The housing charity Shelter has criticised the government for putting lives at risk by delaying a law to make social landlords in England fix dangerous hazards quickly.
Angela Rayner, the housing secretary, and Matthew Pennycook, her housing minister, announced on Thursday they were giving landlords in the social rented sector until 2027 before they have to start fixing all dangerous hazards within a set timeframe.
The law, known as Awaab’s law, is designed to prevent a repeat of the events of 2020, when two-year-old Awaab Ishak was killed by mould in a social housing flat in Rochdale.
Announcing the bill’s implementation, Rayner said: “We have a moral duty to ensure tragedies like the death of Awaab Ishak never happen again. Landlords cannot be allowed to rent out dangerous homes and shamelessly put the lives of their tenants at risk.
“Our new laws will force them to fix problems quickly, so that people are safe in their homes and can be proud to live in social housing.”
However, Shelter said the grace period for landlords was far too long.
Polly Neate, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Awaab Ishak’s legacy must be that no other family has to witness poor housing conditions putting their child’s life at risk. The government promised to bring in Awaab’s law, forcing landlords to deal with serious hazards in social homes within clear timeframes, last autumn.
“However, four years after Awaab’s death … today’s announcement means social housing tenants will have to wait years longer for this vital protection. These delays to implementation represent a real risk to the health and safety of tenants, and puts lives at risk.”
Labour promised in opposition to enact Awaab’s law after it was originally proposed by the Conservatives but never passed.
Rayner said last year: “We’ll clamp down on mouldy homes by bringing in Awaab’s law into the social rented sector … to end the scandal of people living in unacceptable conditions.”
On Thursday the government clarified the timetable for its implementation of the act. From October, social landlords in England will have 24 hours to make emergency repairs, including to damp and mould.
Next year, they will have to make immediate repairs to a broader range of hazards, expected to include excess cold and heat, structural collapse, fire, electrical problems and hygiene hazards.
Landlords will have until 2027 before having to begin fixing other hazards immediately, including asbestos, exposure to lead or radiation and contaminated water supplies.
Officials said the timescale would “allow the government to test and learn so that the reforms benefit social tenants and secure the lasting legacy that Awaab Ishak’s family have fought so hard for”.
Ministers have also promised to extend Awaab’s law to the private sector, but have not given a timeline for doing so.
They are also consulting on new energy efficiency standards for the private sector and legislating to require social landlords to carry out electrical safety checks at least every five years.
