Awaab’s Law: What It Means for Landlords & Tenants & How Nuven Surveyors Can Help

The introduction of Awaab’s Law marks a significant shift in UK housing regulations, particularly for social landlords. From October 2025, social landlords will be required to respond more quickly to reports of damp, mould, and hazardous conditions in rental properties.

Under the proposed timeframes, landlords may be required to:

✅ Investigate complaints within 14 days
✅ Start repairs within 7 days
✅ Fix emergency hazards within 24 hours

💡 However, these timeframes are subject to final confirmation following government consultation. (gov.uk).

Failure to comply could result in:

🚨 Regulatory enforcement and potential fines
⚖ Legal action from tenants for breach of obligations

At Nuven Surveyors, we provide independent damp and mould surveys, helping both landlords and tenants ensure compliance, resolve disputes, and take action where necessary.

Awaab’s Law currently applies to social housing landlords. The UK government is considering expanding similar requirements to the private rented sector in future legislation.

If you are a social landlord, it is essential to prepare for these new obligations before October 2025 to avoid penalties and tenant disputes.

1. Increased Compliance & Financial Risks
Landlords must meet strict repair deadlines to avoid fines, legal action, or intervention from the Regulator of Social Housing.

✅ How Nuven Surveyors Can Help: We provide independent property reports, helping landlords prove compliance and prioritise urgent repairs efficiently.

2. Identifying the Root Causes of Damp & Mould
Damp and mould issues often stem from external defects, plumbing leaks, poor insulation, inadequate ventilation, or tenant habits. Without accurate diagnosis, landlords risk ineffective repairs and repeat issues.

✅ How Nuven Surveyors Can Help: Our expert damp surveys identify the exact cause of damp and mould, ensuring landlords apply the correct solutions to avoid costly repeat repairs.

3. Tenant Disputes & Legal Claims
Under Awaab’s Law, tenants can take legal action if landlords fail to meet their obligations. However, some claims may arise due to tenant misuse (e.g., failing to ventilate the property properly).

✅ How Nuven Surveyors Can Help: Our housing disrepair reports provide unbiased evidence to support landlords in validating genuine issues while defending against unjustified claims.

1. Proving Landlord Negligence
Even with Awaab’s Law, some landlords may delay repairs or dispute responsibility. Tenants need clear, independent evidence to hold landlords accountable.

✅ How Nuven Surveyors Can Help: Our RICS property condition reports provide tenants with professional evidence to support their claims and strengthen legal cases where necessary.

2. Risk of Retaliatory Eviction
Some tenants fear eviction if they report damp and mould issues. Having an independent survey strengthens their position and helps them protect their tenancy rights.

✅ How Nuven Surveyors Can Help: We offer impartial property surveys, helping tenants document disrepair safely and effectively.

Disputes can be costly and time-consuming. Instead of taking legal action, landlords and tenants can jointly instruct Nuven Surveyors for an independent property survey.

✔ Saves time & money by avoiding legal disputes
✔ Provides neutral, trusted evidence both parties can rely on
✔ Ensures fair resolutions based on expert RICS assessment

📌 Example Case: A tenant reports damp & mould, but the landlord believes it is due to tenant lifestyle habits (e.g., lack of ventilation). A joint RICS survey clarifies the cause, helping both sides reach a fair outcome.

At Nuven Surveyors, we are RICS-accredited professionals with expertise in damp, mould, and housing disrepair assessments.

✔ Damp & mould assessments for Awaab’s Law compliance
✔ RICS Condition Surveys for dispute resolution
✔ Independent property condition reports for legal cases
✔ Fast, expert service for landlords & tenants

With Awaab’s Law enforcement approaching, landlords must act now, and tenants should know their rights.

📞 Call Nuven Surveyors for expert damp & mould surveys.
📧 Email us for RICS property surveys & dispute resolution.
🌍 Visit www.nuvensurveyors.co.uk for property survey services.

By acting now, landlords can ensure compliance, and tenants can secure safe living conditions—all with expert guidance from Nuven Surveyors.