Decent Homes Standard & Awaab's Law

What you need to know

• The Decent Homes Standard is now mandatory for private landlords.
  Awaab’s Law requires urgent action on damp, mould, and other serious hazards.
• Local authorities will have strong enforcement powers.
• Landlords must proactively maintain and upgrade their properties.

Private landlords must now ensure

• Free from serious health and safety hazards.
• In a reasonable state of repair.
• Equipped with modern facilities (e.g. kitchens and bathrooms).
• Warm and energy-efficient

Local councils will now be able to

• Inspect properties suspected of falling below the standard.
• Issue enforcement notices.
• Take legal action against landlords who fail to comply.

Awaab's Law introduces strict timelines for addressing serious hazards

• Emergency repairs (e.g. dangerous damp or mould) must be completed within 24 hours.
• Other serious issues must be investigated and resolved within a set timeframe. 

The new rules mean

• Local councils can issue improvement notices and impose civil penalties of up to £7,000 for failure to address serious hazards.
• Persistent or serious breaches may lead to criminal prosecution or rent repayment orders via the First-tier Tribunal.
• Awaab’s Law will be implied into tenancy agreements, allowing tenants to take landlords to court for breach of contract.
• Tenants can also escalate unresolved issues to the new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman for independent redress.

To comply with the new standard

• Conduct regular inspections and act promptly on repair requests.
• Document all maintenance activity to demonstrate compliance.
• Upgrade insulation, heating, and ventilation to meet energy and safety standards.
• Respond quickly to reports of damp, mould, or other hazards.