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An On the wire story
The government has opened a consultation on extending Awaab’s Law into the private rented sector, setting out plans to give tenants in England stronger rights when landlords fail to deal quickly with serious hazards such as severe damp and mould.
According to the government, the proposed rules would apply to more than five million households and are intended to ensure that dangerous conditions are tackled within strict deadlines.
Awaab’s Law is already in force for social housing, where it was introduced after the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, whose exposure to mould was linked to fatal respiratory illness.
The latest consultation will examine how the regime could be adapted for private renting, what timeframes should apply, and whether the protections should eventually be widened to other forms of housing, including temporary accommodation for homeless households and homes used by care leavers.
The consultation, which closes on 18 December 2026, comes alongside an options assessment on the likely impact of extending the law into the private rented sector.
The government has also said that councils already have powers under the Renters’ Rights Act to fine landlords up to £7,000 where they fail to take reasonably practicable steps to address serious hazards, but ministers believe Awaab’s Law would go further by creating clear duties to act within defined periods.
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said all renters should have the right to a safe and decent home, adding that the government wanted private tenants to benefit from the same protections already available in social housing.
In the background, the administration is also looking at tougher action on poor-quality homes more broadly, including measures that would let councils step in earlier when properties are left empty.
Landlord and tenant groups welcomed the consultation in principle, but stressed that the detail will matter. The National Residential Landlords Association said the law must be applied fairly across sectors and backed by proper enforcement, while Propertymark argued that the regime should be workable in practice, with clear reporting routes and access to qualified contractors.
Tenant campaigners, meanwhile, urged ministers to move quickly, saying renters should not have to wait months for dangerous conditions to be addressed.
References
Main reference: Property 118 [1]
• This On the wire article was created using Noahwire AI and reviewed by CIBSE Journal’s editorial team
