Awaab’s Law:
What it means for you and your property
Awaab’s Law sets out clear timeframes for social landlords to investigate and fix serious housing issues such as damp and mould.
The law is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died after prolonged exposure to mould in his home. Under this new law, social landlords like us must take swift action when residents report problems with damp, mould, or other hazards.
Because Love Living Homes offers a range of tenancy and ownership options, Awaab’s Law applies differently depending on your agreement with us.
If you fully rent with us…
We’ve updated our damp, mould and condensation page with the latest guidance and information about Awaab’s Law, which came into effect on 27 October 2025.
What this means for you
When you report damp or mould, here’s what will happen:
- If the issue is categorised as significant, you will receive either a visit or a remote inspection (phone/video call) within 10 days of the report.
- You will then receive a report of findings and an action plan within 3 days of this inspection taking place
- If it’s an emergency, we’ll visit within 24 hours. We know it’s short notice, but please help us arrange the visit quickly so we can keep you safe
- Our repairs team may need to check all rooms to make sure there are no hidden damp or mould issues.
If repairs are needed:
- We’ll arrange it within our routine repair timescales
- If there’s significant damp and mould, we’ll support you through the next steps
How to report damp and mould
If you notice damp or mould in your home, please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact us here.
Shared Owners – Houses
If your homes are within the defect period: You’re responsible for repairs and maintenance inside your property. However, if your home is still within its defect period and you’re experiencing damp or mould, please contact our New Build Defect Team so we can investigate.
If your homes are out of a defect period: As a Shared Owner, you’re responsible for all repairs and maintenance within your home, including resolving any issues with damp or mould.
Shared Owners – Flats, Apartments & Maisonettes
If your homes are within the defect period: You’re responsible for repairs and maintenance inside your property. However, Town & Country Housing (TCH) will handle any external issues that may be causing damp inside your home – for example, a leaking or overflowing gutter.
If your home is outside a defect period: You’re still responsible for internal repairs and maintenance, but TCH remains responsible for addressing external issues that could contribute to damp, such as roof leaks or faulty guttering.
Leaseholders and Freeholders
Awaab’s Law doesn’t apply to Freeholders who owns a house outright, as you’re fully responsible for maintaining your property. However, if you’re sub-letting your property, please make sure you understand your responsibilities under Awaab’s Law, as these will apply to you as a landlord.
However, if you live in an apartment, Awaab’s Law does apply to both Shared Owners and Leaseholders. This is because TCH is responsible for any external or communal issues that could cause damp in your home — for example, a leaking roof or guttering problem.