Awaab's Law: What the new announcement means and what's next for social housing
Almost three months since we began our campaign Awaab's Law is on the cusp of becoming a reality. Housing secretary Michael Gove visited Rochdale yesterday to promise the parents of Awaab Ishak how their late toddler will have a lasting legacy.
Awaab's death provoked anger from across the country. As coroner Joanne Kearsley said: "How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?" "[On Thursday] we have announced tough new laws to force social landlords to fix their homes within strict new time limits. Those landlords who continue to drag their feet over dangerous damp and mould will face the full force of the law.
It's understood that by setting the time limits as a regulation through secondary legislation, rather than in an Act of Parliament, there will be more flexibility to shorten the timeframes if they are considered too loose in years to come. That flexibility, along with the consultation, also means social landlords won't be set up to fail.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities says it will be issuing new guidance on damp and mould in the summer, which will remind authorities of the need for priority allocation. Meanwhile, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System will be updated, with key references to damp and mould.
They also called for increased professionalisation in the social housing sector. Amendments secured on the Bill mean there will be a minimum standard of conduct and competence expected from staff in social housing, but the campaign groups want the Bill to go further by requiring professional qualifications for certain roles in the sector.
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