House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Improving the quality of social housing and strengthening tenant voice
06 February 2025 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Proposed by Angela Rayner Lab Ashton-under-Lyne
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The government is introducing Awaab's Law to address hazards in social housing.
- Awaab's Law will empower social tenants to hold landlords accountable for addressing damp and mould issues from October 2023.
- Future reforms aim to build trust and transparency between social housing landlords and tenants.
Issue summary
The statement addresses the issue of poor management and maintenance in social housing, highlighting the need for legislative action to improve safety and quality.
Action requested
The government is introducing Awaab’s Law to empower social tenants to hold landlords accountable for addressing hazards within set timescales. This law will be phased into force starting October 2023, initially focusing on damp and mould issues before expanding to cover other hazards. The government also plans further reforms to build trust and transparency between landlords and tenants.
Key facts
- In 2023, 7% of social rented homes had a damp problem and 4% had ‘category 1’ level hazards.
- Over 1,000 responses were received for the consultation on Awaab’s Law.
- Awaab’s Law will be implemented through a phased approach starting October this year focusing first on damp and mould issues.