The tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in December 2020, caused by prolonged exposure to severe damp and mould in his Rochdale home, sparked a landmark change in social housing regulation in England.
Awaab’s Law was introduced to ensure that no tenant suffers similar health risks again, placing clear legal duties on social landlords and, increasingly, private landlords, to address damp and mould hazards with urgency.
Awaab’s Law, enacted as Clause 42 of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 and effective from 20 July 2023, is the most significant reform to social housing standards in over a decade.
From October 2025, every landlord in England must inspect any reported damp or mould hazard immediately and complete emergency repairs—including severe mould removal—within 24 hours of notification (GOV.UK).
Once a health risk is confirmed by a medical professional, landlords must investigate within 14 days and begin urgent remedial works within 7 days (Consultation Impact Assessment).
Failure to meet these deadlines can trigger regulatory enforcement, financial penalties, tenant litigation, court-ordered repairs and serious reputational damage.
Investing now in effective ventilation solutions isn’t just best practice—it’s a legal requirement to keep homes safe and compliant.
Inadequate airflow in tightly insulated or retrofit homes is the primary cause of damp and mould: millions of UK social housing units lack mechanical ventilation, which leads to condensation on cold surfaces and eventual mould growth.
Effective ventilation continuously reduces indoor humidity and expels moisture-laden air, addressing both the root cause of these hazards and the rapid-response requirements of Awaab’s Law.
By investing in systems that go beyond the minimum of Building Regulations Part F, landlords can safeguard tenant health, prevent costly repairs and demonstrate proactive compliance with Awaab’s Law.
Our VENTO single room heat recovery units deliver a turnkey, energy-efficient ventilation solution designed specifically for social and affordable housing.
You can retrofit outdated extractors on the same day—without tenant decants—using a PAS 2035-compliant design.
Our heat-recovery technology recovers up to 85 % of normally lost warmth, lowering heating bills and encouraging constant use.
Built-in data logging, stores performance records for up to seven years, with on-demand bluetooth reporting to prove compliance without disruptive inspections.
An intelligent extract-and-supply cycle keeps humidity in check, preventing damp and mould before they start, while full adherence to Building Regulations Part F (ventilation) and Part L (energy efficiency) ensures you hit every Awaab’s Law deadline and protect both tenant health and your reputation.
To round out your compliance toolkit, Blauberg goes beyond single-room heat recovery by providing a full spectrum of ventilation solutions.
For new builds or major refurbishments, our whole-house Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems deliver balanced, energy-efficient air exchange throughout the property.
In kitchens and bathrooms, humidity-controlled extract fans automatically boost airflow the moment moisture levels rise, keeping surfaces dry without manual intervention.
Passive trickle vents and airbricks provide a constant background flow, ensuring fresh air circulation even when mechanical systems are off.
Finally, our precision-engineered ductwork and whisper-quiet grilles tie everything together—maximising airflow, minimising noise and safeguarding tenant comfort.
Together, these options give landlords the flexibility to tailor a foolproof, end-to-end ventilation strategy that meets Awaab’s Law and keeps homes healthy.
Blauberg Vento uses smart single-room heat recovery technology to ventilate affordable and social housing — delivering fresh air without losing valuable indoor heat.
Each Vento unit extracts stale, moisture-laden air from the room, capturing and recycling the heat before it can be wasted.
Fresh air from outside then passes through the system, picking up the recovered heat before entering the home — keeping indoor spaces warm, dry and healthy without extra heating costs.
The system works on a push-pull cycle, alternating between extract and supply modes.
This “alternate flow” design means every few minutes the airflow reverses, continuously recovering heat while ensuring a steady supply of fresh air.
It’s a simple, proven method that cuts condensation, prevents mould and saves up to 85% of the heat energy that is usually lost through traditional extractor fans — all without the need for windows to be opened or expensive energy wasted.
Blauberg Vento delivers fresh, filtered, comfortable air — and does it without draining your tenants' wallets or risking your properties.
Whether you're upgrading affordable housing stock or planning a new social housing development, Blauberg Vento helps landlords and housing providers deliver energy-saving, PAS 2035-compliant ventilation — quickly, easily and without disruption.
We also offer free ventilation designs — making it simple to integrate Vento into your project with full technical support from the start.
- Stay ahead of Awaab's Law and Building Regulations.
- Protect your tenants, properties and reputation.
- Make mould, damp, and compliance risks a thing of the past.
Not sure if Blauberg Vento is the right solution for your affordable homes or social housing projects?
Start with just one affordable property and let us prove how easy it is to meet ventilation compliance, protect tenants and future-proof your housing stock.
You choose the site.
We’ll handle the design, supply the system, oversee the installation and prove the performance.
No risk.
No big commitment.
Full compliance support and data logging from day one.
