Increased Transparency
Two-way communication is facilitated through the platform, allowing tenants to receive updates on their requests and maintenance staff to communicate directly with them. For instance requesting additional information or clarification on an issue, as well as arranging a suitable time for an inspection.
3.) Efficient Tracking and Prioritisation
Property managers can oversee all maintenance requests from a centralised dashboard, categorising issues based on urgency and severity. This ensures that high-risk problems are prioritised and resolved first, helping operators stay compliant with Awaab’s Law.
4.) Enhanced Response Times
By streamlining the maintenance process, Spike Living helps speed up response times, ensures that complaints are investigated within the mandated 14-day period, repairs are initiated within the 7-day window, and facilitates the swift management of emergency repairs within the 24-hour timeframe.
This also leads to higher tenant satisfaction, as timely repairs are a key factor in positive reviews.
5.) Detailed Documentation
The platform maintains a clear audit trail of all correspondence, with all activities logged against a property and resident, helping property managers comply with the record-keeping requirements of Awaab’s Law. This ensures that every step, from complaint to resolution, is documented, in case of future disputes.
6.) Automated Task Scheduling
Spike Living’s automated task scheduling feature ensures that routine maintenance, inspections, and compliance checks are never overlooked. Property managers can set up recurring tasks for damp and mould inspections, ventilation assessments, and follow-ups on reported issues.
By automating these processes, operators can maintain consistent property upkeep, meet regulatory deadlines, and proactively address potential hazards before they become serious issues. This reduces manual oversight, enhances operational efficiency, and helps ensure long-term compliance with Awaab’s Law and future regulatory changes.
Future-Proof Your Compliance with Spike Living
With increasing regulatory pressures, property operators must act now to implement the right technology solutions to meet compliance standards efficiently. Spike Living provides a powerful digital platform to help you stay ahead of Awaab’s Law and any future legislative changes.
Book a demo today to see how Spike Living can help you streamline maintenance processes, maintain robust compliance records, and enhance resident communication.
