A new social housing law, known as Awaab’s Law, came into effect on 27 October 2025. It marks a critical shift in how Housing Associations respond to reports of health and safety hazards in their properties. Housing Associations (HA) operating within our area (including Portsmouth City Council) must now legally comply with strict timeframes for investigating and repairing issues such as damp, mould, and other emergency hazards. Awaab's Law has been designed to ensure tenants’ concerns and needs are properly addressed and that problems are fixed quickly.

What you need to know: Key changes for Housing Associations

  • Emergency hazards: Response, investigation, and appropriate action (including rehousing if necessary) must be completed within 24 hours of a report.
  • Significant hazards (damp and mould): Investigation must be completed within 10 working days, followed by a written summary to the tenant within 3 working days. Remedial works must begin within 5 working days of the investigation's conclusion.
  • Record-keeping: Robust monitoring and evidence systems have been implemented to create an auditable trail, demonstrating compliance with the new statutory deadlines.

What you need to know: Key changes for tenants

To protect your rights under the new law, it is important to report problems correctly and keep clear records. 

  1. Report in writing. Inform your landlord of the problem immediately, preferably by email or letter, and keep a copy of the communication.  With most Housing Association, you will have a log-in to report issue within their portal, copy and paste your email/letter in the portal.  It is important that you can demonstrate that you reported the issue(s).
  2. Document everything. Take dated photos or videos of the damp, mould, or other hazard. Keep a record of all communications with your landlord and any health impacts you experience.
  3. Follow up. If your landlord does not meet the specified deadlines, you have stronger grounds to hold them accountable. You can escalate the issue through your landlord's formal complaints procedure.
  4. Escalate the complaint. If your landlord still fails to act, you can report them to the Housing Ombudsman or your local council's environmental health team.
  5. Take legal action. If a landlord breaches their legal duty, tenants can now take them to court. Potential outcomes can include enforcement orders to compel repairs, compensation payments, and legal cost recovery. 

Find out more about Awaab's Law.

Changes for us at Havant Borough Council

  1. We will seek to inform Housing Association tenants of their new rights under Awaab’s Law.
  2. We can provide information on how to make a complaint to their HA and/or the Ombudsman’s service. The enforcement of Awaab’s law is via the Ombudsman and not Havant Borough Council (HBC), however, tenants still can refer a case or complaint to HBC about the state of their property and we will assess it to see what action is needed. If HBC is required to be involved, it can act under the existing policies and processes within the Housing Act 2004.