The five things about to change if you are renting a home
The legislation, which sets strict timeframes for landlords of social housing to fix and repair hazards, was voted through two years ago, but the full details have only just been published. It comes more than four years after the tragic death of Awaab Ishak in Rochdale.
In late 2022, a coroner concluded that the two-year-old died due to 'prolonged exposure' to mould in his home at the Freehold estate.
READ MORE: Friends left stunned at Manchester Airport after landing £24,000 in terminal
READ MORE: 'People are moving here from places like Chorlton and Didsbury - and it's for a good reason'
His family repeatedly reported the issue to their housing provider, but the problem persisted, ultimately leading to Awaab's death.
The Manchester Evening News has been campaigning for Awaab's Law alongside the toddler's family for the last two and a half years.
The legislation was passed in Parliament under the Tories in 2023 with Labour promising to eventually extend it to private renters too.
This week, the government confirmed exactly what measures will come into force over three phases, starting from October this year.
Awaab's family have welcomed the move. Responding to the news announced on Wednesday (June 27), the family's legal team, Kelly Darlington of Farleys and Christian Weaver of Garden Court North, said: 'On behalf of Awaab's parents, we are pleased that the regulations for Awaab's law have now been laid in by Parliament. This is a necessary and welcome step towards safer homes."
So what difference will Awaab's Law make for renters?
The law, which currently only applies to social housing, establishes strict and legally binding timeframes for landlords to act once they become aware of a potential hazard.
From October 27 of this year, they will have act within 24 hours after any emergency hazards, such as gas leaks, broken boilers and total loss of water supply, as well as damp and mould, are reported.
From 2026, hazards which caused a 'significant risk of harm', such as excess cold or heat, structural collapse or some electrical hazards, must be fully investigated within 10 working days. Any work required to fix these hazards must then start within five working days.
And from 2027, all remaining hazards listed under the housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS), apart from overcrowding, will also be covered by the regulations too.
If there's a material change relating to the hazard, for example if the tenant reports new or worsening symptoms, a new investigation is required and the timeframes reset.
If the required repairs cannot be completed within the specific timeframes, landlords must secure suitable alternative accommodation at their expense until the work is done.
Landlords must consider the suitability of this alternative accommodation, including whether it has adequate space, is close enough to the tenant's workplace or school and is accessible for those with disabilities.
Renters can choose to decline offer of alternative accommodation, but if they choose to stay in their home, the landlord must provide information on actions they have taken to mitigate the risk.
Following an investigation into a hazard, landlords must provide a written summary of findings to the named tenant within three working days of its conclusion, specifying if a hazard was identified, the required action and a target timeframe for the repairs.
An exception applies if all required works are completed before the three-working-day period ends. Landlords must also keep the named tenant updated throughout the process regarding the timing and progress of the required work until the work is complete.
Standard investigations can be carried out remotely. For example, if evidence such as photos or videos sufficiently establishes whether there is a significant or emergency hazard, it may be possible to complete the investigation without anyone visiting the property.
However, under the regulations, tenants can specifically request an in-person investigation which the landlord must then carry out.
Tenants are expected to cooperate with landlords to arrange suitable times for access, according to the government's guidance, but landlords should take 'all reasonable steps' to gain access, including multiple contact attempts and considering tenant needs.
Awaab's Law sets out clear avenues for social housing tenants to take legal action if their landlord is not complying with the rules.
Tenants are encouraged to complain to the landlord first before contacting the Housing Ombudsman or the Social Housing Regulator.
If a case does reach the court and the landlord is found to be in breach of the regulations, the court can order them to do the repairs.
The court could also order the landlord to pay compensation to the tenant and/or pay some or all of the tenant's legal costs.
Awaab's Law does not provide for fines to be imposed on landlords, but the court can award the tenant damages as compensation for loss suffered.
According to the guidance, court action should be a last resort and the court may ask for evidence that alternative means of resolving the dispute have been considered.
As well as giving tenants grounds to take a social landlord to court, Awaab's Law also sets out other expectations on both parties.
The guidance states that it is 'unacceptable' for social landlords to assume the cause of a hazard is due to the tenant's 'lifestyle'.
It comes after the inquest into Awaab's death revealed that his housing association had made such assumptions about his family.
Landlords should not make assumptions and fail to take action or investigate a hazard on this basis, according to the guidance which states that it is 'unavoidable' that everyday tasks such as cooking, washing and drying laundry will contribute to indoor moisture.
The guidance also stipulates that landlords must consider the individual circumstances and vulnerabilities of the tenant, such as their age, health conditions or disabilities, when assessing the risk of harm from a hazard.