Experience the benefits first-hand: warmer affordable homes, happier tenants, protected housing assets — and full proof of compliance with Awaab's Law and Building Regulations.
Blauberg Vento systems are simple to fit — designed to replace outdated extractor fans in affordable homes quickly and in full alignment with PAS 2035 retrofit standards.
Our trusted network of approved installers ensures every retrofit project is completed quickly, cleanly, and fully compliant with Building Regulations and PAS 2035 standards — protecting both tenants and landlord investments.
Prefer to use your own trusted contractors or internal teams?
No problem — We provide full installation training and technical support to make the process smooth and compliant.
Fast turnaround — Projects completed with minimal tenant disruption.
Certified quality — Installations meet Building Regulations and Awaab's Law standards.
Flexible options — Use our network or your trusted teams.
1. Investigate reported damp and mould hazards within 14 calendar days.
As soon as a social landlord becomes aware of a potential damp or mould issue, they must carry out an investigation to determine whether a hazard exists.
This investigation must be completed within 14 calendar days of the report being made.
2. Provide tenants with a written summary of findings within a further 48 hours.
Within 48 hours of concluding the investigation—and in any case no later than 14 calendar days after the initial report, the landlord must issue the tenant a clear, written summary.
This report must detail what was found, the level of risk to health or safety, and (if a hazard is confirmed) an outline of proposed next steps and timelines.
3. Begin repair works within 7 calendar days for hazards posing significant risk.
If the investigation confirms that the damp or mould hazard poses a significant risk to the resident’s health or safety, the landlord must start physical repair works within 7 calendar days of issuing the written summary.
4. Carry out emergency repairs as soon as practicable — and in any event within 24 hours.
For “emergency hazards” (including prevalent damp and mould impacting breathing), landlords must action repairs as soon as they can and, at the latest, within 24 hours of being notified.
If a hazard cannot be made safe within these timeframes, the landlord must offer suitable alternative accommodation until the home is safe to return to.
1. What is Awaab’s Law?
Awaab’s Law is a new legal requirement introduced through the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 that inserts an implied term into social housing tenancy agreements.
It compels registered social landlords (local authorities and housing associations) to investigate and remedy serious health and safety hazards.
Initially it focuses on damp and mould within fixed timeframes, with full enforceability through the courts or the Housing Ombudsman.
2. When does Awaab’s Law come into force?
The primary duties on damp and mould—and on all emergency hazards—take effect from October 2025, with a phased rollout thereafter extending coverage to additional hazards in 2026 and 2027.
3. What are the key landlord timeframes under Awaab’s Law?
Investigate reported hazards within 14 days of a tenant’s complaint.
Begin repair works within a further 7 days if a significant risk to health is identified.
Carry out emergency repairs within 24 hours for imminent dangers.
Landlords must also keep clear records of all actions to demonstrate compliance.
4. Who does Awaab’s Law apply to?
Awaab’s Law applies to registered social landlords—local authorities and private registered providers (housing associations)—in England.
It initially covers social rented properties only; private sector rentals will be brought in later under the Renters’ Rights Bill.
5. What penalties do non-compliant landlords face?
Landlords who breach Awaab’s Law may be:
Taken to court for breach of the implied tenancy term, enabling tenants to seek compensation.
Fined by the Regulator of Social Housing, which can impose unlimited penalties.
Subject to enforcement notices and property entry (with 48 hours’ notice) for emergency repairs in severe cases.
6. How can tenants report damp and mould issues?
Tenants should:
Notify their landlord or managing agent in writing immediately, with photos and details of location and severity.
If unresolved, contact their local council’s Environmental Health department to request an HHSRS inspection.
Escalate to the Housing Ombudsman Service, which handles free, independent complaints against social landlords under Awaab’s Law.
7. Does Awaab’s Law cover private landlords?
No. Awaab’s Law currently applies only to social housing.
The government plans to extend its protections to the private rented sector via the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill.
8. What happened in Awaab Ishak’s case?
Awaab Ishak was a two-year-old boy who died in November 2022 from a severe respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale home.
His family’s campaign—backed by Manchester Evening News and Shelter—led to a Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report, directly inspiring the creation of Awaab’s Law.
9. How is Awaab’s Law enforced?
Enforcement routes include:
Housing Ombudsman Service decisions requiring landlords to act and awarding compensation.
Court action for breach of contract, allowing tenants to claim damages.
Regulator of Social Housing powers under the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, including unlimited financial penalties and compliance notices.
10. What other hazards will Awaab’s Law cover in future?
Under a phased approach:
2026: Expands to hazards such as excess cold and heat, falls, structural collapse, fire, electrical risks, explosions, and hygiene issues.
2027: Covers the remaining 29 HHSRS hazards (excluding overcrowding) defined in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System Regulations 2005.