Everyone deserves to live in a safe, healthy home. Following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 due to exposure to damp and mould, the UK Government introduced new legal protections for social housing tenants known as Awaab’s Law.

For housing co-ops, the law reinforces something many co-operative communities already value: taking responsibility for homes, acting quickly on repairs, and putting tenant-members’ wellbeing first.

What is Awaab’s Law?

Awaab’s Law is a new legal requirement for social housing landlords, ie your co-operative, to investigate and fix serious health hazards — especially damp and mould — within strict timeframes. The law is part of wider changes introduced through the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. Government guidance for tenants is available here.

What problems does the law cover?

Awaab’s Law focuses on hazards that could seriously affect a tenant-member’s health or safety, including:

• damp and mould
• excess cold
• water leaks
• structural hazards
• ventilation problems
• electrical or fire safety risks

The exact scope will expand over time as new regulations are phased in.

What does this mean for you as a tenant-member of your co-op?

If you report a serious repair or health hazard, your co-operative must now:

1. investigate the issue within set timescales (see below)
2. keep you informed about what is happening
3. carry out repairs within a reasonable and legally defined timeframe
4. take emergency action immediately where there is an imminent risk to health or safety

What does this mean for your housing co-op?

Your housing co-op is a community-led organisation, but it still has legal responsibilities as a landlord.

Awaab’s Law means your co-op should:

• respond promptly to repair reports
• keep clear repair records
• communicate openly
• inspect reported problems quickly
• prioritise health and safety issues
• ensure homes meet legal housing standards

For your co-op, this means reviewing repair procedures, contractor arrangements, and complaint handling processes. Where MB Housing carries out this service for your co-op, the above repair responsibilities are part of your co-op’s management agreement with us.  Find out if we carry out this service for your co-op here.

Significant Hazards and Emergency Hazards

Under Awaab’s Law, your co-operative must respond differently depending on how serious a problem is.

A significant hazard is a problem in your home that could seriously affect your health or safety if it is not dealt with promptly. This could include severe damp and mould, major leaks, unsafe electrics, lack of heating in winter, or structural problems.

An emergency hazard is a situation where there is an immediate and serious danger to your health or safety. Examples might include a major water leak affecting electrics, dangerous structural collapse, fire safety failures, carbon monoxide risks, or extensive mould posing an urgent health risk. In these situations, your housing co-op is expected to take action as quickly as possible — including temporary safety measures or emergency repairs where necessary, and in some cases may mean you need to be moved temporarily while the hazard is resolved.

Timescales