However, tenants will still have certain responsibilities, with any damage caused by a breach of contract by the tenant not falling within the scope of Awaab's Law.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Voices: By likening Nigel Farage to Jimmy Savile, Peter Kyle has handed Reform a free gift
Just when Nigel Farage and his tiny parliamentary party were beginning to be exposed as shrill and clueless, Peter Kyle, one of the most promising cabinet ministers, handed them a free gift. By saying that the Reform leader is on the side of 'people like Jimmy Savile', Kyle destroys his own arguments for the Online Safety Act. The attempt to link Farage with a notorious child sex abuser is gratuitous and offensive. It makes Kyle seem desperate, and allows Farage to pose as the wronged party. Farage's criticisms of the Act seem more credible after Kyle's outburst than before. It is surprising that Kyle has chosen to use this slur when Labour people were so indignant – and rightly so – when Boris Johnson used it against Keir Starmer. That was when Johnson was desperate: Sue Gray's report on lockdown parties in Downing Street had just been published and Johnson wanted some way of deflecting attention. His attack on Starmer had nothing to do with Gray's report. It was an aside referring to Starmer's time as director of public prosecutions, during which, Johnson said, 'he spent most of his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile, as far as I can make out'. But it was more relevant than Kyle's attack on Farage. It is factually correct that the Crown Prosecution Service failed to prosecute Savile when Starmer was in charge, and it is unclear whether it could have done more to bring Savile to justice at the time. But Farage has nothing to do with Savile – at all. Kyle's attempt to smear the Reform leader was phrased thus on Sky News: 'If people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, he'd be perpetrating his crimes online, and Nigel Farage is saying that he's on their side.' Nothing could be better calculated to distract from the real issue, which is whether Farage's pledge to repeal the Online Safety Act is a sensible one. The Reform rhetoric about 'authoritarian' and 'dystopian' legislation is overdone, and Farage admitted yesterday that he didn't know how he would protect children online instead. But rather of exposing the weakness of Farage's arguments, Kyle allowed his opponent to protest on X that his comment was 'disgusting' and to demand an apology. Kyle responded: 'If you want to overturn the Online Safety Act you are on the side of predators. It is as simple as that.' This is a terrible way to conduct a public debate. There are well-founded concerns about the Online Safety Act, which seems to put unworkable obligations on non-profit-making websites while doing little to ensure that the big tech companies behave more responsibly. A lot of well-informed people said it was badly drafted legislation even before it was passed by the Conservative government two years ago. Kyle is now overseeing the coming into effect of provisions of the Act relating to age-verification, and instead of acting on the concerns that have been expressed, he has ploughed ahead – in effect accusing anyone who has doubts, including for example Ella Dorn of the New Statesman, of being aligned with Savile. When Johnson gratuitously dragged Savile's name into his attempt to save his disintegrating premiership, the disgust at his deliberate attempt to invoke conspiracy theories driven by fears of paedophilia was felt across the political spectrum. Munira Mirza, Johnson's adviser who was consulted in advance, begged him not to do it, and resigned when he did. Kyle should not be using the same disreputable tactic, which not only speaks volumes about this government's self-confidence but also allows Reform off the hook. Only this morning, Sarah Pochin, Reform's newest MP, was struggling to explain what her party's policy on small boats actually is. All she could propose was that Britain should 'do something drastic', by which she seemed to suggest that we should let migrants drown in the Channel. If the next election really is a fight between Labour and Reform, Labour must fight it better than this.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
What time is the three-minute silence for the Southport attack?
The country will come together to show 'sorrow and solidarity' a year after the Southport attack, Sir Keir Starmer has said. Sir Keir Starmer has said "the whole nation stands with the families of Bebe, Alice and Elsie" a year on from the Southport attack. Three minutes of silence will be held in the Merseyside town today (29 July) to mark a year since Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven were murdered by Axel Rudakubana at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. In the days following the attack, during which Rudakubana also attempted to kill eight other children and two adults, violent disorder broke out in the seaside town and across the country. The prime minister said: "We stand together in grief, in honour of the memory of those wonderful children, and in admiration of the families who have shown strength beyond words. 'We stand with all the children and adults who still bear the physical and mental scars of that day – and in awe of those who risked their lives to help." When is the silence for the Southport victims? The three-minute silence will be held in Southport at 3pm today (29 July). People have been asked not to leave flowers at the scene, or at the schools the girls attended, as the town continues to rebuild after the tragedy. Watch: 'We cannot allow evil to define us', says council deputy leader about Southport attacks Members of the public are being asked to consider making donations to local causes, including funds set up in the names of the victims and the Southport Strong Together Appeal, which was established last year to support those affected. No large vigil will be held, but churches and community centres will be open for those looking for support or space for quiet reflection. What happened in the Southport attack? Shortly before midday on 29 July, 2024, chilling footage showed the moment Rudakubana strolled up to the entrance of the dance class at The Hart Space, where a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop was taking place. The 18-year-old had the hood of his green jumper up and a surgical mask on during the 22-second clip, which saw him approach the building before entering, where he began to attack the children and adults inside. Describing the attack a year on, one girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: 'Some of the girls were sat down in a circle making bracelets with the teachers, and then a couple of them were getting up to get beads and I was stood in between two tables, and he came through the doors and stabbed a little girl in front of me, and then came for me and stabbed my arm. 