Reviewing Progress on Awaab’s Law & The Social Housing Act

On 4th February, Building Insights LIVE hosted a round table event examining how Awaab’s Law is being implemented across the social housing sector and what it means for the future of property management.

Introduced in October 2025 as part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, Awaab’s Law has begun with a focus on damp and mould but will extend to cover all 29 hazards within the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). As such, it represents a significant shift in how landlords manage housing conditions, moving towards stricter accountability and faster response times.

Building on insights from a previous session in March 2025, this latest discussion brought together housing providers, consultants, building scientists and supply chain specialists to share real-world experiences of compliance. Sponsors Tarmac, Cornerstone Management Services and Ubbink contributed practical perspectives, helping to explore solutions around tenant engagement, alternative approaches and ongoing skills challenges.

Delegates revisited key recommendations from the earlier session, including the need for better use and standardisation of property data, clearer definitions of what constitutes a “safe” home, and improved industry-wide education. A central theme was the importance of shifting from reactive responses to hazards towards more proactive, planned maintenance strategies, underpinned by transparent communication with residents.

There were also calls for stronger Government leadership to support a consistent, long-term approach and avoid a fragmented or lowest-cost-driven response to regulation. Participants emphasised the importance of treating buildings as integrated systems, rather than addressing issues in isolation.

The discussion highlighted growing recognition of the role of data in improving compliance and outcomes, alongside the value of co-designing solutions with tenants. Together, these approaches are seen as critical to delivering safer, healthier homes at scale.

Event Chair:

• James Parker, Managing Editor, Housing Management & Maintenance

Attendees:

• Hony Premlal, Chair, WISH & Interim CEO, Causeway Irish Housing Association

• Dr Douglas Booker, Lecturer in Indoor Air, University of Leeds

• Dr Hector Altamirano-Medina, Academic Director,  UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings

• Andrew Burke, Deputy Secretary, National Housing Maintenance Forum

• Sarah Garry, Chief Executive, Property Care Association

• Dale Holroyd, Commercial Director, ZapCarbon (Healthy Homes Department)

• Holly Hickin, Barrister, Trinity Chambers

• Paul Smith, Managing Director, Foundations UK

• Andrew Cameron-Smith< Communications Director, Healthy Homes Hub

• Naomi Sadler, Director, SEES (Sadler Energy & Environmental Services)

• Martin Hancock, Head of Repairs and Estate Services, Clarion Housing Group

• Dan Fitch, Technical Sales Manager, Tarmac Group

• David Bly, Managing Director, Cornerstone Management Services

• Craig Cundey, Ventilation Product Lead, Ubbink 

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