Awaab's Law was introduced at the end of October 2025. Following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak in Rotherham and in the lead-up to this new law, awareness has risen over the dangers of damp and mould, encouraging more customers to report problems. We've responded to changes by:
Spotting, assessing and escalating potential issues earlier.
Picking up and acting on issues identified through surveys, inspections and engineer visits.
Improving how we diagnose problems.
Keeping customers better informed throughout.
We are continuing to do more to tackle the root causes of damp and mould and prevent problems from returning.
Our performance
Since Awaab's Law came into force:
Required timescales
Our performance
Emergency hazards – completed within 24 hours
100%
Investigations within 10 days
90.6%
Written outcomes issued to customers within 3 days
99.5%
Remedial works started within 5 days (or 12 weeks where work is more complex)
100%
Tips for helping to reduce damp and mould
Reduce moisture
If you have extractor fans fitted, please leave switched on, do not switch them off.
Dry clothes outside when you can. If not, use the kitchen or bathroom with the window open and leave extractor fans on.
Avoid drying clothes on radiators - use a rack instead.
Put lids on pans when cooking. Don't boil kettles too long.
If you use a tumble dryer, make sure it vents outside.
Improve ventilation
Open windows for a few minutes every morning to allow moist air to discharge. This helps prevent condensation on windows.
Keep a small window on latch or trickle vents open in rooms you use most. Do not leave windows permanently open.
Close the kitchen or bathroom door when cooking or showering to stop steam spreading.
Leave some space behind furniture so air can move around the room.
Keep your home warm
Try to keep your home at around 18–21°C.
Let us know if you have any problems with your heating or if draughts are making your home difficult to keep warm.
Do not use gas or paraffin heaters, as they can create extra moisture and can be dangerous.