Awaab's Law Expands in October 2026: What Landlords Need to Know
From October 2026, Awaab's Law expands beyond damp and mould to cover cold, heat, falls, structural and fire hazards. Here's what landlords need to do to stay compliant.
Awaab's Law came into force for social landlords in England on 27 October 2025, setting strict timescales for investigating and fixing damp and mould hazards. From October 2026, the law expands significantly, extending the same fixed-deadline approach to a much wider range of hazards, including excess cold and heat, falls, structural collapse, and fire and electrical safety.
Under the current rules, landlords must investigate a reported damp or mould hazard within 10 working days and complete any necessary safety works within a further 5 working days, with emergency hazards requiring action within 24 hours. The October 2026 expansion applies this same structure to the additional hazard categories, meaning social landlords will need robust systems in place to identify, record and respond to a broader set of property defects within tight statutory windows.
For landlords and housing providers, this means acting now rather than waiting for the deadline. Awaab's Law writes these duties directly into the tenancy agreement, so a missed deadline is not just a compliance failure but potential grounds for legal action by the tenant. Proactive surveys, timely repairs and clear record-keeping are the best defence against breach claims, and many providers are choosing to get ahead of the October changes by auditing their stock now rather than reacting under pressure later.
While Awaab's Law currently applies to social landlords, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 contains the power to extend similar duties to the private rented sector in future, so private landlords should also be paying attention to the direction of travel.
If your properties need remedial work to address damp, structural issues, or other hazards ahead of the expanded rules, L.A.R. Property Solutions can carry out surveys and refurbishment works to help bring homes up to standard and keep landlords compliant. Get in touch to discuss a property assessment.
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