Awaab’s Law: Tackling damp and mould in your home
HAVE
YOUR
What are we doing to keep your home safe? We’ve been preparing for Awaab’s Law for over a year. Here’s what we’ve done and are continuing to do: Our Damp, Mould & Condensation Procedure sets out how we respond to reports based on how serious the issue is. Customer Contact: All reports are triaged and managed by our dedicated team. SAY We’ve set clear response times including completing emergency inspections and repairs within 24 hours and significant repairs within five working days. We’ll respond more quickly when someone in the home is especially at risk — like young children, pregnant tenants, or anyone with specific health conditions that means they could be more at risk. We’ve invested in trained staff and trusted contractors to make sure damp and mould issues are dealt with quickly, safely, and to a high standard — giving you confidence that your home is in good hands. We track and regularly report on all cases to ensure we keep on top of things. Data all in one place: All damp and mould data is added to our housing management and stock condition system to help us plan improvements. You can help us improve our services by letting us visit your home to check for any issues, telling us about problems as soon as you notice them, and allowing us in when we need to carry out safety checks. If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help. NEW If you’d like to help shape how we respond to damp and mould, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with Tina Murphy, Community Development Officer, on 0161 448 4228 or email t.murphy@southwayhousing.co.uk — your voice can make a real difference.
By Carl Talbot Davies, Assistant Director Asset Management
Everyone deserves to live in a home that is safe, healthy, and comfortable. That’s why we’ve taken significant steps over the past year to tackle damp, mould, and condensation. From October 2025, Awaab’s Law will come into effect. This new legislation is a huge step forward in protecting tenants and ensuring landlords act quickly when homes become unsafe. What is Awaab’s law? Awaab’s Law is named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old boy who tragically died in 2020 due to prolonged exposure to mould in his social housing home. His death highlighted serious failings in how housing hazards were handled, and the law was created to ensure this never happens again. This law introduces clear legal deadlines for repairs, giving tenants stronger rights and holding landlords accountable. From 27 October 2025, social landlords will be legally required to: Investigate and fix damp, mould, and emergency hazards within strict timeframes. Emergency hazards fixed within 24 hours. Provide written updates to tenants after inspections. Offer temporary accommodation if a home cannot be made safe quickly. Awaab’s Law reinforces what we already believe: that your health and wellbeing must come first. How does this affect me? If you’re a Southway tenant, Awaab’s Law means: Faster action: We must act quickly and keep you informed. Stronger rights: You can hold us accountable if we don’t meet the legal timeframes. Better communication: You’ll receive written updates after inspections and know what’s happening. Safer homes: If your home poses a serious health risk, we’ll make it safe or offer temporary accommodation. NEW
Read more about how we are responding to damp and mould on our website
southwayhousing.co.uk 7
NEW
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator