Leading regulatory and microbiological testing house, MSL Solution Providers, is calling on landlords, councils, housing associations, and facilities management (FM) companies to proactively engage in comprehensive cleaning audits to ensure compliance with Awaab’s Law.

This legislation, which came into effect in January 2024 as part of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, is extending to the private rented sector and is widely expected to be enforced with the upcoming Renters' Reform Bill in March 2025. It mandates that landlords must address health hazards, including damp and mould, within specified timeframes to ensure healthy living conditions. Failure to comply will result in enforcement action initiated by tenants through the courts.

MSL’s innovative CleanSure Hygiene Auditing Solution enables landlords and facilities managers to ensure that their rental properties are hygienically clean and safe, and that correct cleaning protocols are being followed. Quick, reliable, and effective, the service includes swabbing surfaces around the property for microbiological testing by post, leveraging the company’s extensive microbiology and industrial hygiene expertise.

The process is straightforward, with a report being issued within 3 – 5 days of swabs being received. Alongside the results, the client receives a bespoke set of recommendations to help them stay ahead of any potential hygiene problems.

Peter Thistlethwaite, technical manager at MSL Solution Providers, comments, ‘By having professional cleaning services audited, landlords and property managers can not only adhere to these new regulations but also significantly improve living conditions for their tenants. No one should experience what Awaab went through. Auditing is a crucial step to ensure that properties meet the necessary standards, proving that they are clean, safe, and healthy for all tenants. Our CleanSure service is a quick, reliable, and effective way to achieve this.’

MSL’s expertise also includes product claim support for the BPR (Biocidal Product Regulation), disinfectant testing, claims substantiation, safety data sheets, user trials, hygiene auditing, cleanroom validation (UV and airborne disinfection), and tailored solutions for specific testing needs. Its in-house microbiology and virology labs provide a comprehensive range of standard tests, including efficacy testing against bacteria, fungi, spores, viruses, mycobacteria, legionella, and algae. The majority of its testing, including biocidal and virology testing, is accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.

For more information about MSL, visit www.msl.io or enquire at enquiries@msl.io.