'I turned and then he stabbed my back, even though I didn't feel it at the time, and then I went on to the landing where there was a bunch of girls huddled around, so I just started pushing them down the stairs, telling them to get out and to run.' In January, "cruel and pure evil" Rudakubana received one of the highest minimum terms on record - 52 years - for the 'sadistic' murders of the three girls and attempted murder of others. Who were the victims? Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine A keen dancer, she had been pictured eagerly waiting to get into the Taylor Swift-themed event on the day she was killed. In a post on the Instagram account of Alice's WonderDance foundation yesterday (28 July), her family said: "Not a day goes by that we don't miss her terribly, the weight of pain is getting heavier every day. And so it will be forever. Now we are living with the beautiful memories and thinking about what tomorrow would be like if nothing had happened.' Bebe King, aged six Bebe's Hive, set up by her family to support grieving children, referenced Taylor Swift song "Bejeweled" in an Instagram post which said: 'Our girls' energy will continue to shimmer.' The caption, which appeared to have been written by Bebe's mother Lauren, accompanied a video of her dancing and playing with a bubble machine. 'I feel her with me every day and that feeling is what keeps us going. Her light, her care, her spark – it lives on, and we'll continue it for as long as we can.' Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven At her funeral last summer, Elsie was described as 'a little girl who loved a big party' and had the 'ability to light up any room that she entered'. The team behind Elsie's Story, a charity set up in her name to support other children, said on Instagram at the weekend: 'We set out with an ambition: to continue Elsie's legacy, to make a positive difference in her name, to bring hope to other children, and to show that we will not live in fear, but with fun and love." Eight other children The other children injured in the attack cannot be named for legal reasons. John Hayes, 63 The businessman was stabbed in the leg while trying to disarm Rudakubana, but survived. He told ITV News how he ran from his office to help when he realised people were injured. Asked if he felt he was a hero, he replied: 'I'm not going sit here and tell you that I was brave about the whole thing and confronting a knifeman, that's not the story at all." Leanne Lucas, 35 The yoga class instructor suffered serious stab wounds while trying to protect two girls, but survived the attack. She told LBC: 'My purpose was creating wellbeing events for children and families, and... for that to be trampled over has just really dampened all of our spirits. I'm not too sure how we'll ever move on, apart from use the girl's memories as a driving force to change things for other people in the future, so this doesn't have to happen to them again." Read more Southport MP says town won't be defined by atrocity one year on from attack (The Guardian) Southport stabbing victim reveals how she survived attack - and fears 'it could happen again' (Sky News) A Year On From The Southport Riots, Is The UK Really On The Edge Of Mass Civil Disobedience? (HuffPost)
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Farage labels Kyle's comments ‘below the belt' and reiterates call for apology
Nigel Farage has reiterated his demands for a Cabinet minister to apologise for accusing him of being on the side of 'extreme pornographers'. A row broke out on Tuesday morning after Peter Kyle said the Reform UK leader is on the side of 'people like Jimmy Savile' over the party's pledge to scrap the Online Safety Act. Mr Farage labelled Technology Secretary Mr Kyle's remarks as 'below the belt' and 'so absolutely disgusting that it's almost beyond belief', and urged people to sign a petition calling for the legislation to be repealed. Former Reform chair Zia Yusuf said on Monday that the party would repeal the legislation if they got into Government. 'I see that Nigel Farage is already saying that he's going to overturn these laws,' Mr Kyle told Sky News. 'So you know, we have people out there who are extreme pornographers, peddling hate, peddling violence. Nigel Farage is on their side. 'Make no mistake about it, if people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, he'd be perpetrating his crimes online. And Nigel Farage is saying that he's on their side.' Responding to Mr Kyle on a live stream on Tuesday morning, Mr Farage said: 'Just how low can the Labour Government sink in its desperation? 'Yes, of course they're in trouble. They're well behind us in the opinion polls. But frankly, to say that I would do anything that would in any way aid and abet people like Jimmy Savile, it's so below the belt it's almost not true.' He also reiterated his demand for an apology and added: 'We're not going to get one. I think perhaps the best thing we can do is to sign the petition to repeal the Online Safety Act. That's what I'm going to do today. I think it makes sense. I'm deeply worried about the implications for free speech.' Under rules that came into effect on July 25, online platforms such as social media sites and search engines must take steps to prevent children accessing harmful content such as pornography or material that encourages suicide. Mr Yusuf has said that the laws work to 'suppress freedom of speech' and 'force social media companies to censor anti-Government speech'. After being asked by Mr Farage to apologise on social media, Mr Kyle doubled down on his comments, claiming that wanting to 'overturn' the Act puts somebody 'on the side of predators'. Mr Yusuf has claimed that Mr Kyle's remarks showed 'how deeply unserious' the Government was about child safety, adding: 'Talking about Jimmy Savile in that way does nothing other than denigrate the victims of Jimmy Savile.' He told Sky News that the comments are 'one of the most outrageous and disgusting things a politician has said in the political arena that I can remember. And that's quite a high bar, frankly.' Sir Keir Starmer jumped to defend the legislation from its critics when he met Donald Trump on Monday, telling reporters: 'We're not censoring anyone. 'We've got some measures which are there to protect children, in particular, from sites like suicide sites.' The Prime Minister added: 'I personally feel very strongly that we should protect our young teenagers, and that's what it usually is, from things like suicide sites. I don't see that as a free speech issue, I see that as child protection.'
