New Forest District Council welcomes Awaab’s Law, which protects those in social housing from hazards

Tenants in social housing across the New Forest are to benefit from new legal protection from serious hazards.

Known as Awaab’s Law, it requires social landlords to act quickly when residents report serious hazards such as damp and mould, excess cold or heat, unsafe electrics or gas supply, and other serious hazards, helping to ensure homes are safe and healthy to live in.

Landlords must investigate reports and provide a written summary of findings of the investigation ending.

They must also carry out urgent repairs if there is a risk to health, respond to emergency hazards within 24 hours, and offer alternative accommodation if the hazard cannot be made safe quickly.

The law was introduced following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale, whose respiratory illness was linked to mould in his home. It is designed to put residents’ health and safety first and hold landlords to account.

The council’s cabinet member for housing, Cllr Steve Davies, said: “Everyone has the right to live in a safe, healthy home.

“Awaab’s Law is an important step in making sure hazards like damp and mould are treated with the urgency they deserve. We welcome this change and want our tenants to know we are committed to acting quickly and keeping them safe in their homes.”

He added: “Since April 2025, the council has attended 19,987 repairs and is investing over £18m in improving its homes through works like replacement windows and doors, heating replacements and improvements which increase energy performance.”

Members of NFDC’s cabinet recently approved a new draft Housing Landlord Tenancy policy, which includes the end of fixed term tenancies – most of which had a minimum two-year period.

A recent meeting heard from assistant director for housing, Paul Thomas, who said the majority of councils had moved away from fixed term tenancies as legally they were “very difficult” to end due to “lots of processes and costs involved”. He added these were also “stressful” for residents.

Instead the council could use other existing terms of tenancy, including one year fixed terms or lifetime tenancies, he said.