CIH welcomes plans to bring Awaab's Law protections to more homes

CIH welcomes the government's consultation on extending Awaab's Law to the private rented sector and exploring how the same protections could apply to people living in temporary accommodation, supported housing and care leavers.

This is an important step towards ensuring everyone has a safe, healthy home, regardless of who their landlord is. Extending Awaab's Law beyond social housing could increase the number of households covered by legal repair timescales from around four million to nine million homes, giving millions more renters stronger protections against hazards in their homes.

Social housing providers in England have been implementing Awaab's Law since 2025, creating valuable experience that can help inform its wider rollout. Through our work with members, we've seen that success depends on more than compliance. It requires good information about homes, effective processes for identifying and resolving hazards, well-trained staff, and a culture that listens to residents and responds quickly when concerns are raised.

We look forward to working with government to ensure these changes deliver for both renters and landlords. With clear guidance, effective enforcement and the right support for landlords, particularly smaller providers, extending Awaab's Law has the potential to drive faster repairs and improve housing conditions across the private rented sector.

The consultation also provides an opportunity to consider how the legislation could work in temporary accommodation, where councils and landlords will need to work closely together to ensure residents receive the same protections and standards of service.

Rachael Williamson, director of policy, communications and external affairs at the Chartered Institute of Housing said: “Everyone deserves a safe and healthy home, so we welcome the government's consultation on extending Awaab's Law to private renters and considering how it can also protect people living in temporary accommodation, supported housing and accommodation for care leavers. The tragic death of Awaab Ishak was a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to address serious hazards such as damp and mould and extending these protections could improve safety for millions more households.

“Our members have been implementing Awaab's Law in social housing since 2025 and have seen that success depends on listening to residents and acting quickly when concerns are raised. We look forward to sharing that learning as these proposals are developed.”

CIH will respond to the consultation, which is open until 18 December, drawing on our members' experience of putting Awaab's Law into practice in social housing. We look forward to working with government and the sector to make sure every renter can live in a safe, decent home.