Awaab’s Law: What it Means for Social Housing Providers and Why Proactive Condition Monitoring Matters

A new era of compliance for social housing

The introduction of Awaab’s Law marks a major shift in the way social housing providers must manage and maintain their buildings.

From October 2025, landlords in England will face new legal timeframes for investigating and resolving serious hazards such as damp and mould. Emergency repairs must be completed within 24 hours, and significant damp and mould hazards must be investigated within 10 working days and made safe within 5 working days of confirmation.

Raising the Bar on Safety and Accountability

Awaab’s Law is a vital step forward for resident safety and housing standards. But it also brings significant operational challenges.

Many providers are already working with ageing stock, limited budgets and heavy maintenance workloads. Meeting the new requirements will depend on having accurate condition data, efficient reporting systems and clear accountability across teams and contractors.

Reactive Repairs are No Longer Enough

To stay compliant, landlords must shift from reactive maintenance to proactive asset management.

That means knowing exactly:

· The current condition of your housing stock

· Where the highest risks lie (damp, mould, structural integrity, safety hazards)

· What investment and remediation is needed to protect residents and comply with regulation

The Role of Condition Surveys and Long-Term Planning

Comprehensive condition surveys are the foundation of effective compliance under Awaab’s Law. They help landlords and housing providers identify risks before they escalate, support informed budget planning and provide the clear documentation needed to evidence compliance if challenged.

Beyond inspection and reporting, the findings from condition surveys should inform strategic maintenance plans that set out immediate actions, medium-term investment

priorities and long-term refurbishment programmes. A structured plan enables providers to manage risk systematically, evidence funding requirements, allocate budgets effectively and demonstrate due diligence to regulators and residents alike.

Where remedial work is required, surveying-led project management plays a vital role. Coordinating procurement, contractor oversight and quality assurance ensures that works are completed to the required standard, within defined timeframes and in line with compliance obligations.

Proactive surveying and structured maintenance planning do more than satisfy regulation. They build long-term resilience, extend asset life, reduce repair costs but, most importantly, deliver that key focus of supporting healthier, safer homes for residents.

Supporting Housing Providers Through Change

At Innovus, we are ready, willing and have the expertise to support housing providers across the UK to assess their stock, prepare for the new legislation and plan with confidence. Our surveying expertise and building safety experience enable clients to meet Awaab’s Law requirements efficiently and cost-effectively.

We will be at Homes UK later this month. Come and talk to us at stand R818 (within the Building Safety Summit) about how our proactive condition surveys can strengthen your compliance strategy and help provide healthier, safer homes for residents.